Walt Whitman with Graham Fawcett and Susan Aldred

I’m embarrassed to admit it again: no photos of this superb event… Listening to Graham and Susan reading from Whitman’s copious, generous and expansive writings, and also hearing about his life , about what influenced him and about those who were so deeply influenced by him was like listening to musical chiaroscuro, a dialogue between fine-tuned instruments bringing to life this poet whose capacity to love (nature, men and women) was so absolute. No wonder I forgot to take pictures!

And if you wish to read something quite surprising, have a look at this… A Whitman ‘society’ in Bolton, Lancashire! http://www.paulsalveson.org.uk/whitmania/

We said a (temporary?) farewell to the Crypt – with many thanks to Cilla, Guy and Liz for making it easier to set up my events there – as Graham is returning to Greenwich for his next two lectures (September 11 and November 13), also with Susan Aldred. See bottom of ‘Events’ column.

Events

Summer is finally here and being outside (even better if in good company, now it is possible…) on warmer, long evenings is much healthier than spending them on Zoom. So I’m putting poetry events on ‘pause’ for a little while. It doesn’t mean that thinking, planning and organising are also put on ‘pause’. In fact I’m in contact with the wonderful West Greenwich Library to see whether live events will be possible again in the autumn, even with social distancing still in place. I have no intention of abandoning Zoom, but alternating virtual and in-person readings will be good, and I hope many of you will continue to participate with the enthusiasm for the spoken word you have shown, and for which I thank you.

So, have a healthy, creative and happy summer, and do keep an eye on this website and on your inbox for news…

Monday 8 November at 7.30pm on Zoom

Memorial Event: ‘A Celebration of the Life and Work of Richard Stoker (1938-2021), British composer’

Many of you will have attended past in-words events held in cooperation with Gill Stoker. I am deeply touched that she has asked me to host a memorial event to remember and celebrate her husband Richard on what would have been his next birthday.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stoker

This event is by invitation only.
If you knew Richard, or know his music, and would like to attend, please email gillstoker@btinternet.com for further details.