WAR poet Wilfred Owen is to be the topic of discussion at the next meeting of a town literary group.

Dominic Hibberd will be talking expertly about the famous war poet at a meeting of the Words group on Friday, September 19, at the LG Harris Brush Works, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior.

Hibberd has been an acknowledged authority on the life and work of Owen for many years. His talk at Words will focus on his recently published A New Biography of Wilfred Owen.

Owen was born in Oswestry in Shropshire in 1893. He was killed in the last few days of the First World War on November 4. News of his death did not reach his family until November 11, the day the war ended.

Although he was considered a successful school pupil he is largely regarded as a self-taught poet, who started to pen verse in his teenage years.

His war poetry was revolutionary, breaking the mould of patriotic style, as he wrote from his true position in the trenches. This was hard for the civilian population at home to accept.

However, he has become an increasingly popular figure throughout the 20th century both as a romantic, youthful figure and a radical poet.

Words publicity officer Frances Page said: "Owen has been written about a great deal, but Dominic Hibberd has taken a new slant in describing life, and his talk, illustrated by readings of the poetry, should prove to be a moving and fascinating occasion."

Later in the year, Bromsgrove bookworms can look forward to the final Words lecture of the season on November 21. Peter Florence will give a talk on contemporary writers.

Tickets for both talks are available from Val Mason on 01527 871019 or Ottakar's bookshop in High Street, Bromsgrove.