Gellu Naum: ,,Drumeţul incendiar"

Renowned author and critic Simona Popescu, founder of Gellu Naum Foundation and one of the great poet’s closest confidants, discusses Naum’s fascinating persona and enduring literary appeal in the company of poet, translator and cultural animator Stephen Watts.

Part of the Gellu Naum Centenary at RCI London.

Simona Popescu graduated from the Faculty of Letters at University of Bucharest in 1987, where she is currently a professor. She has published three volumes of poetry, 'Xilofonul şi alte poeme' ('The Xylophone and Other Poems', 1990), 'Juventus' (1994), 'Noapte sau zi' ('Night or Day', 1998), and is co-author of 'Pauza de respiraţie' ('Breathing Space', 1991), considered one of the best poetry books of the nineties. Simona Popescu is one of Romania’s foremost experts on Gellu Naum, and serves as a board member of Gellu Naum Foundation. Her novel 'Exuvii' ('Exuviae', 1997) has become a literary classic and has been translated into several languages.

Stephen Watts was born in London in 1952. He is a poet, editor and translator with cultural roots in the Swiss Italian Alps and Scotland fact that deepened his interest in dialogue between cultures. His own most recent books include 'Gramsci & Caruso' (Periplum 2003), 'The Blue Bag' (Aark Arts 2004) and 'Mountain Language/Lingua di montagna' (Hearing Eye 2008). Together with Claudiu Komartin, Stephen translated Gellu Naum and other poets for the special Romanian issue of the prestigious Modern Poetry in Translation, published in 2013.

Anamaria Marinca is one of the most beloved Romanian actresses. She was born in Iaşi, Romania in a family with strong foundation in arts. Anamaria graduated from the George Enescu University of Fine Arts, Music and Drama in Iaşi and made her screen debut with the Channel 4 film 'Sex Traffic', for which she won the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress. In 2007, she starred in the Romanian film '4 luni, 3 săptămâni şi 2 zile' ('4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days') by Cristian Mungiu, which won the Palme d'Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, and two other awards (the Cinema Prize of the French National Education System and the FIPRESCI prize). She also appeared, among others, in the Francis Ford Coppola film 'Youth Without Youth'.

Where: Romanian Cultural Institute, 1 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PH When: Thu 29 Oct 2015, 7 pm (doors open at 6.30 pm)

Free entry, but please reserve your seat on EVENTBRITE