Poet and critic. Born near Goole, Yorkshire. Considered a great English critic, his best-known work is his first publication "Seven Types of Ambiguity" 1930. Married Hetta in 1941 and had two sons, but was probably bisexual and an alcoholic. Spent a lot of his married life away from the London home, in Sheffield where he was chair of English literature at the university. Died at home, Studio House, 1 Hampstead Hill Gardens. (Did you notice how we managed not to mention the beard?)
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir William Empson
Commemorated ati
Sir William Empson
Unveiled by Sir Williams’ son, Jake Empson. At no 71 Empson lived in the the...
Other Subjects
Hugo Manning
Poet. Born as Lazarus Perkoff at "123 Oxford Street in Mile End Road" according to UCL Archives. His parents were Polish Jews so we believe the Mile End bit. Spent 1938 - 43 in Argentina. On h...
1 memorial
Joseph Brodsky
Russian-American poet and essayist. US Nobel Prize Laureate. Born Leningrad. Exiled from the Soviet Union in 1972, he settled in the USA, aided by W. H. Auden and others. There he taught and was ap...
1 memorial
Kate Greenaway
Illustrator of children's books and poet. Born 21 Cavendish Street N1 (now entirely post-war blocks of flats). She and her family moved to Upper Street in 1852. She worked for London branch of Marc...
3 memorials
Thomas Campbell (poet)
Poet. Born in High Street, Glasgow. Initially, he studied law before being drawn to poetry. His better known poems include 'Ye Mariners of England' and 'The Battle of the Baltic'. Died at 5 Rue St ...
1 memorial
Gavin Ewart
Poet. Born 25 Norfolk Crescent. First published aged 17. Died at a hospice in Clapham.
1 memorial