Dennis Haskell

Australian Poet and Literary Scholar

News & Events

Poetry reading, China

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Dennis has been invited to read his poetry in Hangzhou, China from 5-8 April. The visit is prompted by scholars and poets at Zhejiang University translating some of his poems.

Poetry workshop

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Dennis is conducting a poetry workshop for emerging writers on behalf of WA Poets Inc from 10.30am-1.30pm on 16 February at the OUT in Perth Office in Northbridge. The subject is:

The music and texture of poetic language

Poetry is the richest use of language that we ever achieve; that, I believe, is what makes it poetry, although the richness can vary according to subject and the poet’s stance. Language has its own music and, although it is abstract and this fact is rarely recognised, has its own texture. Through the accidents of history, English is the richest language in the world and this workshop is intended to make you more aware of its possibilities, particularly through a focus on sound patterning, rhythm and extended syntax.

Recent events

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In October Dennis joined Annamaria Weldon in reading a selection of their poetry in Valletta for the University of Malta.

Later in October he spoke on a panel at the Australian Short Story Festival, held at the Centre for Stories in Northbridge, Perth. The Panel with Marcella Polain and Rosemary Sayer, all Committee members of the Perth PEN Centre, concerned the power of the word and its conflicts with the sword.

 

In early November Dennis was Distinguished Visiting Professor at the International Islamic University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He gave talks, met members of the English Department as well as the Rector and Deputy Rector of the University, conducted a poetry workshop and judged a poetry competition.

Perth PEN Centre

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With a number of other Perth writers, Dennis is working to create a Perth Centre of PEN International. Founded in the 1920s, with John Galsworthy as its first President. PEN International is a writers organisation which works to promote literature and responsible freedom of expression, including activities to free writers imprisoned under unjust censorship laws. Almost 150 PEN centres exist in 100 countries, including in Sydney and Melbourne.

 

We had an empty chair on stage, symbolising a writer in prison, at four sessions of the Perth Writers Festival, and have received over 80 expressions of interest. If you wish to join us or learn more, please email perthpen@gmail.com

We have a fundraiser with Priya Basil (Berlin) and Sisonke Msimang (South Africa) at 6.30pm on Thursday 5 April at the Centre for Stories, 100 Aberdeen St, Northbridge; cost $20/$16 unwaged. Please feel very welcome to come but register at www.centreforstories.com/events

Bards in Bars

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With Lucy Dougan, Matt Norman, and Annamaria Weldon, Dennis will be giving a reading of his work at the annual conference of the national English and Literacy Teachers Association – 6pm on 9 July in Wolf Lane, Perth CBD.