J.H. Prynne

Paul March-Russell (University of Kent at Canterbury)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.09: English Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary Britain , 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Gina Lyle (University of York), Graham MacPhee (University of Manchester), Kerry Myler (Birmingham Newman University), Jenni Ramone (The Nottingham Trent University)

Dates

Born 24 Jun 1936
Activity 1962-ongoing

Places

Born in England
Active in England

Activities

Primary

Librarian
Poet
Teacher/ Professor

Resources

Prynne's Works

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In February 2004, a minor controversy followed after Randall Stevenson, writing in

The Last of England? 1960-2000

(OUP), claimed that the achievements of experimental poets, such as Andrew Crozier, Douglas Oliver and, most of all, J.H. Prynne, were of longer lasting significance than that of Philip Larkin and his contemporaries. John Carey, reviewing Stevenson's book for

The Sunday Times

, rejected this judgement and, in particular, the apparent preference for Prynne. During the following week, the worth of Prynne's poetry was debated both in newspapers and on radio, while his picture was secretly taken by a

Times

photographer.

What this unusual debate revealed was less to do with a serious engagement with Prynne's writing and more to do with the characterisation of Prynne as wilfully

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2101 words

Citation: March-Russell, Paul. "J.H. Prynne". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 January 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5881, accessed 25 November 2024.]

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