Ted Hughes, beloved poet and playwright, passed away in London on October 28th, 1998 at the age of 68. Hughes is best known for his collections of poetry, including the memorable works "Crow", "Gaudete", and "Moortown". He has been lauded for his vivid, intense and surreal writing, having been described as one of Europe’s greatest post-war writers. Hughes, who was appointed poet laureate in 1994, was born in Mytholmroyd, England on August 17th, 1930. He studied English literature at Cambridge University and worked as a college librarian before publishing his first volume of poetry, "The Hawk in the Rain". Over the course of his career, Hughes earned numerous awards and honors, most notably the Whitbread Prize for Poetry, the Whitbread Prize for Poetry Book of the Year, and the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry. Hughes was also a highly successful playwright, having penned plays for the National Theatre and Royal Court Theatre, among others. His works include the plays" The Doctor and the Devils", "The Birthday Party", and "The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock". He is survived by his sons, Nicholas and Frieda Hughes, and his third wife, Carol Hughes. Ted Hughes will be remembered as one of the most influential post-war authors in Britain and the world.