Nobel Laureate and T S Eliot Prize winner Derek Walcott arrives at the University of Essex at the end of April to run a series of masterclasses for students and take part in a celebration of his work.
As Professor of Poetry at Essex, Professor Walcott will undertake a two week residency including a special performance of a new play Moon-Child (Ti-Jean in Concert) at the Lakeside Theatre at 6pm on Saturday 30 April.
More information about the UK premiere of Moon-Child (Ti-Jean in Concert)
Head of the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies Professor Peter Hulme said: "We are delighted Professor Walcott is once again coming to the University of Essex to work with our students and share his poetry with the wider community.
"It is particularly exciting to welcome Professor Walcott to Essex so soon after the T S Eliot Poetry Prize was awarded to him for his last collection White Egrets."
Professor Walcott's visit will be marked by a special series of symposia involving experts on Caribbean literature, culture and history from the University of Essex and around the world.
Sex and the Caribbean on Tuesday 3 May will cover issues of gender, sexuality, cosmopolitanism, exoticism and eroticism. It will also feature readings by leading novelists Lawrence Scott and Monique Roffey.
Cuba in the Nineteenth Century on Thursday 5 May will discuss many aspects of Cuban history including the impact of slavery.
Painting the Caribbean on Friday 6 May and Saturday 7 May will bring together international specialists on Caribbean art and is particularly inspired by Professor Walcott's love of painting and the influence of art on his writing.
Professor Hulme said: "This week offers us a chance to highlight the strength of our work in this area and confirm our commitment to studying Latin America and the Caribbean.
"Dr Maria Cristina Fumagalli was central to persuading Derek Walcott to come to Essex to be our Professor of Poetry and we also have several PhD students studying Walcott as part of their work.
"The Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded American Tropics project is also based at Essex and one of the case studies the research team are looking at is St Lucia - Professor Walcott's home island."
The three Caribbean Week symposia are being sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Research Council funded American Tropics project, the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies, the Department of History, the Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the University of Essex Collection of Latin American Art.
All events are free to attend. For further information see: www.essex.ac.uk/lifts/American_Tropics
To book tickets for An Afternoon with Derek Walcott call 01206 872806 or email: pennyw@essex.ac.uk
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Notes to Editors
For more information please contact the University of Essex Communications Office on 01206 874377.