The Scottish Poetry Library is launching an international season of spring events today.
The season will feature poets from Russia and Australia, and also finds room for a rare Scottish appearance by ‘the godfather of psychogeography’ Iain Sinclair, and a reading by rising star of Scottish poetry William Letford.
Three of Russia’s leading poets – Grigory Kruzhkov, Lev Oborin and Marina Boroditskaya – will visit Scotland in March for a series of events in Edinburgh (14 March), Dundee (15 March, part of the Dundee Literary Festival), and Glasgow (16 March, part of Aye Write). They will be reading alongside the Scottish poets Jen Hadfield (winner of the 2008 T.S. Eliot Prize) and Christine De Luca (Edinburgh Makar).
The Scottish Poetry Library will also welcome two of Britain’s most original writers, Iain Sinclair and Brian Catling, on Friday, 24 March. This special event marks a rare Scottish appearance by Sinclair, London’s ‘radical laureate’ and populariser of ‘psychogeography’. Sinclair and Catling have collaborated on a number of books and projects, which they’ll discuss at this event at the SPL, as well as their latest books and how poetry informs their work.
A spokesman said: “The SPL’s commitment to Scottish poetry remains strong. We’ll be hosting a reading on 23 March by acclaimed Scottish poet William Letford, who returns to Edinburgh to read from his acclaimed second collection Dirt (Carcanet). Letford was a roofer before writing full-time, and his poems often reflect on his background in construction. “
Two special events which are taking place at Jupiter Artland, the sculpture park and art gallery near Wilkieston, in West Lothian, which will host two open-air readings.
On 27 July, Saltire Prize-winner Ryan Van Winkle reads at Jupiter Artland, while on National Poetry Day, 28 September, Don Paterson will read.
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