Ted Hughes

Edward James Hughes, OM referred to normally as Ted Hughes (August 17, 1930 – October 28, 1998) was an English poet and children's writer. He is considered by some to be one of the best poets of his generation. Hughes was Poet Laureate in England from 1984 until his death. He was also famously married from 1956?63 to the American poetess Sylvia Plath and was believed by many feminists to have helped to cause Plath's suicide (and also his lover Assia Wevill's suicide). He explored his complex relationship with Plath in his last book of poems, Birthday Letters (1998).

Writings

Hughes' earlier poetic work is rooted in nature and, in particular, the innocent savagery of animals (Tennyson's phrase "nature, red in tooth and claw" could have been written for Hughes). His later work is deeply reliant upon myth and the bardic tradition.

Related Topics:
Tennyson - Myth - Bard

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Hughes' first collection, Hawk in the Rain (1957) attracted considerable critical acclaim. In 1959 he won the Galbraith prize which brought $5000. His most significant work is perhaps Crow (1970).

Related Topics:
1957 - 1959 - Galbraith prize - Crow - 1970

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Tales from Ovid (1997) contains a selection of free verse translations from Ovid's Metamorphoses. In Birthday Letters, Hughes broke his silence on Plath, detailing aspects of their life together and his own behaviour at the time. The cover artwork was by their daughter Frieda.

Related Topics:
1997 - Ovid

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In addition to poetry, Hughes wrote classical opera librettos and children's books. One of these, The Iron Man, became the basis of Pete Townshend's rock opera of the same name, and the animated film The Iron Giant.

Related Topics:
Opera - Libretto - The Iron Man - Pete Townshend - The Iron Giant

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Hughes was appointed as Poet Laureate (the British Queen's official poet) in 1984 following the death of John Betjeman (although it was later hinted that Hughes was second choice for the appointment after Philip Larkin, the preferred nominee, declined, feeling his poetic gifts spent). Hughes served in this position until his death in 1998.

Related Topics:
Poet Laureate - British - Queen - John Betjeman - Philip Larkin

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His definitive 1333-page Collected Poems (Faber & Faber) appeared in 2003.

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