Ann Sansom
Encyclopedia
Ann Sansom is a British
poet
and writing tutor. She has written two full length collections of poetry (both published by Bloodaxe Books
) and her work has appeared in anthologies, newspapers and magazines around the world. She is currently a regular tutor for the Workers' Educational Association
, Poetry Society
and Arvon Foundation
; and has taught at Sheffield Hallam University
, University of Leeds
, University of Exeter
and University of Oxford
. As well as giving hundreds of readings and workshops in the UK over the last two decades, Ann has also read and taught in India
, Finland
and Greece
.
and is currently working with a director on a short film script based on one of her poems.
Ann also co-wrote the script for the 'Genie' exhibition at the Magna Science Adventure Centre
that was piloted in late 2006.
"Oh great one, to restore my power, tell me what I am like. I will ask questions so that you can tell my story [. . .] Every idea is a good idea, however simple or odd or rushed, because it is yours."
Children access the 'genie spirit' inside the exhibits using a 'magic mirror' (a tablet PC). The children interact with the genie, and produce poems that become 'memory stories' for the genie.
"Ann Sansom's new collection is a welcome return for a quietly authoritative, resiliently gritty poet whose debut collection. Romance, won her many admirers. These are poems that overturn readers' expectations. They often present human dramas in which people are seen as acting out their versions of themselves in their own fictions. They are set in curiously deracinated urban landscapes, homing in on chance encounters and missed connections, and balanced by a brisk authenticity and affectionate generosity."
Times Literary Supplement
Romance
"Ann Sansom’s naturally accomplished and instinctively organised poems come as a breath of fresh air … There is a maturity to her work, a sureness of hand associated with only the most established poets, but there is a freshness too, and a bareknuckle confidence that seems to sing of the author’s realisation of poetry as a first language and a mother tongue."
Simon Armitage
Opening the Ice
"A clear sense of narrative illuminated by accurate observation . . . with a sharp edge of personal involvement, of love and love lost that gives her poems an intimate feel. Warm, direct and delicately phrased."
David Harmer
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and writing tutor. She has written two full length collections of poetry (both published by Bloodaxe Books
Bloodaxe Books
Bloodaxe Books is a British publishing house specialising in poetry.-History:It was founded in 1978 in Newcastle upon Tyne by Neil Astley, who is still editor and managing director. Joined in 1982 by chairman Simon Thirsk, Astley was later awarded an honorary D.Litt by Newcastle University in 1995...
) and her work has appeared in anthologies, newspapers and magazines around the world. She is currently a regular tutor for the Workers' Educational Association
Workers' Educational Association
The Workers’ Educational Association seeks to provide access to education and lifelong learning for adults from all backgrounds, and in particular those who have previously missed out on education. The International Federation of Workers Education Associations has consultative status to UNESCO...
, Poetry Society
Poetry 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...
and Arvon Foundation
Arvon Foundation
The Arvon Foundation is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom which promotes creative writing. It is based in the Free Word Centre for literature, literacy and free expression in London.-History:...
; and has taught at Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University is a higher education institution in South Yorkshire, England, based on two sites in Sheffield. City Campus is located in the city centre, close to Sheffield railway station, and Collegiate Crescent Campus is about two miles away, adjacent to Ecclesall Road in...
, University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
and University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. As well as giving hundreds of readings and workshops in the UK over the last two decades, Ann has also read and taught in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Literary Awards
- 1994 – YHA bursary for Irish poetry translation
- 1998 – Arts Council Literature Award
- 2003 – Author’s Foundation Award from the Society of AuthorsSociety of AuthorsThe Society of Authors is a trade union for professional writers that was founded in 1884 to protect the rights of writers and fight to retain those rights .It has counted amongst its members and presidents numerous notable writers and poets including Tennyson The Society of Authors (UK) is a...
Collections
- 1989 Painting From Memory [as Ann Dancy], Smith/Doorstop
- 1990 Opening the Ice [as Ann Dancy], Smith/Doorstop
- 1994 Romance, Bloodaxe BooksBloodaxe BooksBloodaxe Books is a British publishing house specialising in poetry.-History:It was founded in 1978 in Newcastle upon Tyne by Neil Astley, who is still editor and managing director. Joined in 1982 by chairman Simon Thirsk, Astley was later awarded an honorary D.Litt by Newcastle University in 1995...
- 1999 Vehicle, Slow Dancer Press
- 2003 In Praise of Men and Other People, Bloodaxe BooksBloodaxe BooksBloodaxe Books is a British publishing house specialising in poetry.-History:It was founded in 1978 in Newcastle upon Tyne by Neil Astley, who is still editor and managing director. Joined in 1982 by chairman Simon Thirsk, Astley was later awarded an honorary D.Litt by Newcastle University in 1995...
Anthologies
- 1992 The Virago Book of Wicked Verse (ed. Jill DawsonJill DawsonJill Dawson is an English poet and novelist who grew up in Durham, England. She began publishing her poems in pamphlets and small magazines. Her first book, Trick of the Light, was published in 1996...
), Virago Press - 1992 The Red Deer Anthology, Red Deer
- 1995 The Forward Book of Poetry, Forward/Faber
- 1995 Poetry with an Edge (ed. Neil Astley), Bloodaxe BooksBloodaxe BooksBloodaxe Books is a British publishing house specialising in poetry.-History:It was founded in 1978 in Newcastle upon Tyne by Neil Astley, who is still editor and managing director. Joined in 1982 by chairman Simon Thirsk, Astley was later awarded an honorary D.Litt by Newcastle University in 1995...
- 1996 The Forward Book of Poetry, Forward/Faber
- 1996 The Long Pale Corridor, Bloodaxe BooksBloodaxe BooksBloodaxe Books is a British publishing house specialising in poetry.-History:It was founded in 1978 in Newcastle upon Tyne by Neil Astley, who is still editor and managing director. Joined in 1982 by chairman Simon Thirsk, Astley was later awarded an honorary D.Litt by Newcastle University in 1995...
- 1997 Making for Planet Alice (ed. Maura Dooley), Bloodaxe BooksBloodaxe BooksBloodaxe Books is a British publishing house specialising in poetry.-History:It was founded in 1978 in Newcastle upon Tyne by Neil Astley, who is still editor and managing director. Joined in 1982 by chairman Simon Thirsk, Astley was later awarded an honorary D.Litt by Newcastle University in 1995...
- 1999 New Blood (ed. Neil Astley), Bloodaxe BooksBloodaxe BooksBloodaxe Books is a British publishing house specialising in poetry.-History:It was founded in 1978 in Newcastle upon Tyne by Neil Astley, who is still editor and managing director. Joined in 1982 by chairman Simon Thirsk, Astley was later awarded an honorary D.Litt by Newcastle University in 1995...
- 2001 Poems of the Decade, Forward/Faber
- 2006 Images of Women (ed. Myra Schneider and Dilys Wood), Arrowhead Press
- 2007 Signs and Humours: The Poetry of Medicine (ed. Lavinia Greenlaw), Calouste Gulbenkian FoundationCalouste Gulbenkian FoundationThe Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is a Portuguese private foundation of public utility whose statutory aims are in the fields of arts, charity, education, and science...
Newspapers and Magazines
- Poetry Review (various editions)
- Times Literary Supplement (various editions)
- Vogue (Russia) 1999
- Purple Magazine (France) 1999
- Attitude (USA) 1999
- Art and the Artist 2001
- The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
- The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
- Atlanta Review
- Carapace (South Africa)
- Horisont (Finland/Sweden)
- London Magazine
- Pennine Platform
- The Rialto
- Second Light
- The Wide Skirt
- Writing Women
As Editor
- Doncaster Women’s Centre group anthologies (1992, 94, 99)
- Oakwell Hall anthology (1997)
- Leeds University Poetry in Education (1998, 99)
- Guest poet at the Times Educational SupplementTimes Educational SupplementThe Times Educational Supplement is a weekly UK publication aimed primarily at school teachers in the UK. It was first published in 1910 as a pull-out supplement in The Times newspaper. Such was its popularity that in 1914, the supplement became a separate publication selling for 1 penny.The TES...
(1999) - Poetry in Motion, Penistone Line Project (2000)
Scripts
Ann has written and directed two stage plays for Yorkshire Women’s Theatre, one play for BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
and is currently working with a director on a short film script based on one of her poems.
Ann also co-wrote the script for the 'Genie' exhibition at the Magna Science Adventure Centre
Magna Science Adventure Centre
Magna Science Adventure Centre is an educational visitor attraction, appealing primarily to children. It is located in a disused steel mill in the Templeborough district of Rotherham, England. The site is formerly home to the Steel, Peech and Tozer steel works...
that was piloted in late 2006.
"Oh great one, to restore my power, tell me what I am like. I will ask questions so that you can tell my story [. . .] Every idea is a good idea, however simple or odd or rushed, because it is yours."
Children access the 'genie spirit' inside the exhibits using a 'magic mirror' (a tablet PC). The children interact with the genie, and produce poems that become 'memory stories' for the genie.
Reviews
In Praise of Men and Other People"Ann Sansom's new collection is a welcome return for a quietly authoritative, resiliently gritty poet whose debut collection. Romance, won her many admirers. These are poems that overturn readers' expectations. They often present human dramas in which people are seen as acting out their versions of themselves in their own fictions. They are set in curiously deracinated urban landscapes, homing in on chance encounters and missed connections, and balanced by a brisk authenticity and affectionate generosity."
Times Literary Supplement
Romance
"Ann Sansom’s naturally accomplished and instinctively organised poems come as a breath of fresh air … There is a maturity to her work, a sureness of hand associated with only the most established poets, but there is a freshness too, and a bareknuckle confidence that seems to sing of the author’s realisation of poetry as a first language and a mother tongue."
Simon Armitage
Simon Armitage
Simon Armitage CBE is a British poet, playwright, and novelist.-Life and career:Simon Armitage was born in Marsden, West Yorkshire. Armitage first studied at Colne Valley High School, Linthwaite, Huddersfield and went on to study geography at Portsmouth Polytechnic...
Opening the Ice
"A clear sense of narrative illuminated by accurate observation . . . with a sharp edge of personal involvement, of love and love lost that gives her poems an intimate feel. Warm, direct and delicately phrased."
David Harmer