has worked as a political and literary journalist, drama critic and war correspondent. He won the Newdigate Prize for Poetry, was made Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1983, Professor of Poetry at Oxford from 1994 to 1999 and awarded the Queen’s Medal for Poetry in 2007.  Libretti include Haroun and the Sea Stories (New York City Opera).  Plays include Pictures at an Exhibiton (Young Vic) and Orphan of Zhao (RSC, ACT).