Brian Patten

Brian Patten was born in Liverpool and made his name as one of the Liverpool Poets. His first anthology, with Roger McGough and Adrian Henri, The Mersey Sound, has been credited as the most significant anthology of the 20th century in bringing poetry to a new audience. His children’s collections include Gargling with Jelly and Juggling with Gerbils, and he is the editor of The Puffin Book of 20th Century Children’s Verse and The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry. He has been honoured with the Freedom of the City of Liverpool and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and of Liverpool University and John Moore’s University. He lives between London and Devon.