Subjects  |  Poetry

Sarah Flower Adams

Actress, hymnwriter and poet. Born Sarah Fuller Flower in Old Harlow, Essex. She wrote the words to the hymn 'Nearer, my God, to Thee'. In 1837 she turned to acting, playing several leading roles, ...

Person, Music / songs, Poetry, Theatre

Sir Kingsley Amis

Novelist and poet. Born Kingsley William Amis in Norbury. His many novels include 'Lucky Jim', 'Take a Girl Like You' and 'The Old Devils'. He also wrote six volumes of poetry, and works of non-fic...

Person, Literature, Poetry

Maya Angelou

Author and poet.  Born Marguerite Ann Johnson in St Louis, Missouri, USA. She died, aged 86 years, on 28 May 2014 at her home in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, USA. Her body was cr...

Person, Gender Issues, Poetry, USA

Edwin Arnold

Journalist and poet, Born at Gravesend. In 1852 he obtained the Newdigate prize for his first poem, 'The Feast of Belshazzar' ('High on a throne of ivory and gold, From crown to footstool clad in p...

Person, Journalism / Publishing, Poetry, India, USA

Matthew Arnold

Poet, writer and school inspector.  Born at Laleham-on-Thames, Middlesex, son of Thomas Arnold. He won the Newdigate prize in 1843 with a poem on Cromwell. Appointed a lay inspector of schools in 1...

Person, Education, Poetry, France, Germany, Netherlands

Joanna Baillie

Poet and dramatist, born Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Moved into Bolton House with her mother and sister in 1791 and lived there until her death. Buried at nearby St John's church, Church Row.

Person, Poetry, Theatre, Scotland

Anna Laetitia Barbauld

Poet and writer. Born Anna Letitia Aikin at Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire. She had a successful career at a time when women rarely were professional writers. Her writing includes essays, poems ...

Person, Literature, Poetry

Brendan Behan

Poet, writer, playwright. Born Dublin. Irish republican and, aged 16 - 23, volunteer in the IRA. He once described himself as a "a drinker with a writing problem". Collapsed in a Dublin bar and d...

Person, Literature, Poetry, Theatre, Ireland

Hilaire Belloc

Poet, essayist and historian. Born France. Catholic. His works include 'Cautionary Tales for Children', in which Matilda told lies and was burnt to death. Died Guildford.

Person, History, Literature, Poetry, France

Edmund Clerihew Bentley

Person, Poetry