Person    | Male  Born 27/9/1906  Died 15/4/1984

Sir William Empson

Categories: Poetry

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?)

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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...

Read More

Sir William Empson & Lady Hetta Empson

We think this was unveiled in Oct 2015.

Read More

Other Subjects

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

Born and died in Stratford-upon-Avon. His birth date is usually given as the 23rd, the same date as his death, but all that is actually known is that he was baptised 3 days later, on the 26th. Even...

Person, Poetry, Seriously Famous, Theatre

47 memorials
Dr. Keningale Robert Cook, LL.D

Dr. Keningale Robert Cook, LL.D

Keningale Robert Cook was born on 26 September 1845 in Smallbridge, Rochdale, Lancashire (now Greater Manchester), a son of Robert Keningale Cook (1812-1891) and Ellen Cook née Nield (1823-1909). H...

Person, Benefactor, Literature, Poetry

1 memorial
Alexander Pope

Alexander Pope

Poet. Born Lombard Street.  A childhood illness left him only 4 and a half feet tall, hunchbacked, crippled and with chronic pain.  Best known for his satirical poems. Also a wit: "And all who told...

Person, Poetry

5 memorials
Reverend Samuel Hoole

Reverend Samuel Hoole

Became Rector of All Saints Poplar in 1803 and remained there until his death. Probably born in London, his father being employed as auditor for the East India Company and the family living in Wan...

Person, Poetry, Religion

1 memorial
Sir Henry Newbolt

Sir Henry Newbolt

Poet. Also: lawyer, novelist, playwright and magazine editor. Born Staffordshire. Famous for one poem: 'Vitai Lampada'. Written in 1897 this oh-so-British plea for war to be played in the same spir...

Person, Poetry

2 memorials