Fleur Adcock

Fleur Adcock CNZM OBE (10 February 1934 – 10 October 2024) was a New Zealand poet, editor and translator. Born in Papakura, New Zealand, and raised partly in England, Adcock spent most of her adult life in the United Kingdom, where she became a prominent figure in contemporary poetry. Her work is characterised by wit, a conversational tone and psychological insights, and explores themes of identity, place and the complexities of human relationships.

Over a career spanning more than six decades, Adcock published around 20 poetry collections, and edited influential anthologies such as the Oxford Book of Contemporary New Zealand Poetry (1982). Her contributions to British and New Zealand literature were recognised with significant awards, including the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry (2006), an OBE (1996), appointment as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (2008), and an honorary doctorate of literature from Victoria University of Wellington (2007). She was also a noted translator of medieval Latin and Romanian poetry.