ICI London proudly supports Poemi Conviviali, a wonderful journey into the world of ancient myth and history.
Greek mythology permeates our world to this day, with countless retellings of stories that never cease to capture our imagination. What happens to Helen of Troy when the city falls? What does Achilles do after returning Hector’s body to Priam? How did Homer become blind? These and other questions are addressed in Giovanni Pascoli’s splendid poetic collection Poemi Conviviali, first published in Italy in 1904. Poemi Conviviali is not only a superb retelling of timeless stories, but also a true masterpiece of European modernism and an example of world literature.
In 2022, British poet James Ackhurst and Italian/British scholar Elena Borelli published a complete translation of Poemi Conviviali into English entitled Convivial Poems. Other renowned translators, such as Robert Nugent, Egidio Lunardi, Geoffrey Brock, Taije Silverman, Marina Della Putta Johnston, Deborah Brown, Richard Jackson, and Sarah Thomas have also translated some of these magnificent poems into English.
After its publication in 2022, Convivial Poems became a performance, in which the reading of the poems was accompanied by the magic sound of the Celtic harp, an instrument dating back to ancient Egypt.
Now, in 2024, commemorating 120 years since the book’s first edition, Poemi Conviviali/ Convivial Poems embarks on a new journey as a podcast. The ambition is to dedicate an episode to each poem, delving into the enthralling tales that inspired Giovanni Pascoli. Esteemed scholars and translators will join the discussions, providing invaluable insights. Listeners will have the opportunity to experience the poems in English, recited by talented actors and actresses and accompanied by evocative music.
To listen the podcast series, please click HERE
This project is produced by the King’s College London and supported by the Italian Cultural Institute in London, Accademia Pascoliana San Mauro Pascoli, Fondazione Giovanni Pascoli, and Italica Press.