Welcome to Art and Verse, your daily celebration of art, culture, and poetry!

In today’s episode, we honor three incredible figures—J.R.R. Tolkien, Clement Attlee, and Diana Athill. Plus, we feature the evocative poem My Father Watched Westerns by Faith Shearin.

Featured Birthdays:

• J.R.R. Tolkien: Born on January 3, 1892, Tolkien is revered as the father of modern fantasy literature. His masterpieces, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, introduced readers to Middle-earth, a world of unparalleled depth and imagination. As a philologist, Tolkien's love for language shaped the intricate mythologies and histories of his stories. A professor at Oxford and a World War I veteran, his works reflect themes of courage, friendship, and resilience. Tolkien passed away on September 2, 1973, but his legacy continues to captivate readers and inspire countless creators.

• Clement Attlee: Born on January 3, 1883, Attlee was a transformative British Prime Minister who led the UK from 1945 to 1951. His tenure is celebrated for establishing the National Health Service (NHS), expanding social housing, and creating the modern welfare state. Known for his understated yet impactful leadership, Attlee rebuilt post-war Britain with a vision of social justice that remains a benchmark in political thought. He passed away on October 8, 1967, but his contributions endure in the institutions he helped create.

• Diana Athill: Born on January 3, 1917, Athill was a celebrated British writer and editor. As an editor at André Deutsch, she nurtured literary legends like V.S. Naipaul and Margaret Atwood. Athill’s memoirs, including Somewhere Towards the End and Instead of a Letter, explored themes of love, aging, and loss with wit and candor. Her reflections inspired readers to embrace life’s complexities with courage and humor. Athill lived to the age of 101, passing away on January 23, 2019, leaving a lasting legacy in literature.

Today's Featured Poem

My Father Watched Westerns by Faith Shearin

It is from Shearin’s collection Moving the Piano, published by Stephen F. Austin University Press in 2014.