On this day in Yorkshire: 17th August 1930 – Former poet Laureate, Ted Hughes born in Mythlymroyd

One of Yorkshire’s finest wordsmiths was born on this day in 1930. Ted Hughes lived at 1, Aspinall Street in Mytholmroyd, but moved to Mexborough aged 7. He studied at Cambridge, but much of his work which was to follow was inspired by his Yorkshire upbringing. His most famous poetry came during some of his most controversial and depressing years in the 1960s, during both his first wife’s and partner’s suicides. His most acclaimed work came in 1970 with “Crow, From the Lives and Songs of the Crow.” Hughes’ poetry, along with children’s books, most notably “The Iron Man,” (1968) saw him rise through the literary world to the very top in 1984 when he became poet laureate. He held this title until his death in 1998.

Cover image credit: Phil Champion geograph wikipedia creative commons.

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