Poet and critic. Born near Goole, Yorkshire. Considered a great English critic, his best-known work is his first publication "Seven Types of Ambiguity" 1930. Married Hetta in 1941 and had two sons, but was probably bisexual and an alcoholic. Spent a lot of his married life away from the London home, in Sheffield where he was chair of English literature at the university. Died at home, Studio House, 1 Hampstead Hill Gardens. (Did you notice how we managed not to mention the beard?)
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir William Empson
Commemorated ati
Sir William Empson
Unveiled by Sir Williams’ son, Jake Empson. At no 71 Empson lived in the the...
Other Subjects
Ben Okri
Poet and novelist.  Born Nigeria but spent his early childhood in London.  Returned to England to study in the late 1970s.  His 1991 novel 'The Famished Road' won the Booker Prize.
1 memorial
Edith Nesbit
Author and poet. Wrote approximately 40 books for children including 'The Railway Children'. Born at 38 Lower Kensington Lane. She married the journalist and politician, Hubert Bland in 1880, but u...
2 memorials
Lemn Sissay
Poet.  Born near Wigan of Ethiopean parentage. Appointed MBE in 2010. Own website.
1 memorial
Charlotte Mew
Poet. Charlotte Mary Mew was born Bloomsbury in the building with the plaque. Those who appreciated her poetry included Thomas Hardy, Siegfried Sassoon and Virginia Woolf. In February 1890Â her fam...
1 memorial
Lord Alfred Douglas
Journalist and poet. Son of the Marquess of Queensbury and lover of Oscar Wilde. Known as Bosie (a nickname given to him by his mother as a derivation of 'boysie'). After Wilde's release from priso...
1 memorial
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