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The Poetry Society

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Poetry Society
Formation1909; 115 years ago (1909)
TypeMembership organisation
HeadquartersBetterton Street, Covent Garden, London, England, United Kingdom
Publication
Poetry Review
Websitepoetrysociety.org.uk
Formerly called
Poetry Recital Society

The Poetry Society is a membership organisation, open to all, whose stated aim is "to promote the study, use and enjoyment of poetry". The society was founded in London in February 1909 as the Poetry Recital Society, becoming the Poetry Society in 1912. Its first president was Lady Margaret Sackville.[1]

From its current premises in Covent Garden, London, The Poetry Society publishes The Poetry Review, a poetry magazine. Established in 1912, its current editor is the poet Wayne Holloway-Smith, who succeeded Emily Berry in 2023. Berry herself succeeded Maurice Riordan in 2017. Fiona Sampson was the magazine's editor from 2005 to 2012.[2]

Awards

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The society organises several competitions, including the British National Poetry Competition,[3] the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award,[4] The Popescu Prize, The Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry and the Geoffrey Dearmer Award. The society also ran the Alice Hunt Bartlett Prize from 1986 to 1997.

References

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  1. ^ "Premiums for Poets"[permanent dead link], Evening Post, 24 September 1909.
  2. ^ "Publications" Archived 3 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine, The Poetry Society.
  3. ^ "The Poetry Society (Competitions)". The Poetry Society. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  4. ^ Foyle Young Poets, The Poetry Society.
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