Celebrating poet Allen Curnow

Mon Jul 31 2017 12:00:00 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)

Celebrating poet Allen Curnow

31 July 2017

Photo of Allen by Robin Morrison

The life and work of one of New Zealand’s greatest poets will be celebrated at a special symposium at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Arts on 30 September.

Allen Curnow (1911–2001) had a distinguished writing career from the 1930s through to his last published volume in 2001. His poems – published over 70 years, in 15 volumes and half a dozen collections – constitute an enduring legacy and have been hailed as “a unique exploration, passionate and humane, of life in this country”.

Now Auckland University Press is publishing The Collected Poems of Allen Curnow along with a major biography, Simply by Sailing in a New Direction, by the late Professor Terry Sturm.

Both books will be launched at the University on 29 September with the symposium following the next day and open to interested staff, students, alumni and the general public.

“The publication of these two works is a landmark cultural and literary event,” says the symposium organiser, Associate Professor of English, Alex Calder.

“It is an occasion in which the University of Auckland and the Faculty of Arts can take great pride. Professor Terry Sturm and Associate Professor Allen Curnow were members of the University’s English Department for most of their working lives.”

Dr Calder says Curnow is central to the mid-century search for what was distinct and special about New Zealand’s place and history.

“Curnow is to poetry, as McCahon is to art, as Lilburn is to music. They invented a New Zealand tradition.”

The symposium will open with a keynote address from Emeritus Professor of English, C.K. Stead. Throughout the day many of our best-known poets and critics will present papers and share personal reminiscences.

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Event details:**

**Date
**September 30 9:30am– 5:30pm

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Location**

Arts 1 (Building 206), Room 220

14A Symonds Street

Auckland

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To register**

 https://curnowsymp.eventbrite.com

Contact

Tess Redgrave| Media Relations Advisor

Faculty of Arts

Email: t.redgrave@auckland.ac.nz  

Tel: +64 9 923 7383

Mobile: +64 (027 5625868)