carol ann duffy ao3

early life:

• born in Gorbals, Glasgow » poverty-stricken, underprivileged

• went to convent schools » Roman Catholic

• very working-class background

• Scottish

• moved to Stafford, England aged 8

• 4 brothers, sporty household

• knew she was a lesbian since childhood

work/career:

• graduated with philosophy degree

• moved to Manchester @16

• worked for The Guardian as a poetry critic

• best known for her love poems in a monologue style

• appointed as Britain’s Poet Laureate in 2009 » 1st woman, 1st openly lesbian poet

• 1999: was being considered for Poet Laureate role but Tony Blair feared that middle England were unready for a lesbian poet laureate

• 1st poetry collection: “Standing Female Nude”

personal:

• feminist

• met adrian henri @16, lived w him til 1982

  • adrian henri:

    • liverpudlian poet

    • notorious womaniser

    • never regretted r’ship

    • nursed him when he was dying, even as he was with another woman

• met jackie kay later

  • 15-year relationship

  • daughter Ella » biological dad = poet Peter Benson

    • ‘tri-parented’ her