Poetry by Garcia Lorca at Writer’s Roundtable

Saturday, Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. at the Public Library

Dramatist, Poet, Director Federico Garcia Lorca was executed in the early days of the Spanish Civil War. Photo courtesy of Sipa Press/Rex Features

“Gypsy Ballads” and Other Poems by Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936)will be read in and translated by John Friedmann this Saturday, December 10th 1-3 p.m. at the Library during the monthly Writer’s Roundtable.

Federico Garcia Lorca is perhaps the best-loved poet of 20th century Spain. His poetry has resonated also in English translations, not all of which, unfortunately, succeed in capturing the spirit of the originals.

John Friedmann has lived with these poems for over twenty years and will read from his own translations, provide some background to the poems, introduce comparative versions, and invite discussion.

John divides his time between Orcas Island and Vancouver, B.C. where he is honorary professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Community and Regional Planning. He has published more than a dozen academic books. Some of his poems have been published in various small collections, but mostly he has written for his own delight. He also loves to translate poetry, especially the larger works of Garcia Lorca, Pablo Neruda, and Paul Celan.

All are welcome to join writers and poetry lovers for a special reading and conversation.