Following the emotional opening with poet Denisa Comanescu, the Romanian Cultural Institute and Poet in the City are proud to present the second guest of the series Contemporary Romanian Poets: Claudiu Komartin, the winner of the prominent Romanian Academy Poetry Prize.
Taking place at the Romanian Cultural Institute between April and November 2011, the series includes six exciting poetry events exploring contemporary Romanian culture through the eyes of its most accomplished poets: Denisa Comanescu, Claudiu Komartin, Bogdan Ghiu, Miruna Vlada, Andrei Bodiu and Vasile Garnet.
Claudiu Komartin (b. 1983) is a poet, literary critic and translator. He has written three poetry collections to date, including Domestic Circus (2005) which won the prominent Romanian Academy Poetry Prize. Claudiu is also editor-in-chief of "Poesis International" and has translated poetry and prose from French, English and Italian. Appearing in several international anthologies, his poems are renowned for making 'a synthesis, both sarcastic and full of hope, of the Romanian contemporary society".
Claudiu will be joined by Special Guest poet Aoife Mannix. She published her first collection of poetry The Elephant in the Corner in 2005 and her first novel Heritage of Secrets in 2008. Her work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, London Live and the BBC World Service as well as published in numerous anthologies and magazines. "Aoife Mannix is a sparkling performer of her own work, and it's well worth attending her readings if you get the opportunity. Her collection The Elephant in the Corner poetry combines lyrical intensity with gentle, self-deprecating humour" - Catherine Smith, The New Writer
The event will be hosted by Amanda Hopkinson, a Senior Fellow at the University of East Anglia and Visiting Professor of Literary Translation at Manchester University and at City University, London, who will provide an English introduction and will place the poets in context for the English-speaking members of the audience. Poetry in Romanian will also be read and performed in English translation by actress Cristina Catalina.
Poet in the City is a London-based charity committed to organizing live events aimed at attracting new audiences to poetry and making new connections in order to support poetry education. The charity holds about twenty five major poetry events every year in and around central London.
When: Thursday 12 May, 7pm;
Where: Romanian Cultural Institute, 1 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PH.
The event is free, but booking is essential at office@icr-london.co.uk or 020 7752 0134.
