Joan Barton (1908–1986) was an English poet and bookseller. She was born in

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

and studied at Colston's Girls' School and Bristol University. While working in a bookstore in Bristol, and later running her own in

Marlborough Marlborough may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Marlborough, Wiltshire, England ** Marlborough College, public school * Marlborough School, Woodstock in Oxfordshire, England * The Marlborough Science Academy in Hertfordshire, England Austral ...

, she corresponded with a number of poets who responded positively to her poetry and encouraged her to seek publication; these included John Betjeman,

Walter de la Mare Walter John de la Mare (; 25 April 1873 – 22 June 1956) was an English poet, short story writer, and novelist. He is probably best remembered for his works for children, for his poem "The Listeners", and for a highly acclaimed selection of ...

and Cecil Day-Lewis. A steadily increasing number of published poems led to her first collection, published when she was in her 60s; not long after, her poem "The Mistress" was included by

Philip Larkin Philip Arthur Larkin (9 August 1922 – 2 December 1985) was an English poet, novelist, and librarian. His first book of poetry, ''The North Ship'', was published in 1945, followed by two novels, ''Jill'' (1946) and ''A Girl in Winter'' (1947 ...

in ''

The Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse ''The Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse'' is a poetry anthology edited by Philip Larkin. It was published in 1973 by Oxford University Press with . Larkin writes in the short preface that the selection is wide rather than deep; and a ...

''. In 1975, she was profiled by Anne Stevenson for the series ''The Living Poet'' on BBC Radio 3. She published two more collections, including a chapbook in 1979.

Books

*''The Mistress and Other Poems.'' Hull: Sonus Press, 1972. *''Ten Poems.'' Salisbury: Perdix Press, 1979. *''A House Under Old Sarum: New and Selected Poems.'' Liskeard: Harry Chambers/Peterloo Poets, 1981.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barton, Joan 1908 births 1986 deaths 20th-century English poets English women poets Writers from Bristol People educated at Montpelier High School, Bristol Alumni of the University of Bristol 20th-century English women 20th-century English people