Apparently Personal Poetry: A Symposium on Elizabeth Bishop and Biography

Apparently Personal Poetry: A Symposium on Elizabeth Bishop and Biography

This two-day symposium takes its title from a much-cited comment by contemporary American poet, Sharon Olds. The speakers at the symposium will consider this phrase in relation to Bishop’s poetry and to the critical reception of it since her death. Does Bishop’s poetry draw on the author’s personal experience and if so, to what ends? To what extent is a critic or poet’s own biography in play when they speak about Bishop’s writing? 

Confirmed speakers at the symposium include Professor Angus Cleghorn (Seneca College, Canada), Professor Bethany Hicok (Williams College, USA), Professor Jo Gill (Exeter), Dr Sarah Kennedy (Cambridge University), Dr Erica McAlpine (Oxford University) and Professor Peter Swaab (UCL).

Please note that the main symposium is a closed event. However, in addition to academic papers, the symposium will feature two events that are open to all:

- an interview by Jonathan Ellis with editor and scholar, Professor Thomas Travisano, on Bishop and biography, on Thursday 9 June at 2pm

- a Q&A between Sally Bayley and contemporary poet and translator, Jamie McKendrick, on Friday 10 June at 5pm

Please register in advance on Eventbrite if you wish to attend one of these two public events.

Register for the interview with Professor Travisano here.

Register for the Q&A with Jamie McKendrick here.