Tony Harrison

Tony Harrison
Harrison in 2015
Born
Tony William Harrison

(1937-04-30)30 April 1937
Died26 September 2025(2025-09-26) (aged 88)
OccupationPoet, dramatist, librettist
Alma materUniversity of Leeds
Period1964–2017
Notable works"V", Fram, Yan Tan Tethera, Prometheus
Notable awardsEuropean Prize for Literature (2010)
Spouse
Rosemarie Crossfield
(m. 1960, divorced)
(m. 1984, divorced)
PartnerSiân Thomas
(from the 1980s)
Children2

Tony William Harrison (30 April 1937 – 26 September 2025) was an English poet, translator and playwright. He was one of Britain's foremost verse writers and many of his works have been performed at the Royal National Theatre. He is noted for controversial works such as the poem "V", as well as his versions of dramatic works such as the tragedies Oresteia and Lysistrata from ancient Greek, Molière's The Misanthrope from French, and The Mysteries from Middle English.

Harrison was also noted for his outspoken views, particularly those on the Iraq War. In 2015, he was honoured with the David Cohen Prize in recognition of his body of work and in 2016, he was awarded the Premio Feronia in Rome.