Coffey, Brian (1905-1995)

Irish modernist poet, born in Dublin and educated at Clongowes Wood College and in France. His experiments with form, rhythm, and syntax indicate a distrust of the ability of language to communicate clearly and precisely, and his poetry is often interrupted by illustrations and cartoons, which challenge the reader to think beyond conventional modes of expression. He first published Poems (1930) with Denis Devlin and, after some time away from writing, published steadily in the 1970s and 1980s. His collections include Selected Poems (1971), Advent (1975), Death of Hektor (1980), and Chanterelles (1985).

Coffey initially worked as a researcher in physical chemistry in Paris but transferred into the study of philosophy at the Institut Catholique in 1933. He worked in London as a teacher during World War II, taught philosophy in the USA at St Louis, Missouri, 1947-52, and returned to London as a maths teacher in 1954.