Simon Armitage wins Oxford professor of poetry election

Simon Armitage wins Oxford professor of poetry election

Popular British poet selected for prestigious post ahead of strong field including Wole Soyinka

The British poet Simon Armitage has seen off an international field to be chosen as Oxford’s latest professor of poetry.

Speaking to the Guardian after the announcement, Armitage said he was “delighted and very excited and suitably

daunted as well”.

“It’s been such a long process,” he said. “In the time it’s taken we’ve had a general election, Sepp Blatter has come

and gone and come again, and we’ve nearly got a new leader of the Labour party.”

Read the full story on the Guardian website here: www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jun