Going to see English poet Hugo Williams tonight in Cavan. The first few paragraphs of his Wikipedia entry (presuming it's correct!) gives a flavour of who he is.
Hugo Williams (born 1942) is a British poet, journalist and travel writer. His full name is Hugh Mordaunt Vyner Williams He is the son of actor Hugh Williams and the model and actress Margaret Vyner, who co-wrote some upper-middle-class comedies in the late 1950s. His brother is the actor Simon Williams, and his sister Polly was married to the actor Nigel Havers until her death from cancer at the age of 54.
Williams attended Eton College. He is a regular contributor to the "Freelance" column in theTimes Literary Supplement and is poetry editor for the Spectator. Williams has been poetry editor and TV critic for the New Statesman, theatre critic for the Sunday Correspondent, film critic for Harper's & Queen and a writer on popular music for Punch magazine.
I have listened to his Poetry Archive CD and his reading style and content fit in exactly with what might be expected from his biography. His style is disarmingly off hand almost casual and it takes at least a second listen to appreciate the full significance, depth and sometimes terror of his material. You can listen to some of his poems at the Poetry Archive. Her News is one of my favourites.
He writes a lot about his father and his latest book West End Final includes some dealing with that relationship. Guardian interview here. Picture above from Guardian article.
The reading is on at 7.30pm in the Radisson Hotel, Cavan. He will be accompanied by a young poet from Dublin by the name of Ciarán O’Rourke and Cavan’s very own musical star, Lisa O’Neill. The event is sponsored by Cavan County Council Arts Office.There’ll also be an open mic slot for singers and poets. Hmmm what will I read, somehow the Bob Dylan poem or the Fish and Chips poem don't seem to strike the right note. I'll think carefully about this one!
Tickets: 10 Euro.
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