Inaugurated in 1998 by the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association, The Keats-Shelley Prize encourages people of all ages to respond to the work of the Romantics, by composing their own original poem or essay. Essayists can explore any aspect of the life or work of the Romantic writers. Poets respond to a theme which changes from one year to the next.
Distinguished judges of the prize have included two Poet Laureates (Sir Andrew Motion and Dame Carol Ann Duffy), the Makar of Scotland (Liz Lochhead), Stephen Fry, Dame Penelope Lively, Claire Tomalin, Professor Richard Holmes OBE, Tom Paulin, Miranda Seymour, Lord Gilmour, James Fenton, Jack Mapanje, A.N. Wilson, Colin Thubron CBE, Salley Vickers, Simon Barnes and Fiona Sampson.
Click here for more information about 2024's Keats-Shelley Prize.