Andrew Waterman
Encyclopedia
Andrew Waterman is a poet
. Born in London
in 1940, Waterman grew up in Woodside
and Croydon
, and at the age of eleven won a scholarship to the Trinity School of John Whitgift
. He left before sitting his A levels, and after six years of clerical and manual jobs in London and Jersey
, Waterman studied at the University of Leicester
(graduating with First Class Honours in 1966) and Worcester College, University of Oxford
. From 1968 to 1997 he lectured in English Literature
at the University of Ulster
, Coleraine
, and in 1998 retired to Norfolk
. He is a recipient of the Cholmondeley Award for Poets. Since 1990 he has been registered blind, though in practice is partially-sighted.
Waterman's poetry is often noted for its wit, humility and stoicism. Reviewing his Collected Poems in Ambit, Marita Over writes: "The “story” that emerges through these poems is moving and inspiring and the craftsmanship in its telling is superb. Even as it explores the darkest themes of the arbitrariness of human existence and the innate violence of the human species, brims with a vitality and an in-spite-of-itself optimism born of a keen eye and ear for what is beautiful." Waterman is a recipient of the Cholmondeley Award to Poets. http://www.andrewwaterman.co.uk/about.shtml
Anthologies (select bibliography)
Waterman has also written a considerable amount of critical prose.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1940, Waterman grew up in Woodside
Woodside
- Australia :*Woodside, South Australia, a town*Woodside, Victoria, a town*Woodside Petroleum, an Australian company- Canada :*Woodside National Historic Site, the boyhood home of William Lyon Mackenzie King...
and Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, and at the age of eleven won a scholarship to the Trinity School of John Whitgift
Trinity School of John Whitgift
The Trinity School of John Whitgift, usually referred to as Trinity School, is a British independent boys' day school with a co-educational Sixth Form, located in Shirley Park, Croydon. The current building was constructed in 1965 on the site of the former Shirley Hotel...
. He left before sitting his A levels, and after six years of clerical and manual jobs in London and Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
, Waterman studied at the University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
(graduating with First Class Honours in 1966) and Worcester College, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. From 1968 to 1997 he lectured in English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
at the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
, Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
, and in 1998 retired to Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. He is a recipient of the Cholmondeley Award for Poets. Since 1990 he has been registered blind, though in practice is partially-sighted.
Waterman's poetry is often noted for its wit, humility and stoicism. Reviewing his Collected Poems in Ambit, Marita Over writes: "The “story” that emerges through these poems is moving and inspiring and the craftsmanship in its telling is superb. Even as it explores the darkest themes of the arbitrariness of human existence and the innate violence of the human species, brims with a vitality and an in-spite-of-itself optimism born of a keen eye and ear for what is beautiful." Waterman is a recipient of the Cholmondeley Award to Poets. http://www.andrewwaterman.co.uk/about.shtml
Select bibliography
Poetry- Living Room (Marvell Press, 1974, Poetry Book Society Choice)
- From the Other Country (Carcanet PressCarcanet PressCarcanet Press is a publisher, primarily of poetry, based in the United Kingdom and founded in 1969 by Michael Schmidt.Carcanet Press is now in its fourth decade. In 2000 it was named the Sunday Times millennium Small Publisher of the Year...
, 1977) - Over the Wall (Carcanet, 1980)
- Out for the Elements (Carcanet, 1981, Poetry Book Society Recommendation)
- The Poetry of Chess (ed.) (Anvil Press PoetryAnvil Press PoetryAnvil Press Poetry is an independent poetry publisher based in Greenwich, south-east London. It was founded in 1968 by Peter Jay and specialises in contemporary English poets, with a leavening of Irish and American, and in a range of translated poetry, from ancient classics to modern and...
, 1981) - Selected Poems (Carcanet, 1986, Poetry Book Society Commendation)
- In the Planetarium (Carcanet, 1990)
- The End of the Pier Show (Carcanet, 1995)
- Collected Poems (Carcanet, 2000), which includes many new poems alongside those from his previous bookBookA book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s. - The Captain's Swallow (Carcanet, 2007)
Anthologies (select bibliography)
- Modern Poets Five, ed. Jim Hunter (Faber and FaberFaber and FaberFaber and Faber Limited, often abbreviated to Faber, is an independent publishing house in the UK, notable in particular for publishing a great deal of poetry and for its former editor T. S. Eliot. Faber has a rich tradition of publishing a wide range of fiction, non fiction, drama, film and music...
, 1981) - Some Contermporary Poets of Britain and Ireland, ed. Michael Schmidt (Carcanet, 1983)
- Post-War British Poets, ed. Dannie AbseDannie AbseDaniel Abse, better known as Dannie Abse , is a Welsh poet.-Early years:Abse was born in Cardiff, Wales to a Jewish family. He is the younger brother of politician and reformer Leo Abse and the eminent psychoanalyst, Wilfred Abse...
(Hutchinson 1989) - The Wearing of the Black, ed. Padraic Fiacc (Blacstaff Press, 1974)
- Poems in Focus, ed. Christopher Martin (Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 1985) - London MagazineLondon MagazineThe London Magazine is a historied publication of arts, literature and miscellaneous interests. Its history ranges nearly three centuries and several reincarnations, publishing the likes of William Wordsworth, William S...
1961-1985, a selection from 25 years of the magazine, ed. Alan RossAlan RossAlan John Ross, , was a British poet, writer and editor. He was born in Calcutta, India, where he spent the first seven years of his life...
(Chatto & Windus, 1986) - Elected Friends: Poems for and about Edward ThomasEdward ThomasEdward Thomas may refer to:People:*Edward Beers Thomas, American judge*Edward J. Thomas , librarian and author of several books on the history of Buddhism*Edward Lloyd Thomas, Confederate American Civil War general...
, ed. Anne Harvey (Enitharmon PressEnitharmon PressEnitharmon Press is an independent British publishing house specialising in poetry.The name of the press comes from the poetry of William Blake: Enitharmon was a character who represented spiritual beauty and poetic inspiration. The press's logo "derives from a Blake woodcut".-History:The Press was...
, 1991) - A Rage for Order: Poetry of the Northern Ireland TroublesThe TroublesThe Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
, ed. Frank Ormsby (Blackstaff Press, 1992) - Earth Songs: An Anthology of Contemporary Eco-Poetry, ed. Peter Abbs (Green Books/Resurgence, 2002)
Waterman has also written a considerable amount of critical prose.
External links
- Official site
- http://poetsquarterly.yolasite.com/fall09_waterman.phpInterview with Rory WatermanRory WatermanRory Waterman is a poet resident in England.- Links :* * * - References :...
, Poets' Quarterly, October 2009]