# Seamus Heaney

Irish poet widely considered the greatest of his generation, whose collections "Death of a Naturalist," "North," and "Station Island" draw on his rural Ulster upbringing to explore Irish identity, history, and the natural world. His translation of "Beowulf" became a bestseller. Nobel Prize in Literature 1995. His last words to his wife, sent by text message, were the Latin phrase "Noli timere" — do not be afraid.

## Quick Facts

- **Born:** April 13, 1939
- **Birthplace:** Castledawson, Northern Ireland
- **Nationality:** Irish
- **Occupation:** Poet
- **Category:** Scholars & Educators
- **Also Known As:** The Irish Homer

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Source: https://peoplebio.info/p/seamus-heaney