Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet William Carlos Williams was recently inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, along with Walt Whitman and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The organisers hope that these rather unlikely honours will finally put to rest the New Jersey jokes frequently endured by its citizens.

A native of Rutherford, New Jersey, Williams practiced there as a doctor for many years, before going on to become Head Paediatrician at the General Hospital in nearby city of Paterson. His life there inspired his most famous work, Paterson, a book-length poem written by Williams over 20-year period which became a metaphor for America itself (click here to read Eavan Boland on Paterson).

Carcanet is delighted with this richly deserved honour for Williams, whose two-volume Collected Poems remains one of our all-time bestsellers. We extend our congratulations to his granddaughter, Daphne Williams-Fox, whose efforts contributed to her grandfather's selection. Click here to read The Star-Ledger's article about Williams' induction.