Blake Morrison – Afterburn and On Memoir
22nd October @ 16:00 – 17:00
In Afterburn, Blake Morrison returns to poetry, his first calling, to offer scenes from his own life and the lives of others. In psychology, ‘afterburn’ refers to the time before a past event is assimilated – an idea that resonates through these poems (which themselves linger after reading) about memory and our attempts to articulate, shape or contain it. Throughout the collection, the poet sees with new eyes the turning points in a life’s accidental course. What holds his wise, touching, melancholy yet joyful poems together are the small intimacies that bind us to others.
On Memoir is a freewheeling exploration of narrative non-fiction, its challenges, ethics and charms, and its power to move and change us. From AI to Ethics to Politics to Sex, there is something for every reader and writer in this modern classic. Gleaned from a lifetime as a passionate reader of others’ lives, as well as an unflinchingly honest chronicler of his own, Morrison’s A-Z is a trove of thoughtful literary exploration, amusing observations, and fascinating finds.
Blake Morrison was literary editor of the Observer and the Independent on Sunday. His books include two bestselling memoirs, And When Did You Last See Your Father? (made into a film with Jim Broadbent and Colin Firth) and Things My Mother Never Told Me. He was Professor of Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths University from 2003-2023.
Tickets £14.00 (£10.00 Students)
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