Perchance for professor

Auckland-born poet Fleur Adcock is one of eight names being discussed by the Oxford University English faculty to take up the position of professor of poetry when current incumbent Christopher Ricks comes to the end of his five-year tenure in May. The holder of the post, seen as the most important in poetry behind that of poet laureate, is voted for by Oxford graduates and comes with a small salary of £6,901. Adcock, who lives in Britain, has published 13 books of poetry. She received the Queen’s Medal for Poetry in 2006, and in 2008 was awarded Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to literature. Chair of Oxford’s English faculty board Dr Sally Mapstone said she hoped that graduates would want to elect a professor “who sees poetry as culturally central to modern society as well as one who values its traditions and history”.