London-based Italian poet Roberto Minardi will read his poems from his new collection La città che c’entra (‘The city within’). Some English versions too will be read alongside the Italian originals.

Minardi’s work is characterised by a staunch pursuit of honesty, filtered through a narrative, anti-metaphorical style. Many poems display sharp yet empathetic descriptions of ordinary situations, reverberating with unobtrusive wisdom. For instance, one poem tells the encounter between the poetic persona and a cricket – the parallel syntax of the last line marks their proximity: “nor did I speak, neither did he move”.

Other poems are written as monologues meditating on society through unabashed statements in an anarchist vein: “war industries will not fail / to blame the evil is far from easy / marvellous unknown creature / the evil does not affect us as a rule”. Minardi’s original poetics will be briefly introduced by critic and poet Davide Castiglione.

Admission for this event is £3 and refreshments will be available.

Booking is recommended. To attend this event, please RSVP to

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