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Carol Ann Duffy is named first female Poet Laureate
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by Mrsmission4 | May 1, 2009 at 12:35 am
257 views | 30 Recommendations | 3 comments
As Andrew Motion comes to the end of his term as Poet Laureate it appears hotly tipped Manchester based Carol Anne Duffy will step into his shoes.
Carol Ann Duffy is to be named as the new Poet Laureate, the first woman to be appointed in the 341-year history of the post.
Duffy, 53, who takes over immediately from Andrew Motion and will serve ten years in the position, says she will give the £5,750 annual payment away.
The author, who is best known for her collection The World's Wife, is also the first Scot to be named Laureate.
The appointment will be formally announced by the culture secretary.
Ms Duffy's work Education for Leisure was removed from reading lists for examinations as it was thought to glorify knife crime, a growing problem among the youth in the UK. Hopefully Ms Duffy will enjoy her new position a little more than her predeccessor who complained the job was "thankless" and gave him writers block!
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Jarrett Martineauat 07:36 on May 1st, 2009
Thanks for this — great to see a female poet named as Britain's laureate!
at 08:40 on May 1st, 2009
This might be a silly question, but what does the Poet Laureate do?
at 08:56 on May 1st, 2009
Historically its the monarch having their own poet to write nice stuff about them and about state occasions, now its more recognition for services to poetry, she's very good actually especially popular with teenagers believe it or not, definitely my daughters favourite in the required reading for GCSE's.
Famous poets laureate include Chaucer, Wordsworth and Tennyson.