Today in history

• 1593

  Christopher Marlowe – Marlowe was killed on 30 May 1593 after he had been asked to appear before the privy council to answer charges of libel. Mystery surrounds the death but he is thought to have got into a brawl with his 'co-conspirators' and was stabbed by Ingram Frizer, who was later acquitted. Marlowe was 29 years old. [London, United Kingdom]

• 1744

  Alexander Pope – By 1742, Pope was having problems with his health and in 1744 he died at the age of 56, surrounded by his friends at his home in Twickenham. [Twickenham, London, United Kingdom]

• 1778

  Voltaire – On the 30th of May 1778 Voltaire passes away [Paris, France]

• 1835

  Alfred Austin – On the 30th of May 1835 Alfred Austin is born in Headingley, Yorkshire, United Kingdom [Headingley, Yorkshire, United Kingdom]

• 1903

  Countee Cullen – It is thought that Countee Cullen was born in May 1903 in either New York City, Baltimore or Kentucky depending on different sources. According to his widow, he was born Lexington, Kentucky. [Lexington, Kentucky, United States]

• 1960

  Boris Pasternak – Pasternak died of lung cancer at his dacha in Peredelkino in 1960 at the age of 70, given the last rites by a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church. [Peredelkino, Russia]

Featured news

Belarus’ Best Poetry Book Award / Lorca Documentary’s Rare Footage / Activist Poet Dies – Poetry News Roundup 29th May

Today, we look at Belarus' best poetry, the rare footage from the Lorca documentary and celebrate a poet and activist's life. Best Belarussian Poetry Book Award Ceremony Takes Place in Warsaw The Natallia Arsennieva Prize, which is awarded for the best Belarusian-language poetry book, held its award ceremony on 27th May in Warsaw. The goal of the event was twofold, firstly to honour the best poetry book ...

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