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Kenneth AllottAnglo-Irish poet, academic and great scholar of Matthew Arnold
Date of Birth: 01.01.1912
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Academic and Literary Career
- Literary Endeavors
- Notable Works
- Personal Life and Legacy
Early Life and Education
Born in Glamorgan in 1912, Kenneth Allott endured the separation and subsequent death of his mother and was raised by his Irish aunt in Tyneside. At the age of 14, he enrolled at St. Cuthbert's Roman Catholic Grammar School in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he earned the nickname "Speedy" for his rapid speech.
Academic and Literary Career
Despite excelling in English and Latin, Allott studied independently instead of attending classes. In 1934, he graduated from Armstrong College, Durham University, and pursued postgraduate studies at Oxford University. He became a reviewer for the 'Morning Post' and contributed to 'New Verse' magazine under Geoffrey Grigson.
Literary Endeavors
Allott published his first poetry collection, 'Poems,' in 1938 and 'The Ventriloquist's Doll' in 1943. He wrote a biography of Jules Verne and a play based on E. M. Forster's 'A Room with a View.' From 1948 until his death in 1973, he served as Professor of English at Liverpool University.
Notable Works
Among Allott's most celebrated works are the poem 'Lament for a Cricket Eleven' and his yellow anthology 'The Penguin Book of Contemporary Verse,' widely used in colleges. He also edited 'The Pelican Book of English Prose' and provided critical editions of Matthew Arnold's works.
Personal Life and Legacy
Allott was an avid smoker, mistakenly believing it to be a remedy for tuberculosis. He succumbed to lung cancer in 1973. His 'Collected Poems' was published posthumously in 1975, while a revised and annotated edition was released in 2008. Known for his wit and love of cats, Allott remains an important figure in English literature.
