Carol Ann Duffey Expected to be Named British Poet Laureate

Posted on April 30, 2009

The Guardian reports that Great Britain is about to get its first female Poet Laureate. Insider expect Carol Ann Duffy to be named for the post tomorrow by the British government.

Duffy is thought to have edged ahead of Simon Armitage to succeed Andrew Motion, whose 10-year tenure comes to an end tomorrow. For her fans - and there are a lot - it will be justice at last. Ten years ago it was between Duffy and Motion and one Downing Street official intimated that it was the poet's sexuality that was the stumbling block. "Blair is worried about having a homosexual [sic] as poet laureate because of how it might play in middle England," the official told the Sunday Times. The latest offer is thought to have been made last week after approval from Buckingham Palace and Downing Street.

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If she accepts, Duffy's appointment is likely to be welcomed by poets and the public. She is a rare thing in poetry: loved by academics and general readers alike. Her poetry is clever, often described as razor sharp, and she consistently pushes the limits of form and language. But it is also accessible and easy to read and Duffy has become a regular feature on school syllabuses.

A prolific poet, Carol Ann Duffy has published and edited thirty volumes of poetry. She is 53 and is expected to win the post, according to Britain's top bookmakers. Of course the fact that Great Britain has bookies taking bets on who will be the next Poet Laureate is an amazing thing to an American.

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