Institute of Ideas Postgraduate Forum

Institute of Ideas Postgraduate Forum
Wednesday 17 December
Room H208, Connaught House, London School of Economics.
7pm

For map click here

Ros Barber (PhD University of Sussex) will present: Questioning the Shakespearean Orthodoxy

ABSTRACT: Does it matter who wrote the works of Shakespeare? Would we read the plays and poems any differently if we believed they were written byChristopher Marlowe? We may be about to find out. Until recently it was believed that doubts about Shakespeare's authorship of the works attributed him were first raised 164 years after his death, and that the Shakespeare
Authorship Question is a relatively recent phenomenon. This paper will demonstrate that doubts about Shakespeare's authorship began in the year of the very first publication to appear under the name 'William Shakespeare' and provide evidence from the late 16th and early 17th centuries to suggest a number of Shakespeare's contemporaries believed that 'Shakespeare' was a pseudonym.

That such evidence exists and has been largely ignored by scholars raises interesting questions about the nature and influence of our belief systems. When we 'know' something we will tend not to perceive evidence conflicting with that belief, and will attempt to interpret evidence to support it. This research suggests that scholarship - in all disciplines - would benefit significantly if we were able to remove restrictions to our thinking by recognising that all 'knowledge' is essentially 'belief'.

Further reading: Diana Price "Shakespeare's Unorthodox Biography: New Evidence of An Authorship Question" (Greenwood Press, 2002). A very interesting scholarly account of the (absence of) evidence underpinning Shakespeare's accepted biography, and how radically this differs from other Renaissance writers. Her appendix on literary paper trails is particularly
illuminating.

Format: After a brief introduction from the chair, Ros will present for about 30 minutes. This will be followed by a brief exchange with the chair, drawing out the major themes. We will then open to discussion with points and questions from the floor for about an hour and then head to the pub to continue the discussion informally.

Reading at Waterstones, Brighton

Poetry Reading: Material
WATERSTONE'S BRIGHTON
Thursday, 20 November 2008,
7:00PM - 8:00PM
Tickets £3, available from the shop and redeemable against purchase of the books on the night.

Ros Barber will be reading from her new collection of poems, 'Material'. Joe Winter will also be reading from his new Rabindranath Tagore translations, 'The Golden Boat'.

Further details: 01273 206017

Reading at Goldsmiths

The Department of English & Comparative Literature presents:

ROS BARBER and NAOMI FOYLE reading from their new collections:
Material and The Night Pavilion, both PBS recommendations.

Time: 5.00 p.m.

Date: Wednesday 19th November

Venue: Senior Common Room
Richard Hoggart Building

Please email Maria Macdonald at or tel. 020 7919
7436 if you wish to attend

Pallant House Gallery, Chichester: Coffee Morning

Pallant House Gallery Coffee Morning
Thursday 30th October

A special event, organised by the Friends in collaboration with the Book Shop, to meet the award-winning contemporary poet Ros Barber (former Poet in Residence at Pallant House Gallery) and purchase copies of her new published book of poems, which contains poems composed in response to works of art in the permanent collection.

10.30am-12 noon
£8.50/£5 students/£1 friends of PHG
coffee included

Material Launch

Material is being launched in Brighton above the Quadrant pub (clock-tower) on Thursday October 23rd at 7.30pm. Anyone wishing to attend should send an e-mail info@rosbarber.info so your name can go on the guest list.

Reading in Reading

I'm reading in Reading on Friday 17th October at a night hosted by A.F.Harrold

The night is called Poets' Café and happens at South Street Arts Centre, South Street, Reading. Doors open 8pm, show begins at 8.30. £6/£4 on the door. I'll be reading for 20-30 minutes. The rest of the night is open mic - sign up on the night. A.F.Harrold tells me there's a bar and lots of lovely people.

Cheltenham Workshop & Reading

On Sunday 5th October, I'll be giving a short workshop, followed by a reading, at "Buzzwords" in Cheltenham.

The Exmouth Arms
Bath Road
Cheltenham

7pm for workshop
8pm for open mic & reading

£3

PBS Recommendation

I'm very pleased to report that my new collection, Material, has received a Poetry Book Society recommendation in the Winter edition of the PBS bulletin. I would like to thank everyone who supported me through the (now defunct) Shallowlands blog during the writing of Material.

Material is published by Anvil next month. The Brighton launch event, and a number of readings, will be announced here shortly.