Sir, The Oxford English Faculty Board strongly deplores the decision of Oxford University Press to abolish its contemporary poetry list (letters, November 25 and 27). The list is of great distinction, and has been carefully nurtured during the course of the century. Its running costs are marginal, and the return of expenditure in terms of enormous educational and cultural benefits is beyond doubt.
The English faculty has several distinguished poets among its teaching members, and it seeks to promote the writing, reading and study of poetry in many of its activities.
We therefore wish to dissociate ourselves from the decision, of which we had no prior warning, and we call upon Oxford University Press to reinstate the poetry list at the earliest opportunity.
Yours faithfully,
NIGEL SMITH (Chair, Faculty Board of English Language and Literature, University of Oxford),
NICHOLAS SHRIMPTON (Chair, Faculty of English Language and Literature, University of Oxford), St Cross Building, Manor Road, Oxford OX1 3UQ
December 1
Go to the next item in Oxford's 1999 poetry fiasco.