The Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry 2007

James Fenton, who was awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry 2007 in April this year was interviewed last night by Mark Lawson on BBC Radio 4's arts programme Front Row. He will collect the award on Thursday from HM The Queen, at Buckingham Palace.

The following books are available in the Wodehouse Library:

Terminal moraine 820/FEN
The poetry quartets: 3 (2 cassettes) with Tony Harrison, Peter Reading and Ken Smith 821/POE
Translation by James Fenton of Tirso De Molina Tamar's revenge 860/DEM

It became apparent in the interview that he would rather receive this award than be made Poet Laureate. The award is made based on a recommendation by the Poet Laureate - currently Andrew Motion. He commented that although Andrew Motion's poetry had not suffered under the office, he felt that Ted Hughes' had. Fenton was honoured to receive an award which had previously been made to TS Eliot when it was The King's Gold Medal for Poetry.

You can read the citation on the Buckingham Palace website:
http://www.qmmemorial.gov.uk/output/Page5946.asp
or listen again to the interview from the BBC Radio 4 website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/frontrow/