Poet

May Wedderburn Cannan

1893-1973

May Wedderburn Cannan was the second of three daughters of the Dean of Trinity College Oxford, Charles Cannan. At the age 18 in 1911, Cannan joined the voluntary Aid Detachment, training as a nurse and eventually reaching the rank of Quartermaster. Cannan wrote three volumes of poetry surrounding WWI, ‘In War Time’ (1917), ‘The Splendid Days (1919) and The House of Hope (1923). She also wrote one novel, ‘The Lonely Generation’ (1934). Her poem, ‘Rouen’, was chosen by Philip Larkin to be included in the Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse.

Readings

Paris, November 11, 1918 read by Lisa Dwan
Paris, November 11, 1918 read by Kelly Reilly
Paris, November 11, 1918 read by Emilia Fox
Select reading
Paris, November 11, 1918 read by Lisa Dwan
Paris, November 11, 1918 read by Kelly Reilly
Paris, November 11, 1918 read by Emilia Fox
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