Anne Carson, the acclaimed Canadian poet, essayist, and translator, was awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature on October 8. Recognized for her innovative blend of poetry, translation, and classical scholarship, Carson has transformed ancient Greek texts into contemporary narratives.

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Her connection to UC Berkeley includes her tenure as the Roberta C. Holloway Lecturer in the Practice of Poetry for the 2000-01 academic year, as well as two previous visiting professorships in the 1990s. During her time at Berkeley, Carson was part of a notable tradition of Holloway lecturers, among them Louise Glück, Frank Bidart, and Yusef Komunyakaa. This position allows poets to engage directly with students, offering lectures and poetry workshops.

Celeste Langan, an associate professor in the English department, recalls attending Carson’s Holloway lecture in 2001, where she presented from her narrative poetry collection, The Beauty of the Husband. The work, structured in 29 narrative sections she describes as “tangos,” uses dance as a metaphor for marriage. Since then, Langan has continued to integrate Carson's poetry into her teaching, particularly works like “Gloves On!”, which reflect on Carson's experiences with Parkinson’s disease and the implications on voice and identity.

Geoffrey O’Brien, a Berkeley professor of English and former Holloway lecturer, praised the program for enriching the contemporary poetry landscape. He noted that visiting poets like Carson are attracted to Berkeley's historical engagement with poetry and the Bay Area's vibrant literary community.

The Holloway Lectureship was established through a bequest from Roberta C. Holloway, a Berkeley alumna and poet, who wished to teach at her alma mater. Although she did not get the chance, her legacy enables poets to connect with Berkeley students, fostering a literary dialogue that has lasted over four decades.

Additionally, Holloway's bequest supports the Holloway Poetry Series, showcasing graduate student poets alongside visiting poets, and bolstering the literary presence on campus. In the broader Berkeley community, the Lunch Poems series, founded in 1995 with the help of Pulitzer Prize-winning English Professor Robert Hass, offers a platform for poets to connect with audiences through monthly public readings.