About Grahame Davies
Grahame Davies, is a Welsh author, who has won numerous prizes, including the Wales Book of the Year Award. As a much-sought-after lyricist, he collaborates extensively with composers and wrote the words for the song 'Sacred Fire', by composer Sarah Class, which, performed by South African soprano Pretty Yende, was one of the musical highlights of the Coronation of King Charles III in May 2023, and was described by Andrew Lloyd Webber as 'mesmerising', and by commentator Robert Hardman as 'exquisite'.He is the author of 19 books in Welsh and English, including: The Chosen People, a study of the relationship of the Welsh and Jewish peoples; The Dragon and the Crescent, a study of Wales and Islam; a novel, Everything Must Change, about the French philosopher Simone Weil, and two popular works of psychogeography, Real Wrexham, and Real Cambridge.
A native of Coedpoeth near Wrexham, now based in Powys and London, he has a degree in English from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, and a PhD from Cardiff University, where he was later an honorary fellow in the department of religious studies. He was awarded an honorary D.Litt from Anglia Ruskin University, and was Vice-President of Goodenough College, London. He travels internationally as a reader and lecturer, carries out numerous high-profile poetry commissions, and collaborates extensively with musical and visual artists. In 2020, he was awarded the L.V.O. (Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order) in the Queen's Birthday Honours. In 2023 he was awarded an Honorary D.Litt from the University of Aberdeen and the title of Honorary Professor of Practice by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Also in 2023: His Majesty The King made him a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.). In 2024, he became an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. In 2025 he was made a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and was awarded the Freedom of the City of London.
His poetry has been translated into many languages and has appeared in publications such as: The Times, The Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, Poetry London, the Literary Review in America, Orbis (#136 Spring 2006), Yearbook of Welsh Writing in English, Absinthe (Michigan, USA, 2007), Kalliope (Germany, 2009), Poetry Review, and Everyman's Library Pocket Poets series Villanelles (2012). His work is widely anthologised and is on the education syllabus in Wales.
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