James Harpur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Harpur
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| Born | 1956 (age 68–69) Weybridge, Surrey, UK |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Notable works | Angels and Harvesters; The White Silhouette; The Examined Life; The Pathless Country (novel) |
James Harpur (born in 1956) is an Irish poet. He was born in Britain but now lives in Ireland. He has written many poetry books and won important awards like the Michael Hartnett Award. He has also written non-fiction books and a novel called The Pathless Country. James Harpur lives in West Cork, Ireland, and is part of Aosdána, which is a special group for Irish artists.
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About James Harpur
James Harpur was born in Britain in 1956. His father was Irish, and his mother was British. Today, he lives near Clonakilty in County Cork, Ireland.
He studied old Greek and Roman literature (Classics) and English at Trinity College, Cambridge. While there, he won a poetry award called the Powell Prize. Later, he taught English on the island of Crete. He has also worked as a lexicographer, which means he helped write dictionaries, and as a freelance writer.
His Books and Writings
Poetry Books
Many poems in his first book, A Vision of Comets, were inspired by his time on the island of Crete and around the Aegean Sea. In 1995, he won the UK National Poetry Competition. This was for a series of sonnets (a type of poem) called ‘The Frame of Furnace Light’. These poems were about his father's death and were published in his second book, The Monk’s Dream.
In 2000, James Harpur became a poet who lived and worked at Exeter Cathedral for a while. In 2002, he moved to Ireland and settled in West Cork. His book, The Dark Age, won the 2009 Michael Hartnett Award. This book included poems about Irish saints from the Dark Ages.
Other poetry books include The White Silhouette (2018) and The Examined Life (2021). The Irish Times newspaper called The White Silhouette a "beautiful journey." The famous writer Stephen Fry said The Examined Life was a "marvellous work."
His Novel
In 2021, James Harpur published his first novel, The Pathless Country. A novel is a long story. This book won the J.G. Farrell Award. The story takes place in Ireland and London in the early 1900s. It includes real historical people like W. B. Yeats, Annie Besant, and J. Krishnamurti.
What His Poetry Is Like
James Harpur's poems often explore spiritual ideas. They include references to Christian traditions and other religions. He is influenced by older poets like Homer, Virgil, and Dante. He also likes poets from the Romantic period and writers like Yeats and Eliot. Outside of literature, he is influenced by thinkers like Carl Jung and J. Krishnamurti.
One reviewer said that James Harpur's poetry shows how spiritual struggles and old traditions can feel new and alive in his poems.
Awards and Prizes
Poetry Awards
- Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize (2016)
- Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship (2013)
- Michael Hartnett Poetry Award (2009)
- UK National Poetry Competition (1995)
- Eric Gregory Award (1985)
Novel Awards
(for The Pathless Country)
- John McGahern Prize (shortlisted) (2022)
- J.G. Farrell Award (2019)
- Irish Writers’ Centre Novel Fair Award (2016)
See also
- List of Irish writers
