2019’s Keats-Shelley and Young Romantics Prizes marks the publication 200 years ago of the first two cantos of Lord Byron’s controversial poem Don Juan. This is generally considered to be Byron’s masterpiece, but it caused outrage and consternation in England. Byron’s response was ‘all the bullies on earth shall not prevent me from writing what I like and publishing what I write.’

Inspired by Byron’s comic masterpiece, our twin poetry themes this year are ‘Wandering’ or ‘Fiery Dust’.

2019’s Chair of Judges is Professor Michael Rosen Professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths University, London, former Children’s Laureate, and acclaimed author of books for both children and adults.

The panel of judges includes Jo Shapcott and Will Kemp, and Professors Simon Bainbridge and Sharon Ruston.

Total Prizes worth £5000.

For more information, including instructions on how to apply, please CLICK HERE.