Sally Purcell studied French and Provencal at Oxford. A specialist in mediaeval literature, she has edited the anthology 'Monarchs and the Muse' (Carcanet, 1972), editions of George Peele and Charles d'Orleans (also for Carcanet) and has translated a selection of 'Provencal Poems'. Her previous collections are 'The Holly Queen' (Anvil, 1971), 'Dark of Day' (Anvil, 1977) and 'Lake and Labyrinth' (Taxvs, 1985). She is also the author (with William Leaf) of 'Heraldic Symbols' (V&A, 1986).