About Us

The Poetry House is divided into a number of rooms, as detailed on the main menu. If you are seeking information about poetry from a particular part of the world, click on the relevant room. This room may then be subdivided according to historical periods. You'll be offered a short introduction to the area covered by the room, then an expertly chosen selection of links to sites related to that area. Not all related sites have been chosen, only those the editor regards as the best. This is to ensure a consistently high quality of information. The Poetry House is not responsible for the information on the sites selected, but the editors have chosen the sites because of their usefulness and reliability. You will be able to find other, related sites on the net, but editors have tried to use their expert judgment in offering you a selection of the best.

The Poetry House is thought to be the first site of its kind on the net, offering an expert selection of information about poetry from such a range of times and places. If you are interested in the formal study of poetry at university level, you can find out in each room how to study at the editors' own institutions, from Hong Kong to St Andrews. The Poetry House is hosted by the University of St Andrews server, and is based on a real building in St Andrews, Scotland. St Andrews prides itself on being a place that strongly supports poetry and The Poetry House in St Andrews is believed to be the largest building in Britain devoted to the reading and writing of poetry. Situated opposite the mediaeval St Andrews Castle, this seafront mansion is part of the University of St Andrews School of English, where a number of the editors work. To find out more about the physical Poetry House click here.

As a virtual and a physical resource, The Poetry House was my idea, but it was made possible thanks to the work and generous support of colleagues locally and around the world. The site offers information and some new poetry, included entirely at the discretion of its editors. Its editorial team includes both leading poets and academic experts. Development began in 2002, and the launch took place in 2004. The Poetry House editors worked under the dedicated supervision of Dr Lilias Fraser. The site is maintained by the Research Secretary, School of English, University of St Andrews.

Robert Crawford