Tony Harrison

Tony Harrison (30 April 1937 – 26 September 2025) was an English poet, translator and Playwright dramatist. He was born in Leeds and received his education in Classics from Leeds Grammar School and Leeds University. He is known for the poem V (1985), as well as for new versions of classic stage works: from ancient Greek such as the tragedies Oresteia and Lysistrata, from French Molière's The Misanthrope, plus The Mysteries from Middle English. He was also known for his outspoken views, particularly on the Iraq War. Many of Harrison's plays have been performed at the Royal National Theatre. In 2015, he was honoured with the David Cohen Prize in recognition for his body of work. Quotes Articulation is the tongue-tied’s fighting. "On Not Being Milton", line 13; from From the School of Eloquence, and Other Poems (London: Rex Collings, 1978). This pen's all I have of magic wand. V, line 121 (Newcastle: Bloodaxe, [1985] 1989). The ones we choose to love become our anchorwhen the hawser of the blood-tie's hacked, or frays. V, line 409 (Newcastle: Bloodaxe, [1985] 1989). I have to confess that I felt rather proudof the simple device of my suffocating cloud.The Prospero of poisons, the Faustus of the front,bringing mental magic to modern armament. "Fritz Haber", line 5; from Square Rounds (London: Faber & Faber, 1992). The title character of the poem was responsible for developing chlorine gas as a weapon of war. I'd hoped last week that would-be royal hacksthat self-promoting sycophantic flockwould whet their talents on the headman's axebut it seems like a bad case of laureate's block —30 January 1649though it's hard to use the date for self-promotionthe anniversary's gone by with not a linefrom toadies like Di-deifying Motion. Laureate's Block (London: Penguin, 2000), title poem External links Category:1937 births Category:2025 deaths Category:Poets from England Category:Playwrights from England Category:Translators from England Category:People from Leeds