Mr Jeremy Prynne, a renowned poet and Fellow of Gonville & Caius College for over 60 years, has died. He was 89.
Mr Prynne was admitted as a Fellow of Caius in 1962. He was the College's Librarian for 37 years, between 1969 and 2006.
Born at Bromley, Kent on June 24, 1936, Jeremy Halvard Prynne was educated at St Dunstan’s College, London and at Jesus College, University of Cambridge.
His association at Caius was initially as a WM Tapp Fellow for research in English. He became an “official” Fellow in 1963, according to the College’s Biographical Histories.
Mr Prynne had a deep affinity for the College’s collections and oversaw the move to the Cockerell Building where the Library is located today. The College does not hold many photographs of Mr Prynne; those published today were taken on a Royal visit to the College.
As Director of Studies in English, he taught generations of Caius English students, likely numbering around 400- to 500. As a University lecturer he will over the years have addressed several thousand students.
Beyond Cambridge, Mr Prynne taught and lectured at the universities of Surrey and Sussex, as well as in China, where he also held honorary professorships. He has been published widely in translation, including into French, German, Chinese, Spanish, and Danish.
Whist precise figures would be difficult to determine, it is likely that Mr Prynne's teaching has directly reached at least 10,000 students of English literature in Cambridge and beyond. Circulation of his books, in English and translation, may well reach into six figures (100,000 copies or more).
Updated Monday 27 April: A book of condolence is open in the College Chapel. For those not in a position to visit Caius, please complete the online form (click for link) with memories of Mr Prynne. These messages will be compiled into a book to be shared with the Prynne family. Please note: memories and reflections relating to Mr Prynne’s life, teaching, and broader influence may appear in an edited collection being prepared for publication to celebrate his life and work. This is being edited by Ian Heames (English 2005).
In February 2025 the Lower Library hosted The poetry of J.H. Prynne – an exhibition, curated by Ian Heames (English 2005). It is now available online: The poetry of J.H. Prynne - an exhibition | Gonville & Caius The booklets presented in the exhibition collectively contained over 1,500 individual poems, and showcased much of the Library's extensive holdings of what are now in many cases extremely scarce original editions.
The Poetry Foundation's profile on JH Prynne: J.H. Prynne | The Poetry Foundation
Main photo: Mr Prynne showing the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, the Upper Library in the Cockerell Building at Gonville & Caius College (credit: George Shiffner)
