Today in our poetry news round up we look at a talk on the poet Samuel Beckett, the publishing of Charlotte Bronte’s miniature poetry book and the winner of the Anisfeld-Wolf poetry award.
Beckett’s Legacy Explored in Talk in Enniskillen
James Joyce and Samuel Beckett are considered to be the two titans of Irish modernism, and the poet David Cameron, who is particularly captivated by the “stark brilliance” of Beckett rather than the “flamboyance” of Joyce, chose to reflect on the former during his talk, which took place in Enniskillen on 12th April.
The talk was part of a series of talks that took place as part of programme, “Oh My Godot,” which is a celebration of the life and works of Beckett. Cameron talked about Waiting for Godot and also how he came about his own fascination with the poet, and how that led to him eventually publishing his own book.
The remainder of the programme can be seen on the social media pages for “Oh My Godot”.
Publishing Charlotte Bronte’s Miniature Poems for the First Time
“A Book of Ryhmes” a book of poetry written and transcribed by a 13-year-old Charlotte Bronte, complete with misspelling of rhymes, was a tiny handmade book of poetry written in 1829. Charlotte already had aspirations to be a serious poet and the book was intended as an imitation of the published volumes of poetry that she admired.
In fact, the Bronte children were not the only children of the age who created these miniatures. Most children did, and John Ruskin is also known to have done the same.
The book, which is considered to be a fundamental part of her poetry development, has been sold many times over the years and in 2022 after almost 100 years of being out of sight it was sold at auction in New York, when it was purchased on behalf of the Bronte Society. It is currently on display at the Brontë Parsonage Museum, which is located in Haworth, Yorkshire.
A small publishing house in Yorkshire has now been asked to publish the book so that others might enjoy it. It will be available to purchase from 21st April.
Anisfeld-Wolf Award Recipient Named
The poet Yusef Komunyakaa has been awarded the honorary Anisfeld-Wolf Award for lifetime achievement. The poet, who is 77, is well known for his poetry collections which explore the themes of music, race, and his experiences during the Vietnam War.
The award is presented by The Cleveland Foundation and is given for literature which
In a statement confirming the award the foundation said
There were also prizes for fiction and non-fiction writing.
All of the winners will be honoured formally during a ceremony that will take place in September.
The award was established by the poet and philanthropist Edith Anisfeld-Wolf in 1925.
