60 scholars attend UK’s first-ever academic conference to discuss Harry Potter

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Around 60 scholars from across the globe are set to take part in a conference at the St Andrews University in Scotland discussing JK Rowling’s famous Harry Potter books. It’s the UK’s first-ever academic conference on the subject and the first in the world to discuss Harry Potter strictly as a literary text.

The event, A Brand of Fictional Magic: Reading Harry Potter as Literature, aims to redress the lack of direct study of the body of work as a literary text. 

In an intense series of almost 50 lectures over two days, experts on the series will discuss how they deal with death, the role of empathy and the influence of writers such as CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien. 

Other papers will deal with paganism, magic and the use of food and British National Identity. The conference is organised by John Patrick Pazdziora from the university’s School of English, and Fr. Micah Snell from the university’s institute for theology, imagination and the arts (ITIA).

“We can't avoid the fact that Harry Potter is the main narrative experience of an entire generation, the children who quite literally grew up with Harry Potter. The Harry Potter novels are simply the most important and influential children's books of the late-twentieth and early-twenty-first centuries,” Pazdziora was quoted as saying. 

“For very many people, this is their first experience of literature, and of literary art. So they want to think about it, and analyse it, and talk about it. It's important because people care about it, and care very deeply,” he added. 

''As literary critics, as academics, why on earth wouldn't we want to come to grips with these texts? There's so much here to talk about, culturally and critically, that a two-day conference really can only get the conversation started. People will be reading and writing and studying Harry Potter for years to come. Rowling's seven novels run to 4100 pages, so the books would easily be able to sustain serious academic discussion over the two days,” Pazdziora stated.

The keynote speakers include John Granger, widely hailed as the leading authority on the series. He will be joined in St Andrews by fellow experts from countries including the USA, South Africa, Australia, India and the Philippines, as well as the UK. 

“The Hogwarts Saga is the most loved story in the history of publishing by quite a margin and, consequently, it is a natural and important subject of study for anyone interested in the literary arts,” Granger remarked. 

“Hogwarts, we're told, is hidden somewhere in Scotland, the author lives here, too, and Ms Rowling's mother was half Scot. It's somehow appropriate and fitting that the first academic conference of any size be held at Scotland's oldest university, St Andrews. The enthusiastic response and the quality of the universities from around the world who will be represented at the conference make it a landmark event,” he said.

Mexico's best known writer Carlos Fuentes passes away

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Carlos Fuentes, who died recently in Mexico City at the age of 83, was one of the Spanish-speaking world's best known writers, famous for his prolific output and his use of experimental language.

President Felipe Calderon announced Mexico’s best known contemporary writer's death in a message on his Twitter account. 

The National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature confirmed he had died in a Mexico City hospital. The author's doctor Arturo Ballesteros informed the reporters that Fuentes could not recover after suffering a massive hemorrhage in his digestive tract at home. 

 Fuentes, the son of a diplomat, was born in Panama City on November 11, 1928. He spent parts of his childhood in Quito, Montevideo and Rio de Janeiro, and was enrolled in a US public school when his father was transferred to Washington. 

"You have to take some time out to be able to give literature the attention it deserves -- for journalism, for speaking, for friendship. I cannot be cloistered like a monk because I would lose contact with human beings, with life," Fuentes was quoted as saying in an interview in 2003.

A leading figure in the 1960s Latin American literature boom. Fuentes befriended both Colombian leftist Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Peruvian conservative Mario Vargas Llosa, and was known for criticising both the harsh side of Capitalism and the tough realities of Communism. 

Unlike his contemporaries though, Fuentes never won a Nobel Prize in literature, although for years he said to be on the short list and collected a clutch of other prestigious awards. 

"I met him 50 years ago," Vargas Llosa said in a Twitter message upon learning of Fuentes' death, "and we were friends all that time without anything ever impoverishing that friendship." 

Fuentes published his first collection of short stories, "Masked Days," under the guidance of his father Rafael. In 1958, when he was 30, he achieved international renown with "The Most Transparent Region," a portrayal of Mexico City's explosive growth. 

The novel "The Death of Artemio Cruz" (1967) won Fuentes both critical and public acclaim and became his best known work.

Marie Colvin hailed as bravest war journalist

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Marie Colvin, the Sunday Times correspondent killed in Syria in February, was hailed as the bravest of the brave war reporter at a memorial service having taken place at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London.

Singer Cerys Matthews performed two songs, including Bob Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind, and ex-Foreign Secretary David Miliband read a poem in tribute as politicians and journalists recorded their appreciation for Colvin who died at the age of 56. 

Also at the service were emotional Channel 4 newsman Jon Snow, Foreign Secretary William Hague and photographer Paul Conroy, who was injured in the attack when Colvin lost her life on February 22 in a building which was serving as a media centre in the city of Homs which was struck by a mortar round. 

The Sunday Times editor, John Witherow, desrcribed her as the greatest war correspondent of the generation. "Marie inspired love, affection and respect wherever she went. She had a gift of friendship and she nurtured many friends with as much love as she cared for her journalism. Everyone here knows we have lost someone unbelievably special and our lives are poorer for not being able to see that smile, hear that throaty laugh and simply enjoy the company of a remarkable woman who was the greatest war correspondent of her generation," he said.

BBC foreign correspondent Lyse Doucet, who had worked with Colvin in Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt and Libya and Syria, paid tribute during the service, saying "the bravest of the brave was also the kindest of the kind". 

The service also heard a poem composed by Alan Jenkins, deputy editor of the Times Literary Supplement who was a close friend of Colvin.

"There are many like me who feel that they knew her because of her brilliant ability as a writer to open our eyes and our hearts to the reality of the world and tell the stories of real people. She experienced the struggle and the fear and the pain from alongside them and knew it intimately because she loved life and longed to put an end to suffering, the suffering that she reported on," the Rev Richard Carter, of St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square told the congregation: 

Ex-Foreign Secretary Miliband said it was an extraordinary memorial service, "passion, respect, humour. Honoured to be part of it".

Dr Ajaz Anwar’s cartoon illustrations showcase old culture of Lahore

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Dr Ajaz Anwar’s book of cartoon illustrations and Punjabi text entitled ‘Nae Reesan Sheher Lahore Diyan’ unveiling the culture and traditions of old Lahore was launched by the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) in collaboration with the Ministry of National Heritage and Integration and the House of Nanna Trust.

The book launch ceremony in Islamabad followed by the exhibition of cartoons and watercolour paintings on the theme of the book which revolves around the socio cultural life of Lahore and Lahoriites. 

 The book has not only preserved the cultural life of the people but the language of the Punjabi adds a special aroma to the work. It is spread over 352 pages with 107 topics containing thought-provoking and educating stories like ‘Bicycle’, ‘Day Padal Tay Padal’, ‘Khail Tamashy’, ‘Cha da Cup’ and ‘Sark Kandy Skol’. 

It features 50 illustrations, cartoons and paintings, based on social aspects of life of Lahore, including traditional games, sports, food and apparels.

Dr Ajaz Anwar has published the cartoons of his father Dr Anwar Ali, who was known for addressing social issues through the medium of cartoon making to deal with the subject using symbolic expressions. 

 “The centuries old traditions and folk/street life are our identity. The western style of life took people away from each other, making life dull and gloomy,” Dr Ajaz Anwar remarked.

Later he presented readings from ‘Reminiscences of Old Lahore’, based on the art and style of Dr Anwar Ali, who contributed political cartoons and later created the ‘Nanna’ character that held a satirical mirror to society.

He also wrote short stories in English and Punjabi, occasionally illustrated with sketches and photographs. 

 Speaking on the occasion, Kishwar Naheed and other literary figures shared their views about the collection that explored the traditional heritage of Lahore and the lifestyle of its people. 

The exhibition of cartoons and watercolour paintings on the same theme also attracted a large number of art lovers with glimpses of architectural beauty and traditional aspects of Lahore.

Over 150 exhibitors take part in Nigeria International Book Fair 2012

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Over 150 exhibitors from Nigeria and other parts of the world participated in the 11th Nigeria International Book Fair 2012 which was held at the Multi-purpose halls of the University of Lagos from May 7 to 12.  

The six-day event was organized by the Nigerian Book Fair Trust Fund, a coalition of major stakeholders in the Nigerian book trade, as part of their avowed mission to empower the people by promoting reading culture and bringing books and other instructional materials closer to the people for better education and self-improvement

The fair also opened another window for many to network in the book and publishing sector with direct contact with major players in the industry from within and outside the country. For many who have been looking for where to buy books, connect with publishers, especially young writers, students as well as the general public, the fair provided an avenue to meet their educational needs under one roof in pleasant environment.  

Apart from the exhibition, one other major feature of the fair was the annual International Conference of Nigeria International Book Fair that brought together the movers and shakers in the book industry to rub minds on topical issues that bother on the stability of the industry.

The international conference was held at Afe Babalola Auditorium of the University of Lagos and the crucial issue threatening the growth of the book industry in Africa with the theme ‘The State of Infrastructural Development in Africa and the Future of the Book Trade.’

The speakers at the conference were of the view that though the book industry was lacking infrastructural support that should aid its growth, that there’s future for the book industry if major players think outside the box and treated the current challenges as surmountable.

The conference was chaired by Ambassador Segun Olusola, Chairman of African Refuge Foundation, while the keynote speaker was Ghana-born Richard Crabbe, a book expert from the World Bank group who has been in the book business for years. 

Amna Alam’s maiden collection of poetry launched in Karachi

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 Amna Alam’s collection of poetry titled ‘Khushboo Se Likhi Fard’ was launched at Arts Council of Pakistan, having become the hub of literary and cultural activities in Karachi.

Quite a few literary critics and renowned poets were present in the launching ceremony, paying glowing tribute to Amna Alam, described as a complete poetess by one of the speakers. 

Although it’s her first-ever compilation of poetry in book form, she has been writing for the past three decades. 

 ‘Khushboo Se Likhi Fard’ contains different flavours of the Urdu poetry like naat, nazm and ghazal. It has been published by Dunya-e-Adab office and its copies are available at the leading bookstores priced at Rs 300. 

 Sarshar Siddiqui, an eminent critic, recalled that he first heard a couplet from her in the presence of literary giant Tabish Dehalvi. “On so many occasions I have asked Amna to publish her work. She has been able to carve out her own style of poetry despite being influenced by her mentor Sahba Akhtar,” Sarshar Siddiqui observed.

 

Dr Waqar Ahmed Zuberi, a renowned biologist, informed the audience about Amna being also an important member of Bazm-e-Science Adab, a literary movement for the promotion of Science and Technology which has been organizing monthly literary sittings in Karachi for more than 18 years. 

Professor Sehar Ansari, a noted poet, was of the opinion that Amna’s poetry reflected the troubles and harshness of life and she also used difficult style of poetry in the book. 

Talking about the blending of science into poetry, Ansari said that scientific poetry is an emerging trend and must be appreciated by the literary circles. 

Another senior poet and critic, Jazib Qureshi remarked that Amna is a poetess, an enlightened visionary and has perfectly weaved her life experiences into poetry while Auje Kamal, a famous literary critic and publisher of the book, praised Amna by describing her as a complete poetess.

History of Glen Innes Hospital published in book form

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The Glen Innes Hospital of New South Wales, Australia, is the focus of attention once more, with the launch of a book which tells its history. It covers the period 1874-1956 and is written by Jeannie Ross Fraser.  

“This work reflects research and writing over many years to record the achievements of a health service to Glen Innes and District for some 80 years,” Graham Wilson, Glen Innes Severn Council's Heritage Advisor and Councillor of the Royal Australian Historical Society, remarked in his address.

Based on meticulous research in the Glen Innes Examiner and other records, Fraser’s work was originally published in many editions of the ‘Land of the Beardies History Bulletins’.

In the foreword, there is an outline of Fraser’s dedication to the health system after her graduation as a nurse as well as her contribution to the wider Glen Innes community. She has been described as a truly remarkable person with a special mention of her knowledge of nursing and the related health system helping to bring the story to life.  

Fraser, through her professional education in nursing, a graduate of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, has been in a unique position to ensure that this history, spanning a century, was not only engrossing but accurate.

Her book will serve as a model of inspiration for other regions. The organization into periods of time means that other researchers investigating life in Glen Innes during particular periods can turn to the relevant section and research topics such as Life during World War One or Two, the Great Depressions of the 1930s or the immediate post war period in the 1940s and 1950s.

The book is not about the hospital but also demonstrates how health care was linked to the support given by individuals located in Glen Innes and the surrounding district.

A further great strength is the number of photographs that have been included and the fact that much time has been devoted to identifying many of the personalities. There is always the hope that many other photographs may be located in the community.