Hughes, Ted

Hughes, Ted (Edward James Hughes, 1930–98),
English poet and poet laureate from 1984. Renowned for its evocation of the natural world, Hughes's poetry is deeply influenced by mythology, and volumes such as Crow (1970) seem to distil the stark unsentimentality of folk tale and fable. His explicit dealings with the fairy tale include the children's play, Beauty and the Beast (broadcast 1965; first produced 1971), and the short story ‘The Head’ (1978). His writing for children also includes Tales of the Early World (1988) and a number of animal fables.

Stephen Benson