Kathleen Jamie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kathleen Jamie
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Kathleen Jamie
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| Makar | |
| In office 18 August 2021 – 2 December 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Jackie Kay |
| Succeeded by | Pàdraig MacAoidh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 May 1962 Scotland |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Poet, essayist |
| Awards | Forward Poetry Prize Scottish Book of the Year Eric Gregory Award |
Kathleen Jamie (born 13 May 1962) is a famous Scottish poet and writer of essays. In 2021, she was given the special title of Scotland's fourth Makar, which is the national poet of Scotland.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kathleen Jamie grew up in Currie, a town near Edinburgh, Scotland. She was interested in writing from a young age.
While studying philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, she began to publish her first poems. This was the start of her long and successful career as a writer.
A Career in Writing
Jamie is known for her poems and essays that explore the beauty of Scotland's landscapes and its rich culture. Her work often touches on topics like nature, travel, women's experiences, and art. She writes mostly in English, but sometimes uses the traditional Scots language.
Famous Books and Poems
One of her well-known poetry collections is The Queen of Sheba, published in 1995.
In 2004, she released The Tree House, a collection of poems that showed her growing interest in the natural world. This book was very successful and won two major awards.
Her 2012 book, The Overhaul, also won a prestigious award for its poetry. In 2014, Jamie challenged herself to write one new poem every week. These poems were gathered into a book called The Bonniest Companie, which was named book of the year by the Saltire Society in 2016.
A poem written by Jamie is carved into the national monument at the site of the Battle of Bannockburn.
Essays and Other Writing
Besides poetry, Jamie is a talented essayist. Her collections of essays, such as Findings and Sightlines, are celebrated for their beautiful descriptions of nature and landscapes. She sometimes writes articles and reviews for newspapers like The Guardian and the London Review of Books.
Awards and Honours
Kathleen Jamie has received many awards for her writing. Here are some of the most important ones:
- 1981: Eric Gregory Award
- 1995: Somerset Maugham Award for The Queen of Sheba
- 2004: Forward Poetry Prize for The Tree House
- 2012: Costa Prize for Poetry for The Overhaul
- 2014: John Burroughs Medal for Sightlines
- 2016: Saltire Society Book of the Year Award for The Bonniest Companie
- 2017: Ness Award for her creative writing about travel, nature, and culture.
In addition to awards, she has been given special honours. In 2009, she was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and in 2018, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. These are high honours for writers and scientists in the UK.
