Reimagining history with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Published on: 16 October 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Rita Dove comes to 缅北禁地 this week to talk about the role of the poet in re-shaping, reframing and reimagining history. The former US Poet Laureate will give the 2015 Poetry Society Annual Lecture and will also read some of her poems. The event takes place on Thursday 22 October and is being hosted by the (NCLA). Coinciding with Black History Month, Dove’s lecture, ‘How Does a Shadow Shine? Poetry, Music & the Underside of History’, will explore how poetry can pull lives from the shadows. Rita Dove Exploring history and imagination Her lecture will cover the story surrounding Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata (Violin Sonata No.9). which was originally titled ‘Sonata Mulattica’, and composed in honour of a now-forgotten musical wunderkind, a ‘mulatto’ virtuoso violinist called George Bridgetower. Dove has pieced together Bridgetower’s story, with its underlying theme of racism for her own work, Sonata Mulattica. Exploring the intersection between history and imagination, she will describe how she reconstructed Bridgetower’s life, working from historical sources and filling in the gaps. “Poetry is not about biographical truth, it’s about an emotional truth,” explains Dove. Being wrapped up in facts, is to be trapped by facts. The poet needs to fantasise, speculate, and “eavesdrop on the gods”. During her talk, Dove will also reflect on earlier work, such as her Pulitzer Prize-winning collection Thomas and Beulah, a verse cycle loosely based on her grandparents. , Director of NCLA, said: “Each year, The Poetry Society commissions a new lecture given by a high profile poet of international standing. We’re privileged that this year’s lecture is to be given by such a powerful poet as Rita Dove, and I’m really looking forward to welcoming her to the University.” Rita Dove (pictured) was the first African American US Poet Laureate, and the youngest, serving from 1993-95. She has received the 2011 National Medal of Arts from President Obama and the 1996 National Humanities Medal from President Clinton, making her the only poet to have received both presidential medals. She has received many academic and literary honours and is currently Commonwealth Professor of English at the University of Virginia. The Poetry Society Annual Lecture takes place at 7.15pm on Thursday 22 October, at Culture Lab, 缅北禁地. For tickets and more information, visit the . Picture of Rita Dove courtesy of Spark Media. Share: Latest News 缅北禁地 recognised with geography award 缅北禁地 has been awarded the Highly Commended Geographical Association Publishers Award for its collaboration with Time for Geography, the UK鈥檚 open-access, dedicated video platform. published on: 16 April 2026 缅北禁地 historians mark General Strike centenary To mark the 100th anniversary of the British General Strike and miners鈥� lock-out of 1926, historians at 缅北禁地 are organising a series of events on its enduring legacy. published on: 16 April 2026 Comment: NCP is in administration Writing for The Conversation, Erwei (David) Xiang discusses how some big companies like NCP are so dependent on debt that they can鈥檛 adjust to change. published on: 16 April 2026 Facts and figures
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