Sally Purcell
Encyclopedia
Sally Purcell was a British poet and translator. She produced several English translations of poetry and literary works, including the first English translation of Hélène Cixous
's The Exile of James Joyce or the Art of Replacement, and published at least six volumes of her own poetry.
, Worcestershire
in 1944, Purcell attended Bromsgrove High School and became the first pupil of the school to win an open scholarship to Oxford University, where she studied Mediaeval and Modern French at Lady Margaret Hall. After graduation she remained in Oxford, working as a typist, barmaid, researcher, and writer until her death, at age 53, from cancer.
Her contemporaries remarked on Purcell's old-fashioned style of diction, which never used contractions. She told a reviewer for Isis
magazine "I know that my English is 200 years out of date, but I think that I speak it more pleasantly than most."
In 1971 Purcell co-edited (with Libby Purves
, then an undergraduate student) The Happy Unicorns, a volume of work by poets under 25 years old. She published a number of translations and several selected editions of poetry, including Monarchs and the Muse (Carcanet, 1972), editions of George Peele
and Charles d'Orléans
(also for Carcanet), and a selection of Provençal Poems. With William Leaf she published Heraldic Symbols (1986) for the Victoria and Albert Museum
. Her own poetry was published in several monographs, including The Holly Queen (Anvil, 1971), Dark of Day (Anvil, 1977), and Lake and Labyrinth (Taxvs, 1985).
Hélène Cixous
Hélène Cixous is a professor, French feminist writer, poet, playwright, philosopher, literary critic and rhetorician. She holds honorary degrees from Queen's University and the University of Alberta in Canada; University College Dublin in Ireland; the University of York and University College...
's The Exile of James Joyce or the Art of Replacement, and published at least six volumes of her own poetry.
Biography
Born in Aston FieldsAston Fields
Aston Fields is a village in the district of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, United Kingdom. It is situated to the south of Bromsgrove and is the site of Bromsgrove railway station. It was the location of Bromsgrove railway works, established in 1841, which was a maintenance facility for the Birmingham...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
in 1944, Purcell attended Bromsgrove High School and became the first pupil of the school to win an open scholarship to Oxford University, where she studied Mediaeval and Modern French at Lady Margaret Hall. After graduation she remained in Oxford, working as a typist, barmaid, researcher, and writer until her death, at age 53, from cancer.
Her contemporaries remarked on Purcell's old-fashioned style of diction, which never used contractions. She told a reviewer for Isis
Isis
Isis or in original more likely Aset is a goddess in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. She was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well as the matron of nature and magic...
magazine "I know that my English is 200 years out of date, but I think that I speak it more pleasantly than most."
In 1971 Purcell co-edited (with Libby Purves
Libby Purves
Libby Purves OBE is a British radio presenter, journalist and author. A diplomat's daughter, she was educated at convent schools in Israel, Bangkok, South Africa and France, and then Beechwood Sacred Heart School in Tunbridge Wells.Purves won a scholarship to St Anne's College, Oxford, where she...
, then an undergraduate student) The Happy Unicorns, a volume of work by poets under 25 years old. She published a number of translations and several selected editions of poetry, including Monarchs and the Muse (Carcanet, 1972), editions of George Peele
George Peele
George Peele , was an English dramatist.-Life:Peele was christened on 25 July 1556. His father, who appears to have belonged to a Devonshire family, was clerk of Christ's Hospital, and wrote two treatises on bookkeeping...
and Charles d'Orléans
Charles d'Orléans
Charles d'Orléans may refer to one of the following:*Charles d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans son of Louis I, Duke of Orléans and Valentina Visconti;...
(also for Carcanet), and a selection of Provençal Poems. With William Leaf she published Heraldic Symbols (1986) for the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
. Her own poetry was published in several monographs, including The Holly Queen (Anvil, 1971), Dark of Day (Anvil, 1977), and Lake and Labyrinth (Taxvs, 1985).