Ted Hughes was born rural North England in 1930. The Hughes were a family of modest means with Irish heritage. Hughes early life was filled with experiences of nature, and the young boy became an avid fisherman. In Grammar School he was encouraged to write, and Hughes published his first poem in the school's magazine in 1945. After graduation and a stint with the Royal Air Force, Hughes studied at Pembroke College, specializing in English. Concurrently, he began to publish his writing in small magazines. In 1956, he met Sylvia Plath, a famous American writer, and the two married in the same year. Both of their careers began to improve, and the published pieces in such esteemed magazines as The Atlantic. In 1957, Hughes published his first collection, The Hawk in the Rain, and it was awarded the prestigious Gilbraith Prize. In 1958 Hughes and Plath moved to the United States, before returning back to England.
Hughes continued to hone his writing in the early 1960s, as Hughes and Plath had two children. In 1963, Plath committed suicide, a tragedy that would leave a lasting impact on Hughes' life. After a series of other personal tragedies, he slowed his productivity. In 1984 he was named the Poet Laureate of Great Britain. In 1998 he published the acclaimed collection Birthday Letters. The work detailed Plath's in great emotional detail. It was seen as a hallmark in Hughes career and won numerous awards. Hughes died the same year, leaving behind a legacy as amongst the most celebrated British poets of the 20th century. Five years following his death, The Collected Poems was published. It includes all of his published work, as well as personal letters, and previously unpublished writing.
