Hello friends
Pressure of work has meant I've given only a cursory glance
to your missives lately before the day's onslaught - found the
transatlantic stuff especially interesting.
Went to a reading in Nottingham last week by Selima Hill -
an excellent reader, her poetry, under the veil of a sort of
whimsical surrealism, can be quite powerful, if unadventurous
and highly subjective/autobiographical.
The audience of about 50 was mostly female, including
some schoolgirls who were studying SH's poetry for 'A'
level.
Some time ago I tried to go to a reading by Carole Ann Duffy
only to be turned away as it was filled by a coachload of
schoolchildren there for similar purposes.
I don't know whether these people are on the syllabus because
they're the best (?!), because they're published by a major house,
or whether their work is just easily analysed in the classroom.
I'm sure some of you know how these things are decided.
I asked if they could get Barry MacSweeney for a future
reading - can't see him getting on the A level syllabus,
despite his new Bloodaxe respectability.
Back to work now,
Alan.
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