Our London Correspondent Writes --

THE TLS LECTURE

Elizabeth Bishop: dwelling without roots

Tom Paulin
Chaired by Fiona Sampson

Monday, 17 October 2011, 7 p.m.

Since her death in 1979, the reputation of Elizabeth Bishop has grown to the point that she is now regarded as one of the most important American poets of the twentieth century. Her small body of work (she published only 101 poems during her lifetime) is distinguished by its precise description of the physical world, by grief, and by the struggle to find a sense of belonging. During her early childhood her mother was committed to an asylum, and she grew up first with grandparents and then with an aunt – ‘I was always sort of a guest,’ she wrote, ‘and I think I’ve always felt like that.’ In a talk chaired by fellow poet Fiona Sampson, poet, critic and playwright Tom Paulin, who has written extensively on Bishop, marks the centenary of her birth by exploring her genius.

We are grateful to the Royal Literary Fund for sponsoring this lecture.

Venue: Kenneth Clark Lecture Theatre, The Courtauld Institute of Art, Somerset House.

Fellows and Members: book your seats online or by ringing Hazel on 020 7845 4676. Seats for guests (one per meeting) must also be booked in advance.

A limited number of tickets will be sold on the door, from 6pm, on a first come, first served basis (£8/£5 conc)