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King Charles III has awarded the 2024 His Majesty’s Gold Medal for Poetry to George Szirtes, reports royal-news.com. Established in 1933, by King George V, the medal recognizes poets from the United Kingdom or a Commonwealth Realm.
George Szirtes was honored for his deeply personal works, reflecting his dual Eastern and Western experiences. Born in Hungary in 1948, Szirtes moved to England as a refugee following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. He is an established poet and writer, with thirteen full-length poetry collections and a memoir that won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for biography.
In a heartfelt letter, Mr. Szirtes expressed his surprise and gratitude at receiving the prestigious award, which includes a newly-struck gold medal and a meeting with the king.
He shared that he had never expected prizes or honors, and the recognition felt especially significant because of his unique position as both an “English poet” and a “Hungarian guest.”
Reflecting on his identity, he described the experience as somewhat surreal, acknowledging the blending of his personal and poetic lives. He also noted that his award would place his name among esteemed past recipients, such as W. H. Auden, Philip Larkin, Ted Hughes, and Imtiaz Dharker.
It is wonderful to be able to join my name to all those excellent poets honored in the past and to become, in time of course, part of that past myself,” he wrote.
Szirtes emphasized that although the honor does not include monetary compensation, the recognition is a special and deeply meaningful moment in his life. The presentation of the medal and the meeting with the king are set for next year.
Via royal-news.com, George Szirtes’ Facebook; Featured Image: Facebook / George Szirtes