Fleur Adcock Biography

Fleur Adcock is a New Zealand writer who has been one of the most influential poets in Britain for the past 30 years. Born in New Zealand, she left her country at the age of five when her family migrated to England. After receiving her early education from several schools there, she returned to her homeland and completed her graduation as well as post-graduation. She started her career as a teacher and librarian in her home country but later decided to move permanently to Britain where she held the post of a library assistant until she decided to dedicate herself to the task of writing. She began her literary career with a book of poems titled ‘Eye of the Hurricane’ and went on to produce many such spellbinding collections of poetry. She has written poems about the process of belonging and about the life in Britain. She has also edited and translated many books throughout her career. Her poetry is a display of technical precision which, together with its ironic, sarcastic tone captivates the readers and transforms reading into an engrossing experience. She has experimented with different voices and speakers in her works, moving away from direct observations and into an exploration of the unconscious. Her ability to combine inwardness with very tangible impressions makes her work unique and places her among the leading poets of Britain.