Simon Barnes is Prize Chair of 2021’s Keats-Shelley and Young Romantics Prizes
We are pleased to announce that 2021’s Keats-Shelley Prize Chair is Simon Barnes. The award-winning sports journalist and bestselling nature writer returns after guiding last year’s Prizes through the Covid quarantine with enormous grace. As well as selecting a formidable set of poems and essays, Simon ensured our online Awards Ceremony was especially memorable by announcing the winners from his birdsong-filled back garden.
As part of 2020’s Prize, Simon talked to the Keats-Shelley Podcast about his life as a birdwatcher and bird-listener, about birdsong and Romantic poetry, and read from his work. Listen to him ponder what nightingales meant to the Johns Keats and Clare below – and who would have made the better birder.
Read more about Simon at our Keats-Shelley Judges page.
Simon’s website is simonbarnesauthor.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter.
Read more about 2021’s Keats-Shelley Poetry and Essay Prizes: here.
Read more about 2021’s Young Romantics Poetry and Essay Prizes: here.
James Kidd
Recent News
Julian Sands (1958-2023)
A tribute to the much-loved actor and supporter of the Keats-Shelley House
Ella Kilgallon is the New Curator of Keats-Shelley House
Dr Kilgallon will take up the post in February 2023
Keats-Shelley and Young Romantics Prizes 2022 Winners Announcement
17th October, 6pm: Fiona Sampson will reveal the winners on our website
Keats-Shelley Prizes 2022 - Shortlists
Read the Shortlisted Poems and Essays in 2022's Keats-Shelley and Young Romantics Prizes
Message from the Chairman of the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association to King Charles III
A Grecian Urn for the 21st Century
Specially commissioned by The Institute for Digital Archaeology
Fiona Sampson To Judge 2022’s Keats-Shelley Prizes
The award-winning poet, biographer of Mary Shelley and editor chairs our judging panels
Keats-Shelley and Young Romantics Prizes 2021: Winners
Watch Simon Barnes announce 2021's winning poems and essays
Keats-Shelley 200: Winchester Water Meadows ‘To Autumn' Walk
KSMA hosts a glorious walk that followed in the footsteps of John Keats