Germaine Greer, the celebrated feminist writer and academic, and Michael Rosen, the children’s author and poet, will discuss Shakespeare’s sonnets at Keats House next month, as part of a series of events to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of the Bard’s death.

Professor Greer and the Keats House Poet-in-Residence and former Children’s Laureate will appear together on 10 February from 7pm to 8.30pm to discuss the sonnets’ hold on readers – from Keats’s time to the present day.

Keats House, the poet’s Hampstead home from 1818 to 1820, will present an extensive programme of events from January to April – from poetry workshops and guided walks to readings and a special event on International Women’s Day on 8 March.

Other highlights of the January to April events programme include:

Keats House Poets Present: Jack Underwood and Dean Atta (31 January)

Dean Atta will perform alongside Jack Underwood, who will read from Happiness, his collection of poems that explore the ‘reservoir of wrongheaded questions’ that love and death force us to confront.

Valentine’s Day at Keats House (14 February)

Make a Valentine’s card, listen to Keats’s romantic poems and love letters, and enjoy live music at the pop-up bar.

Keats in the City Guided Walk (26 March)

Follow in the footsteps of John Keats and enjoy readings from his poems and letters along the way. Starting from Keats’ birthplace near Moorgate, explore areas where he lived and studied, including Cheapside, Apothecaries’ Hall and Guy’s Hospital.

Keats and Shakespeare Trail (from 9 April)

This trail explores the relationship between the two poets, charting Shakespeare’s influence on Keats’s life and work.

The London of Wordsworth, Keats and Byron (26 April)

Each poet inhabited very different parts of an ever-changing London – hear about their distinct experiences in a talk by Professor Bernard Beatty, in partnership with the Byron Society.

Vicky Carroll, Principal Curator at Keats House, said:

“My colleagues and I are delighted that Germaine Greer and Michael Rosen will discuss Shakespeare’s poetry in a keynote event in our January to April events programme which, as ever, will feature something for everyone. Guided walks in leafy Hampstead and the bustling Square Mile, poetry readings and workshops, family events, and a wonderfully romantic Valentine’s Day event will help keep Keats’s legacy alive and remind people of the power of poetry.”

For more details about the events programme, visit cityoflondon.gov.uk/keats or call 020 7332 3868. Many of the events, even free ones, require advance booking to secure your place. To do so, please book online at keatsevents.eventbrite.co.uk 

Notes for Editors:

Keats House is situated at 10 Keats Grove, Hampstead, London, NW3 2RR. Telephone 020 7332 3868. Email keatshouse@cityoflondon.gov.uk – follow us on Facebook at /keatshousemuseum and on Twitter at @keatshouse

Opening times : Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Keats House – where the poet lived from 1818 to 1820 - contains furniture, objects, paintings, prints and drawings from the Keats House collection. Admission : Adults £6.50, Seniors £5.50, concessions £4.50, children aged 17 and under free. Keats House is provided by the City of London Corporation, as part of its cultural contribution to London and the nation.

1. PRESS ENQUIRIES:

Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer (Features), City of London Corporation

Tel: 020 7332 1452 / Mobile: 07795 333 060

Email andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk

2. ABOUT THE CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION:

The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse organisation. It supports and promotes the City as the world leader in international finance and business services and provides local services and policing for those working in, living in and visiting the Square Mile. It also provides valued services to London and the nation. These include the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama; the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery and London Metropolitan Archives; a range of education provision (including three City Academies); five Thames bridges (including Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge); the Central Criminal Court at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open spaces (including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three wholesale food markets. It is also London’s Port Health Authority and runs the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow. It works in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on the regeneration of surrounding areas and the City Bridge Trust, which it oversees, donates more than £15m to charity annually.