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Article Walcott the heir apparent to England's poet laureateshipBy Eric McHenry Derek Walcott, CAS professor of creative writing, is the likely successor to the late Ted Hughes as England's poet laureate, the Times of London reported on Saturday, January 9. Walcott, who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1992, tops two of the four shortlists recently submitted by literary panels to British Prime Minister Tony Blair for consideration, and appears on a third. Blair is expected to choose the new national poet after a fifth panel makes its recommendations later this month. Interviewed Monday from his home in St. Lucia, Walcott said he would seriously consider accepting the position should it be offered to him. "If you're asking me if I'm inclined to accept it, I would say yes," Walcott said. "But I'd have to know in more detail what it might involve." That has yet to be determined. According to the Times, a fairly extensive redefinition of the post is imminent. The traditional lifetime appointment is expected to be replaced by a 10-year term. Probable features of the new laureateship include a salary of £20,000 (about $32,400) and an official residence. The job will likely entail some travel with the prime minister and the queen. And although it is currently restricted to English-born poets, sources cited by the Times say that requirement could be waived to accommodate Walcott, a native St. Lucian. Walcott's appointment would bring the number of poets laureate with offices in 236 Bay State Road to two. CAS Professor of English Robert Pinsky, the graduate Creative Writing Program's other teacher of poetry, was named U.S. poet laureate in 1997. Walcott, who is 68, said whether or not he's offered the post, he does not foresee giving up his BU professorship. "The salary that goes with [the laureateship] is very small," he said. "I could hardly give up my job." |
