Welcome return for writer Simon

Jul 23 2008 by Hilarie Stelfox, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SIMON ARMITAGE, who was born and raised in Marsden, is widely acclaimed as a poet, novelist, playwright and television dramatist.

His latest book, Gig, the Life and Times of a Rock-star Fantasist, is a warm, wryly witty memoir of his years following rock bands and, indeed, forming his own.

Simon peppers his work with family anecdotes, carefully observed humour and self-deprecating tales of his own live poetry readings.

Simon is a geography graduate and former probation officer and his first collection of poems, Zoom!, was published in 1989.

Since then he has won numerous literary prizes and written everything from documentary dramas for television to a translation of the English classic poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Such is his professional stature that he is now asked to serve as a judge for major literary awards such as the Whitbread Prize and the Man Booker Prize.

Simon is a past guest at The Examiner Literary Luncheon and will be making a welcome return.