Don Paterson covers a broad spectrum of themes and issues in his work. His talent as a musician is reflected in the rhythms of in his poetry which challenge the reader to ask questions about life.
Born in Dundee in 1963, Paterson’s poetry career spans many years and many collections. Described as one of the most talented British poets of his 1960s-born generation, Paterson has won several prestigious poetry awards including the T.S. Eliot Prize (twice), the Whitbread Poetry Prize, and the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize. He was also given the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2009.
The poems selected for Higher English come from several collections. 11:00: Baldovan is from God's Gift to Women (1997), Waking with Russell comes from Landing Light (2003) and The Swing and Why Do You Stay Up So Late? come from Rain (2009)
Paterson is also a jazz musician and many argue that his gift for rhythm and sound in his poetry comes from his musical background. Form and structure are very important in Paterson’s poetry and he often seeks to play with traditional forms in an inventive manner.
