Juan Felipe Herrera first Hispanic named U.S. poet laureate

June 16, 2015

Juan Felipe Herrera, the son of migrant farm workers and the author of 28 books of poetry, novels for young adults and collections for children, was named the U.S. poet laureate on Wednesday, the first Hispanic appointed to the position.

The Library of Congress, which announced the appointment on Wednesday, said Herrera, 68, will become the 21st U.S. poet laureate when he takes up the position in the fall. He succeeds Charles Wright.

"I see in Herrera's poems the work of an American original, work that takes the sublimity and largesse of 'Leaves of Grass' and expands . . .

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