E. A. Markham
Encyclopedia
Edward Archie Markham FRSL (1 October 1939 – 23 March 2008) was a poet and writer, born in Harris, Montserrat, and mainly resident in the United Kingdom
from 1956. Known for poetry in both "nation-language" (patois
) and standard English
, for short stories and a comic novel, he sometimes used the pseudonym
Paul St. Vincent and other personae, and defies simple classification as an author. He edited two significant collections of Caribbean writing, and several literary magazines. His first work was in drama
.
His family was large and relatively prosperous. He attended grammar school in Montserrat, and read English and philosophy at the University of Wales, Lampeter
. He started academic research into seventeenth century comedy
at the University of East Anglia
, and then in London. In 1969, while lecturing at Kilburn Polytechnic, he formed the Caribbean Theatre Troupe, which toured Montserrat, Saint Vincent
and other parts of the Eastern Caribbean. They performed The Private Life of the Public Man and Dropping Out is Violence.
He then worked in France for two years. His Lambchops poems, written as Paul St. Vincent, started to appear in the mid-1970s, and assume the perspective of a young urban Caribbean man. He would also use the voices of Sally Goodman, a Welsh feminist, Philpot and Maureen, and the character of Pewter Stapleton, an unimpressive academic, in his novel and stories. He built up a reputation gradually as a poet, through small press
and chapbook
publication.
He joined for a time the performers The Bluefoot Travellers. In the later 1970s he taught in Manchester
, then had writing fellowships in Hull
and London (on a C. Day Lewis Fellowship).
In a long itinerant period he took a position for two years 1983-5 in Papua New Guinea
, working for Enga province
. He followed that with two years editing Artrage, the magazine of the Minority Arts Advisory Service. He spent 1988-91 at the University of Ulster
as a writer-in-residence; he edited Writing Ulster.
He also lived in Germany
and Sweden
, and in Britain, in Ipswich
and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He served in both the Poetry Society
and Poetry Book Society
.
He was awarded the Certificate of Honour by the Government of Montserrat, in 1997.
As Professor of Creative Writing
at Sheffield Hallam University
(beginning 1997), a position he held until his death, he directed the Hallam Literature Festival. He also edited Sheffield Thursday magazine, and ran its competitions for poetry and short stories.
Markham died of a heart attack in Paris
on Easter
day, 23 March 2008, at the age of 69.
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...
from 1956. Known for poetry in both "nation-language" (patois
Patois
Patois is any language that is considered nonstandard, although the term is not formally defined in linguistics. It can refer to pidgins, creoles, dialects, and other forms of native or local speech, but not commonly to jargon or slang, which are vocabulary-based forms of cant...
) and standard English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, for short stories and a comic novel, he sometimes used the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Paul St. Vincent and other personae, and defies simple classification as an author. He edited two significant collections of Caribbean writing, and several literary magazines. His first work was in drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
.
His family was large and relatively prosperous. He attended grammar school in Montserrat, and read English and philosophy at the University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter is a university in Lampeter, Wales. Founded in 1822 by royal charter, it is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales and may be the third oldest in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge...
. He started academic research into seventeenth century comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
at the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
, and then in London. In 1969, while lecturing at Kilburn Polytechnic, he formed the Caribbean Theatre Troupe, which toured Montserrat, Saint Vincent
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country in the Lesser Antilles chain, namely in the southern portion of the Windward Islands, which lie at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea where the latter meets the Atlantic Ocean....
and other parts of the Eastern Caribbean. They performed The Private Life of the Public Man and Dropping Out is Violence.
He then worked in France for two years. His Lambchops poems, written as Paul St. Vincent, started to appear in the mid-1970s, and assume the perspective of a young urban Caribbean man. He would also use the voices of Sally Goodman, a Welsh feminist, Philpot and Maureen, and the character of Pewter Stapleton, an unimpressive academic, in his novel and stories. He built up a reputation gradually as a poet, through small press
Small press
Small press is a term often used to describe publishers with annual sales below a certain level. Commonly, in the United States, this is set at $50 million, after returns and discounts...
and chapbook
Chapbook
A chapbook is a pocket-sized booklet. The term chap-book was formalized by bibliophiles of the 19th century, as a variety of ephemera , popular or folk literature. It includes many kinds of printed material such as pamphlets, political and religious tracts, nursery rhymes, poetry, folk tales,...
publication.
He joined for a time the performers The Bluefoot Travellers. In the later 1970s he taught in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, then had writing fellowships in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
and London (on a C. Day Lewis Fellowship).
In a long itinerant period he took a position for two years 1983-5 in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, working for Enga province
Enga Province
Enga refers to both an ethnic group located in the highlands of Papua New Guinea and the province in which they are the majority ethnic group.-Physical geography:...
. He followed that with two years editing Artrage, the magazine of the Minority Arts Advisory Service. He spent 1988-91 at the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
as a writer-in-residence; he edited Writing Ulster.
He also lived in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and in Britain, in Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He served in both the 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 Poetry Book Society
Poetry Book Society
The Poetry Book Society was founded by T. S. Eliot and friends in 1953. Each quarter the Society selects one recently published collection of poetry for its members. The Society also publishes the quarterly poetry journal Bulletin, and it administers the competition for the annual T. S. Eliot Prize...
.
He was awarded the Certificate of Honour by the Government of Montserrat, in 1997.
As Professor of Creative Writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
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...
(beginning 1997), a position he held until his death, he directed the Hallam Literature Festival. He also edited Sheffield Thursday magazine, and ran its competitions for poetry and short stories.
Markham died of a heart attack in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
day, 23 March 2008, at the age of 69.
Works
- Crossfire (1972) poems
- Mad and Other Poems (1973)
- Merely a Matter of Colour (1973) edited with Arnold Kingston, on the Ugandan Asians
- Lambchops (1976) poems, as Paul St Vincent
- Lambchops In Disguise (1976) poems, as Paul St Vincent
- Philpot in the City (1976) poems, as Paul St Vincent
- Love Poems and Maze (1978) poems
- The Lamp (1978)
- Pierrot (1979) story
- Masterclass (1979) poems
- Games and Penalties (1980) poems
- Love, Politics and Food (1982) poems
- Family Matters (1984) poems
- Human Rites: Selected Poems 1970-1982 (1984)
- Lambchops in Papua New Guinea (1986) poems
- Living In Disguise (1986) poems
- Something Unusual (1986) stories
- Hinterland: Caribbean Poetry from the West Indies and Britain (1989) editor
- Hugo versus Montserrat (1989) for hurricane relief, edited with Howard Fergus
- Towards the End of a Century (1989) poems
- Maurice V.'s Dido (1991) poems
- Letter from Ulster and the Hugo Poems (1993) poems
- Ten Stories (1994)
- Misapprehensions (1995) poems
- The Penguin Book of Caribbean Short Stories (1996) editor
- A Papua New Guinea Sojourn: More Pleasures of Exile (1998) autobiographical
- Marking Time (1999) novel
- Fragments of Memory (2000) poems
- A Rough Climate (2002) T. S. Eliot PrizeT. S. Eliot PrizeThe T. S. Eliot Prize for Poetry is awarded by the Poetry Book Society to "the best collection of new verse in English first published in the UK or the Republic of Ireland" in any particular year. The Prize was inaugurated in 1993 in celebration of the Poetry Book Society's 40th birthday and in...
shortlist - Taking the Drawing Room Through Customs: Selected Stories 1970-2000 (2002)
- John Lewis & Co (2003) poems
- The Selected Poems of Paul St. Vincent and Sally Goodman (2003)
External links
- Guardian Obituary includes a "Critical Perspective" section
- "The Widow's Eulogy": a poem by E. A. Markham from TLS, April 16, 2008.