Anne Rouse
Encyclopedia
Anne Barrett Rouse is an American-British poet
. Along with Michael Donaghy
and Eva Salzman
, she has been cited as a noted American-British contributor to contemporary British poetry.
, grew up in Virginia
and read history
at the University of London
. She has since long been a resident of the United Kingdom. After reading History at Bedford, she was a prizewinner in the 1989 Kent Literature Festival and a guest reader at the 1990 Poetry Festival. Afterwards, she worked as a nurse and as the director of a local branch of the mental health
charity
Mind. Now a freelance writer, she has had numerous residencies, including fellowships at the University of Glasgow
and the Courtauld Institute of Art.
Rouse has been described by the International Poetry Society as an "accomplished and intelligent writer" and by others as a poet of "great formal deftness", with a fine gift for social themes incorporated into her poetry. A miniaturist, Rouse, especially in her earlier works, often draws upon her experiences as a mental health worker and nurse and displays elements of gothic horror. Her poems often fuse together the ordinary and the bizarre, often with use of satire
and humor.
All four of her collections to date have been published by Bloodaxe Books
, including Sunset Grill (1993) and Timing (1997), both of which were Poetry Book Society Recommendations. One of the poems from Sunset Grill, "Athletic," was published in book on women and sport, Crossing Boundaries: An International Anthology of Women's Experiences in Sport, and two other poems from this 1993 collection, "Faith Healers" and "Memo to Auden," were published in the anthology New British Poetry in 2004. Several of the poems in Timing were written as performances pieces, such as "Spunk Talking," and many of them have been described as being "hymns to the momentary and the marvelously futile: physical love, football, the preoccupations of patients on a dementia ward, fashion, and poetry itself." Her poem "Glass" was published in The Guardian
and she has also had work published in The Independent
, The Observer
, Atlantic Monthly and The Times Literary Supplement
.
Rouse has performed her poetry at Arvon Foundation, the South Bank, Aldeburgh Poetry Festival and Almeida Theatre
. In 2004 she recorded her poems "Childminding," "The Anaesthetist," "Sighting," and "Testament" for the British Council
.
In 2008, Rouse published a poetry collection, entitled The Upshot: New and Selected Poems. This included the poem "The Divided," a poem which has been described as constructing "a modern meta-physic out of love and the daily, set against the latent (sometimes tragic) divisions in contemporary society."
. She currently lives in East Sussex
.
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...
. Along with Michael Donaghy
Michael Donaghy
Michael Donaghy was an award-winning New York poet and musician, who lived in London from 1985.-Life and career:...
and Eva Salzman
Eva Salzman
Eva Salzman is a noted contemporary American poet.Eva Salzman was born in 1960 in New York City, and grew up in Brooklyn where – from the age of 10 until 22 – she was a dancer and later a choreographer. She was educated at Bennington College and Columbia University, moving to Britain in 1985...
, she has been cited as a noted American-British contributor to contemporary British poetry.
Biography
She was born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, grew up in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and read history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. She has since long been a resident of the United Kingdom. After reading History at Bedford, she was a prizewinner in the 1989 Kent Literature Festival and a guest reader at the 1990 Poetry Festival. Afterwards, she worked as a nurse and as the director of a local branch of the mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
Mind. Now a freelance writer, she has had numerous residencies, including fellowships at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and the Courtauld Institute of Art.
Rouse has been described by the International Poetry Society as an "accomplished and intelligent writer" and by others as a poet of "great formal deftness", with a fine gift for social themes incorporated into her poetry. A miniaturist, Rouse, especially in her earlier works, often draws upon her experiences as a mental health worker and nurse and displays elements of gothic horror. Her poems often fuse together the ordinary and the bizarre, often with use of satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
and humor.
All four of her collections to date have been 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...
, including Sunset Grill (1993) and Timing (1997), both of which were Poetry Book Society Recommendations. One of the poems from Sunset Grill, "Athletic," was published in book on women and sport, Crossing Boundaries: An International Anthology of Women's Experiences in Sport, and two other poems from this 1993 collection, "Faith Healers" and "Memo to Auden," were published in the anthology New British Poetry in 2004. Several of the poems in Timing were written as performances pieces, such as "Spunk Talking," and many of them have been described as being "hymns to the momentary and the marvelously futile: physical love, football, the preoccupations of patients on a dementia ward, fashion, and poetry itself." Her poem "Glass" was published in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and she has also had work published in The Independent
The Independent
The 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...
, The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, Atlantic Monthly and The Times Literary Supplement
The Times Literary Supplement
The Times Literary Supplement is a weekly literary review published in London by News International, a subsidiary of News Corporation.-History:...
.
Rouse has performed her poetry at Arvon Foundation, the South Bank, Aldeburgh Poetry Festival and Almeida Theatre
Almeida Theatre
The Almeida Theatre, opened in 1980, is a 325 seat studio theatre with an international reputation which takes its name from the street in which it is located, off Upper Street, in the London Borough of Islington. The theatre produces a diverse range of drama and holds an annual summer festival of...
. In 2004 she recorded her poems "Childminding," "The Anaesthetist," "Sighting," and "Testament" for the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
.
In 2008, Rouse published a poetry collection, entitled The Upshot: New and Selected Poems. This included the poem "The Divided," a poem which has been described as constructing "a modern meta-physic out of love and the daily, set against the latent (sometimes tragic) divisions in contemporary society."
Personal life
Rouse is a fellow of the Royal Literary FundRoyal Literary Fund
The Royal Literary Fund is a benevolent fund set up to help published British writers in financial difficulties. It was founded by Reverend David Williams in 1790 and has received bequests and donations, including royal patronage, ever since...
. She currently lives in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
.
Poetry Collections
- Sunset Grill (1993)
- Timing (1997)
- The School of Night (2004)
- The Upshot: New and Selected Poems (2008)