File BC/1 - Readings, talks and lectures

Material relating to poetry and prose readings, talks, lectures and workshops given by Dannie Abse and others, the majority of which took place at venues within Britain and the United States, much of the material comprising letters to Abse, with some to both Dannie and Joan Abse, written in response to recent talks and readings. Poets/writers referenced include Ian Duhig, Ruth Fainlight, Michael Heller, Dorothy Nimmo, Jane Duran and Carol Ann Duffy, while correspondents include Jon Manchip White, Professor Tony Curtis, Rodney Pybus, Peter Meinke, Robert Minhinnick, Menna Elfyn, Leo Aylen and Fleur Adcock.
Material relating to a poetry festival at Recanati, Italy includes a letter from Dannie Abse's niece Bathsheba Abse.

Included are letters from Dannie Abse to Dr Lynn Epstein of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island and a letter from Abse to bookseller and bibliophile Alan Hancox, written to be read at the Cheltenham Festival in honour of poet and writer Laurie Lee, who would be present at the event (note by Dannie Abse in the notes which accompanied this part of the archive: 'This letter MS. found among my papers - can't remember the date').

Together with manuscript notes in Dannie Abse's hand relating to a schedule of readings.

Please note that many of the correspondents referenced here are also referenced under heading Correspondence: Correspondence of Dannie Abse: Letters to Dannie Abse.

For referenced poetry/prose publications by Dannie Abse see under relevant headings within this archive.

See also letter to Dannie Abse from Jack Coulehan (dated 11 August 1998) under heading Poetry; Poetry anthologies: Poetry anthologies which include poems by Dannie Abse: Angela Belli & Jack Coulehan (eds): Blood and Bone: poems by physicians (University of Iowa Press, 1998).

For letters to Dannie Abse from Antonia Byatt (dated September-November 1999) see also under heading Poetry: Poetry anthologies: Poetry anthologies which include poems by Dannie Abse: Elaine Feinstein (ed): After Pushkin (Carcanet Press/The Folio Society, 1999).