Useful online resources

The Wikipedia (English) article * on Ted Hughes is outstanding.

From The Poetry Foundation * in the USA, an article on Ted Hughes.

From Norway *, an excellent online encyclopedia article on Ted Hughes.

A exceptionally fascinating written interview with Ted Hughes *, from The Paris Review, 1995.

From The Ted Hughes Society *, all sorts of interesting resources on the poet's life and work, including detailed academic articles on the poetry.

From the Interesting Literature * website of Dr Oliver Tearle, a literary critic and lecturer in English at Loughborough University, England - this provides an excellent introduction to Ted Hughes's poetry, setting out a view of its major themes *, and a list of 'ten of the best poems' *.

The Elmet Trust * exists to promote study and appreciation of Ted Hughes's work.  The link here directs you to a biographical article on the poet, which is worth reading.

An interesting website, featuring a section on the Calder Valley *.  This includes further photos of the area which so inspired Hughes throughout his life.

From Ted Hughes's publishers, Faber and Faber *, details of his published work.

From the writer Lord Bragg, a review * of Hughes's unofficial biography - a fascinating discussion of Hughes as a figure of controversy and charisma.

Other online media

Recorded album * of Ted Hughes reading his poetry, including:

• The Thought Fox *

• The Jaguar *

• Wind *

• Hawk Roosting *

It's well worth listening to all the poems in this album to understand the magnetic charisma of Ted Hughes as a person, as well as to broaden your experience of this very prolific poet.

See also this selection of recordings of Ted Hughes * reading some of his own poems, from the Poetry Archive.

Poet Alice Oswald * talks about her admiration of Ted Hughes's poetry and introduces recordings of Ted Hughes reading some of his poems, including The Thought Fox.  You can find out more about Alice Oswald, and read a selection of her poems by following the link here *.

A fascinating short film * presented by Ted Hughes's daughter Frieda, talking about her parents' life and work, in the context of a series of love-letters between Ted Hughes and his wife Sylvia Plath being auctioned at Sotheby's auction-house.

Hughes's unofficial biographer Professor Sir Jonathan Bate * talks about his book on Ted Hughes.

This lecture by Professor Sir Jonathan Bate * is long and complex, but it has some wonderful commentary on Ted Hughes's nature poetry, including some of your set texts.

Academics from Ted Hughes's old college in Cambridge talk about his poetry in this short film *.

A short film * about Ted Hughes's love of fishing.

From the BBC news archive in the UK:

• news of Ted Hughes receiving the Order of Merit from the Queen * shortly before he died;

• news of the death of Ted Hughes * in 1998;

• news of the release of the Birthday Letters * poems in 1998;

• a report of the memorial service * held for Ted Hughes in 1999.

Generals material & reference

A fantastic Glossary of Poetic Terms * from The Poetry Foundation in the USA - really useful if you're serious about studying poems in English.

photo

View from the village of Heptonstall, looking towards Stoodley Pike, West Yorkshire, England - photo by James Harding.