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Pulitzer prize-winner Louise Gluck named US poet laureate
Washington, Aug 29: Louise Gluck, winner of a Pulitzer prize and a dozen other poetry awards, will be the next US poet laureate.
Washington, Aug 29: Louise Gluck, winner of a Pulitzer prize and a dozen other poetry awards, will be the next US poet laureate.
Librarian of Congress James H Billington announced the
appointment yesterday.
Gluck (pronounced Glick) has been an English professor at Williams College for 20 years. She has published nine volumes of poetry and in 1993 won a Pulitzer for "The Wild Iris." Her latest work, "October," is due this fall. Gluck, who shuns publicity, said her first undertaking in her new position will be "to get over being surprised." Then she will concentrate on promoting young poets and poetry contests, she said.
"Her prize-winning poetry and her great interest in young poets will enliven the poet laureate's office," Billington said. Born in New York, Gluck studied at Columbia University and Sarah Lawrence College, earning a law degree from Williams College. She lives alone in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Gluck said she doesn't believe the poet laureate must create new programmes. The incumbent, Billy Collins, started a web site to furnish a poem a day for high school students. Gluck said a project to record Americans' favourite poems, begun by her friend and former poet laureate Robert Pinsky, could be taken further. Gluck's poetry often deals with women's problems and can be dark and foreboding. Loss and isolation are common themes.
Bureau Report
Gluck (pronounced Glick) has been an English professor at Williams College for 20 years. She has published nine volumes of poetry and in 1993 won a Pulitzer for "The Wild Iris." Her latest work, "October," is due this fall. Gluck, who shuns publicity, said her first undertaking in her new position will be "to get over being surprised." Then she will concentrate on promoting young poets and poetry contests, she said.
"Her prize-winning poetry and her great interest in young poets will enliven the poet laureate's office," Billington said. Born in New York, Gluck studied at Columbia University and Sarah Lawrence College, earning a law degree from Williams College. She lives alone in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Gluck said she doesn't believe the poet laureate must create new programmes. The incumbent, Billy Collins, started a web site to furnish a poem a day for high school students. Gluck said a project to record Americans' favourite poems, begun by her friend and former poet laureate Robert Pinsky, could be taken further. Gluck's poetry often deals with women's problems and can be dark and foreboding. Loss and isolation are common themes.
Bureau Report