Poet Paterson wins 10,000 prize Oct 8, 2009
The US-born writer beat John Donne, Benjamin Zephaniah, World War I poet Wilfred Owen and Philip Larkin to take the honour. Some 18,000 votes were cast in the poll, which is part of the BBC's Poetry Season. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
* How lectures became big business Jun 27, 2009
Both appearances will be put on by Clive Conway, who also handles Shirley Williams, Benjamin Zephaniah and Ann Widdecombe. Its a chance for people to see someone they would normally see only on the TV, a charismatic and inspiring personality, he said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Britain terse over poetic verse May 29, 2009
Benjamin Zephaniah, a British Rastafarian and writer who has also won admiration for his mission to reclaim poetry from academia on behalf of ordinary people, says that those who "care about poetry, or write poetry" would take little notice of the Oxford spat. Although a friend of both Padel and Duffy, whose work he admires, he says that the most exciting developments in poetry were happening on the street, away from the world of academic posts and laureateships, while public interest was being... (Christian Science Monitor)
New Poet Laureate to be revealed May 1, 2009
Other possible candidates to replace him include Roger McGough and Benjamin Zephaniah. Duffy's work is taught in schools as part of the National Curriculum. (BBC News -- UK)
Laureate league Apr 1, 2009
In an interview with The Observer earlier this year, Benjamin Zephaniah made his feelings about the Laureateship clear, calling it "outdated" and "irrelevant". His words echoed those in his 2001 poem, Bought and Sold, in which he wrote: "Don't take my word, go check the verse / Cause every laureate gets worse". (BBC News -- Entertainment)
