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Carol Ann Duffy’s recent appointment as Poet
Laureate was unarguably a moment of great importance in
lesbian history. Indeed, it was a pivotal moment in women’s
history as a whole, as Ms Duffy is the first ever female to occupy
the post since its creation almost 400 years ago. Carol Ann was
apparently in line for the role back in 1999, but sources at
Downing Street alleged that Tony Blair was “worried about having
a homosexual Poet Laureate because of how it might play in
middle England.”
Despite the delay over her being granted the position of Poet
Laureate, Carol Ann’s mainstream appeal is undeniable, with
her work even being featured on GCSE and A level English
Literature syllabi.
Carol Ann’s most famous work is The World’s Wife, a collection of
poems in which myths and historical incidents are imagined as if
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they involved women instead of men.
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For her first poem as Poet Laureate, Carol Ann chose to write a
piece on the MPs’ expenses scandal, hinting at what may turn out
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to be delightfully subversive approach to her new role.
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For more information visit www.carolannduffy.co.uk
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The product of a strict Pentecostal Christian upbringing, Jeanette
Winterson found fame with a novel based on the struggles she faced coming out
as lesbian. Oranges are Not the Only Fruit was published in 1985, when she was 23.
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Val McDermid began her writing career as a
journalist and then a playwright, but found her niche in penning
crime fiction. Her debut novel, Report for Murder: The First Lindsay
Gordon Mystery, was published in 1987. The character of Lindsay
Gordon is a lesbian journalist, and the series of books telling of her
exploits duly garnered a large lesbian fanbase.
However, Val’s journey towards fame and fortune was really kick-
She has since written another 14 books and recently edited and contributed to started when she dreamed up the character of private investigator
an anthology of stories about opera. Her rich, lyrical style and fascinating many- Kate Brannigan, and went on to write her next series of books LE
layered narratives have won her hosts of fans both gay and straight. about her. After Kate came Tony Hill and Carol Jordan, whose NG
literary exploits were eventually dramatised on ITV as the series
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Like Carol Ann Duffy, Jeanette’s work is also taught in schools – Oranges are Wire in the Blood.
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Not the Only Fruit is featured on the A-level syllabus. In a further nod to her far-
reaching popularity, three years ago Jeanette was awarded an OBE for services In addition to these three series, Val has also written four other
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to literature. She has also received numerous literary accolades, including the novels, two collections of short stories, and a work of non-fiction
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prestigious Whitbread Prize. discussing female crime fighters entitled A Suitable Job for a Woman.
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For more information visit www.jeanettewinterson.com For more information visit www.valmcdermid.com
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