Les Murray to give the University of Surrey Annual Lecture
Wednesday 14 May 2008
Award-winning Australian poet Les Murray will give the University of Surrey Annual Lecture on Friday 30 May, 6.30 p.m. in the School of Management Lecture Theatre.
Les Murray, born in 1938, grew up on a dairy farm at Bunyah on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia. In 1957 he commenced study at the University of Sydney, reading modern languages, and during this period became a professional translator. He served in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. In 1969 he took up writing full-time, after spending some time travelling and completing his degree course.
Since 1971 he has made poetry his full-time career.
In 1989 Murray was awarded the title Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to Australian literature.
Other recognition of his work includes the T.S. Elliot Prize which he was awarded in1966 for his work Subhuman Redneck Poems and in 2004 his verse novel Fredy Neptune won the Mondello Prize in Italy.
Les Murray also received the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1999.
His most recent publication is the Biplane Houses.
Murray has edited the magazine Poetry Australia, and currently serves as literary editor of Quadrant.
The lecture is free and open to the public but prior booking is required. For tickets please contact the University Box Office, Tel: 01483 686876 or E-mail: boxoffice@surrey.ac.uk
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
