Facts and Fictions: "Ireland and the Novel in the 19th Century" is the title of a major conference in Cardiff University this weekend. The conference, with an intensive programme of panel discussions and presentations, started last night, with Joep Leerssen of the University of Amsterdam giving the plenary lecture: "Historical fiction as history writing; the lack of an established historiographical tradition". Topics being discussed include: gender and nation; narratives of self and nation; rethinkng the Gothic; print culture and the Irish novel; Thackeray and Ireland; feminine conduct, national identity; and politics and the late-18th century novel. The session which is certain to attract most interest this side of the water, however, is tomorrow morning's session, sponsored by Cork University Press, entitled: "Women's fiction and Irish literary history; the Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing Volume IV". When the Field Day anthologies I-III appeared 10 years ago, there was much criticism of its gender balance, which many thought was weighed unfairly in favour of male writers. The long-anticipated fourth volume was commissioned to redress the balance. Three of the people involved with the book, Geraldine Meany of UCD, Riana O'Dwyer of NUI Galway, and Siobhan Kilfeather of the University of Sussex, will be discussing the volume and its contents. CUP tells us that the book is still not due out until September, 2002. The Cardiff discussion will be the first time details of its contents will be made known to a wider public - a year before the book hits the shelves.
Last week, Sadbh was deep in (metaphorical) jewels, with the story of Fay Weldon accepting money from Bulgari to endorse their sparklers in her new book. If one was a suspicious creature, one would think that Bulgari had snuk in early to break the news to be ahead of the posse. Because, dear reader, this week, paying for names to be in literature is again in the news. But you can bet it won't get as much publicity as Fay and the Fripperies. Here's the deal: eight high-profile authors, among them Zadie Smith, Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan, David Lodge, Pat Barker and Terry Pratchett, have agreed to be part of a charity auction. So what's up for grabs? You are, or rather, your name is. Sealed bids are now being accepted. Those members of the public who cough up the most money get to see their actual names feature in the next opus by one of the eight, with said monies going to charity.
Oh, where will it all end? Sadbh doesn't know why all this makes her feel so wretchedly uncomfortable and compromised, but it does.
It's two years now since Michael Hartnett died, aged 58. Gallery Press is just about to publish his Collected Poems, and will be marking its publication with a special gathering at Dublin's Dawson Street branch of Waterstone's on Thursday at 6.30 p.m. Those who will be present to give word to Hartnett's work, by way of reading some of his poems and sharing memories of him, will be Seamus Heaney, Nuala N∅ Dhomhnaill, Dermot Bolger and Peter Fallon. Collected Poems includes some previously unpublished poems, one of which appears on Weekend 8, so Hartnett continues to surprise his readers.
Tuesday next and all eyes in the book world will be fixed on the Savile Club on London's Brook Street where white smoke about who has won the Booker Prize is expected to rise by 4 p.m. As the hour approaches, the two Irish hopefuls are down the list on the odds offered by William Hill. Of the 24 on the longlist, Eoin McNamee is ranked 18th by the bookies, Ciaran Carson comes in at 21. Riding high at 3/1 is Beryl Bainbridge, followed by Peter Carey. Interestingly, the children's author, Philip Pullman, who made it to the longlist with The Amber Spyglass, is riding reasonably high in seventh place with odds of 12/1. We will watch with gusto; there is still nothing like it.
Autumn approacheth and poets huddle down with pen and ink once more, as the leaves doth fall and the fire doth burn . . . News from Joseph Woods, director of Poetry Ireland, of its annual Introductions series, which runs on alternate Wednesdays (the next is September 26th). Each year, Poetry Ireland invites poets with work in progress to apply for a place on these reading events, through its newsletter or website. The idea is that participants will have published some work in mainstream journals or have a book behind them. This autumn, there are 18 poets, with three reading a night. All readings will take place at Pearse House, 27 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. Gerard Hanberry, Pamela Greene, Fiona Brennan, Mary Montague, and Nina Quigley are among those taking part. More infomation from 01-6714632 or www.poetryireland.ie
Sadbh has received details of the third John Keegan Weekend, which will take place in Portlaoise on October 5th and 6th. This year's theme is: "Coming Home - Exiles Return". Alice Leahy, co-founder of Trust, a voluntary organisation providing services for homeless people, will give the opening talk. There's also a storytelling session with 78-year-old Jim Nolan and Bill Kelly will deliver the John Keegan Memorial Lecture at 8 p.m. on the Saturday, entitled: "A wandering people, a glimpse at Irish emigration". More information from 0502-31653.