Talk:Judith Chernaik

Did you know nomination

The following is an archived discussion of the DYK nomination of the article below. Please do not modify this page. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as this nomination's talk page, the article's talk page or Wikipedia talk:Did you know), unless there is consensus to re-open the discussion at this page. Track your hook after promotion. No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was: promoted by Beta Beta Beta (talk) 23:01, 23 August 2026 (UTC)

( Comment or view )

( Article history links:

• Judith Chernaik
• Poems on the Underground

)

• ... that the founder of Poems on the Underground had to reassure Philip Larkin that the project would not be too left-wing?

• Source: "An Arts Council staff member told Chernaik that Larkin was “a bit concerned” the program “might be a left-wing propaganda exercise,” and Chernaik would flood the transit system with radical verse. Fortunately, after she wrote to Larkin detailing her plan, he endorsed it fully, responding to say he hoped he’d be alive to see the poems himself." New York Times

• • ALT1: ... that a scene in As You Like It gave Judith Chernaik the idea for Poems on the Underground? Source: One evening about 40 years ago, Judith Chernaik was taking part in a reading of “As You Like It” when she had a flash of inspiration that would go on to improve the lives of millions of harried commuters. [...] Still, that scene gave Chernaik a thought: Why not put poems in the Underground, London’s busy subway system? New York Times
  • Reviewed:
  • Comment: Judith Chernaik is new; Poems on the Underground expanded 5x. Edited to add: Copyvio on POTU comes up very high - 25%+ - on several sources but it's not obvious to me why; none of the quotations are very long. Possibly because the whole phrase "Poems on the Underground" is repeated a lot?

Created by Obleronet (talk). Number of QPQs required: 0. Nominator has fewer than 5 past nominations.

Obleronet (talk) 17:57, 3 August 2026 (UTC).

• What an excelent choice. The articles are bristling with potential hooks. It could be that others may be offered. A pity there is no photo of Judith. She might have turned down an OBE but her head should be here. Lots of good refs. Work in progress. I suspect that others of her supporters like Transport for London will see this discussion. If they do then can they please release a photo of her? (eg this one) so that it can be freely used. Victuallers (talk) 07:34, 4 August 2026 (UTC)

talking of photos. I see that you include a complete poem with a copyright notice. I have created a cropped version of this which may be allowed as de minimis or under fair use. Not forgotten Victuallers (talk) 09:27, 6 August 2026 (UTC)

However an image is not offered so not the objective of this review. Its neutral and the biog is new enough and I can see the 5x expansion and its new too. Both the hooks are interesting and cited to a good ref, but I think the main hook is more accessible (you could change "the project" to "her project" and then you could display her name?? She also seems to tell different versions of how the idea came to her (but why not). Anyway good to go. Ping me if there are new alts Victuallers (talk) 09:48, 6 August 2026 (UTC)

@Victuallers: Brill thank you. I am quite fond of ALT0 and my impression was that people often prefer leaving out names in DYKs to make them more intriguing? But if a change is needed then you could also do:

* ALT0a: ... that Judith Chernaik had to reassure Philip Larkin that Poems on the Underground would not be too left-wing? Obleronet (talk) 10:46, 6 August 2026 (UTC)

Re the two pictures that reproduce posters in full - I asked about this on Commons, and was advised that they should be fine as the poem text is public domain, and the text-only layout is too simple to have copyright in the design. Discussion here. Obleronet (talk) 10:46, 6 August 2026 (UTC)

Oh a change is not required, it was but a suggestion. (Alt0a is ok too). Not looked at the commons discussion. I looked at Louise Bennett-Coverley's death date and I reckon her stuff is copyright - but that's not a DYK issue. good work. Victuallers (talk) 21:39, 6 August 2026 (UTC)