Forward Prizes for Poetry
1 appearances
-
Edition 28 (2019) Winner
Fiona Benson
フィオナ・ベンソン
Fiona Benson
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1978 （Wroughton, Wiltshire, England）
- Nationality
- British
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Wroughton, Wiltshire → St Andrews, Scotland → Thorverton, Devon
Career
- Occupations
- Poet
- Active Years
- 2006-2025
- Nominations
- T. S. Eliot Prize 2014 (Bright Travellers) shortlisted, T. S. Eliot Prize 2019 (Vertigo and Ghost) shortlisted, The Writers' Prize 2020 shortlisted, Forward Prizes for Poetry 2021 (Androgeus) Best Single Poem shortlisted, T. S. Eliot Prize 2022 (Ephemeron) shortlisted, The Writers' Prize 2023 Poetry shortlisted
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of St Andrews | — | English | MLitt and PhD | — | United Kingdom |
University of St Andrews
English
Degree:
MLitt and PhD
Country:
United Kingdom
Dissertation on the Ophelia figure in early modern drama
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Eric Gregory Award | — | — | Society of Authors | Won |
| — | Faber New Poets Award | — | — | — | Won |
| 2015 | Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize | Bright Travellers | — | — | Won |
| 2015 | Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize | Bright Travellers | — | — | Won |
| 2019 | Forward Prizes for Poetry | Vertigo and Ghost | Best Collection | Forward Arts Foundation | Won |
Eric Gregory Award
2006
Organization:
Society of Authors
Result:
Won
Faber New Poets Award
Result:
Won
Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize
2015
Work:
Bright Travellers
Result:
Won
Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize
2015
Work:
Bright Travellers
Result:
Won
Forward Prizes for Poetry
2019
Work:
Vertigo and Ghost
Category:
Best Collection
Organization:
Forward Arts Foundation
Result:
Won
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Bright Travellers
2014 Poetry collectionBenson's debut collection exploring themes of motherhood, violence, and loss.
motherhoodviolenceloss
Vertigo and Ghost
2019 Poetry collectionPoems retelling Greek myths in the #MeToo age.
Greek mythsfemale perspectiveviolence
Ephemeron
2022 Poetry collectionIncludes a long mythic sequence retelling the minotaur myth centering Pasiphaë.
mythmotherhoodmonstrosity
Midden Witch
2025 Poetry collectionDeals with witchcraft, herbalism, folk tales, and motherhood, inspired by County Durham witch trials.
witchcraftfolk talesmotherhood
Bibliography
- Bright Travellers (2014)
- Vertigo and Ghost (2019)
- Ariadne (2021)
- Ephemeron (2022)
- Midden Witch (2025)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- dark imagination mixes solemnity with lyricismtreating the poem as a kind of secular prayer
- Recurring Motifs
- violence and lossmotherhoodGreek mythswitchcraft
Legacy
A major voice in contemporary British poetry, multiple TS Eliot Prize shortlists, Forward Prize winner. Acclaimed for blending motherhood with mythic retellings.
Quotes
-
a poet whose dark imagination mixes solemnity with lyricism, treating the poem as a kind of secular prayer.
Source: The Guardian (Ben Wilkinson) (2014)
Trivia
- Married to James Meredith, with two daughters Isla and Rose.
- Born in Wiltshire.