George Szirtes was born in Budapest in 1948 and came to England as a refugee in 1956. He was brought up in London and studied fine art in London and Leeds. His first book, The Slant Door, was published in 1979. It won the Faber Memorial prize. After the publication of his second book, November and May, he was invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Since then he has published several books and won various other prizes, including the TS Eliot Prize for Reel in 2005. Since returning to his birthplace, Budapest, in 1984, he has also worked extensively as a translator of poems, novels, plays and essays.

Lectures

Cold dark deep and absolutely clear: poetic knowledge as archaeology
Monday 16 March, 5.30pm, Culture Lab, Newcastle University

Life is Elsewhere: knowing in opposition
Tuesday 17 March, 5.30pm, Culture Lab, Newcastle University

Flowing and flown: in the world of superfluous knowledge
Wednesday 18 March, 5.30pm, Culture Lab, Newcastle University

Reading
Thursday 19 March, 7pm, Culture Lab, Newcastle University


Tickets (for reading only): £6/£3, to include refreshments

'Szirtes's position in English poetry is unique, combining a loving engagement with the poetic forms and engagements of his adopted home with direct linguistic and imaginative access to European history.'
Sean O'Brien, The Guardian

The lectures are free, no need to book, just turn up. To book tickets for the reading, or for further information, contact Melanie Birch as below.

The Newcastle/Bloodaxe lectures, now in their seventh year and organized jointly by the School of English at Newcastle University and Bloodaxe Books, are an innovative series of public lectures by leading contemporary poets, subsequently published by Bloodaxe Books.