Reading Seamus Heaney is a new series of public talks and group discussions that will look at the twelve main poetry collections published by Seamus Heaney between 1966 and 2010. Beginning with Death of a Naturalist from 1966, we will read one book of poems on the third Thursday of each month, guided by Seamus Heaney Centre staff, visiting writers and other guests.

By looking at entire poetry collections, participants will gain an appreciation of how Heaney’s poetic technique developed in response to the world around him: the world of his family and friends, his literary influences and the turbulent social and political context for his writing. The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s holds a unique archive of broadcast materials, both television and radio, relating to the poet’s life and work. These recordings will be used to illuminate the discussions and provide context for the work we will be reading. Special Collections holds a wide range of notebooks and manuscripts, which will also play a role in our discussions of poetic development and writing technique.

With no specialist knowledge of poetry required, you can expect to acquire an understanding of Heaney’s idea that he wanted to ‘take the English lyric and make it eat stuff that it has never eaten before.’