University hosts Georgian poetry evening for Manchester Writing School International Literature Week

Guests at 'An Evening of Poetry in Georgian and English'

Manchester Writing School is celebrating a special International Literature Week with events featuring writers from three countries.

Manchester Metropolitan University’s initiatives supporting creativity in Manchester’s diverse, multilingual communities helped the city to gain its designation as a UNESCO City of Literature.

The University’s International Literature Week (21-24th May) follows events held to celebrate International Mother Language Day on 21st February, including an Urdu poetry mushaira.

Events

The Writing School will welcome award-winning New Zealand poet Hera Lindsay Bird for an evening of poetry on Monday, 21st May. She has been described by Poet Laureate and Creative Director of Manchester Writing School Professor Carol Ann Duffy DBE as “without doubt the most arresting and original new young poet, on the page and in performance”.

The Hera Lindsay Bird event is followed by ‘An Evening of Poetry in Georgian and English’, run in collaboration with the Poetry Translation Centre and the International Anthony Burgess Foundation. Acclaimed Georgian poets Diana Anphimiadi and Salome Benidze will read their work alongside award-winning British poets Jean Sprackland and Helen Mort, before discussing the delicate art of translation with their bridge translator Natalia Bukia-Peters.

This event marks the publication of two new Poetry Translation Centre chapbooks: Beginning to Speak by Diana Anphimiadi (translated by Jean Sprackland and Natalia Bukia-Peters; supported by the Georgian National Book Centre) and I Wanted to Ask You by Salome Benidze (translated by Helen Mort and Natalia Bukia-Peters).

The programme culminates in an event on Thursday, 24th May, with Iraqi novelist, poet, screenwriter and documentary filmmaker Ahmed Sadaawi and his English translator Jonathan Wright.

Ahmed Sadaawi won the 2014 International Prize for Arabic Fiction for his novel Frankenstein in Baghdad, which tackles the aftermath of the American occupation of Iraq, following a nameless figure made from the remains of bombing victims seeking revenge against their killers. The novel was described by The New York Times as “a haunting allegory for sectarian violence”. It is currently shortlisted for the Man Booker International prize, with the results due to be announced next Tuesday, two days before the event.

Dr Jess Edwards, Head of the English Department at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “Joining the UNESCO Creative Cities network is a great opportunity for Manchester to strengthen connections between our vibrant and diverse literature scene and literature communities elsewhere in the world.

"UNESCO Creative Cities celebrates and promotes the role that creativity can play in making cities liveable and sustainable. I feel lucky to live in a city and to work in a University where this contribution is recognised and valued.”

Full details of all of the events and how to book tickets are available via the Manchester Writing School website.