Sir, Does the finance department of the OUP read the newspapers, or take in the broadcasting media? That such a decision should be made just after the successful celebration of a third National Poetry Day, and amidst the wide and lively interest in poets and poetry in relation to the laureateship, is almost impossible to credit.

OUP cites low sales figures for poetry. Other companies in the recent past have adopted a bottom-line tactic, when poetry is understandably less profitable than, say, cookery or gardening, of giving only minimal time, money and energy to promoting poets. Not surprisingly, sales decline, and encourage the accountants' view that poetry can't be worth promoting.

The success of creative writing classes and courses of the kind so generously furthered by our late and illustrious Poet Laureate, Ted Hughes, suggests that there may be a greater number of people seeking and learning to write verse than at any previous time. This is also the Year of Reading. Should not all this suggest challenge and opportunity to publishers instead of cutbacks?

But perhaps this latest reverse, happening when it does, can be turned to advantage. The next Poet Laureate could be chosen, from among persons of suitable talent, on the basis that poets and poetry need someone to speak out for them and act as a defender of the art.

Yours faithfully,

ALAN BROWNJOHN
(Chairman, The Poetry Society, 1982-88),
2 Belsize Park, London NW3 4ET.
November 22.

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