Chapters and Verse Lunchtime reading

dublin | arts and media | event notice Wednesday January 14, 2009 15:09 by Sarah Lundberg - The Seven Towers Agency sarah at seventowers dot ie

With Ross Hattaway and Eamon Lynskey

Chapters of Parnell St, Dublin 1 at 1.15
Return of the lunchtime readings for 2009!

Ross Hattaway,
The Gentle Art of Rotting by Ross Hattaway HB 978-0-9552757-7-7 €20; PB 978-0-9552757-4-6 €15
Ross Hattaway's first collection of poetry is a collection of 'High Country' poetry, reflecting the dichotomy of the New Zealand High Country where starkness and beauty, economy and expression, machismo and inner sensitivity exist in a symbiotic yet sometimes uneasy relationship. Moving and humorous, these arresting poems reflect the origins and upbringing of the poet and the psychic landscape of New Zealand. Beneath the spare, crystalline phrasing and economic use of language, Ross' poems hold a wealth of meaning and poignancy and reflect the experience of many men who are forced to trade their inner sensitivity for survival in a world of macho values. The poems come out of Ross' own personal experience growing up in New Zealand where, for instance, he bought his country music albums in secret in brown paper bags, lest his contemporaries realise what he was purchasing!

Ross Hattaway was born in New Zealand and has lived in Ireland since 1990. He has published poetry in periodicals and collections, including Writings (Wellington), Life Beyond the Louvres (Northern Territory Anthology), Poetry Australia. His readings include the Poetry Ireland Introduction Series, Anna Livia FM and Between the Lines (Belfast). The Gentle Art of Rotting is his first collection. In 2008 Ross was a guest at the Poetry Spring Festival in Lithuania, becoming the first Irish poet to guest at that festival. Part of The Gentle Art of Rotting was translated into Lithuanian and published as part of the festival celebration.

"An exciting new collection of poetry" Sunday Independent

Éamonn Lynskey has had poems published in many magazines. He was nominated for the Sunday Tribune/Hennessy Literary Award for New Irish Poetry in 2006 and one of his poems will feature on the 2009 OXFAM calendar. He is also included in Census, The First Seven Towers Anthology. His first collection Dispatches and Recollections was published in 1998 and he is currently working on his second. As well as writing in English, Eamonn has also translated works of Italian poets Montale and Valeri and written in Italian – he holds, (among other qualifications!) a Diploma in Italian Lauguage and Culture from the Italian Institute, Dublin. A collection of Eamon’s work will be published by Seven Towers in winter 2009/2010.