Close encounters

Benjamin Markovits

December, 2008

The first two books of Benjamin Markovits' three Byron novels, Imposture and A Quiet Adjustment, are published by Faber. The characters revolve around the mesmeric figure of one of the world's most recognisable poets - whose work, in unique manuscript form, is central in the archive of publishers John Murray, a new treasure trove acquired by the NLS. Benjamin Markovits talked about extracts from 'Hints from Horace' and 'Childe Harold'.

• Benjamin Markovits' Close Encounter with Byron

Kathleen Jamie

November, 2008

Kathleen Jamie called this evening 'touch me' - and appropriately enough for a Close Encounter, she'll be thinking 'about absence and presence in our own lives'. She'll talk about 'Touch Me' by Stanley Kunitz, and her own poem 'Glamourie'

• Kathleen Jamie's Close Encounter with Stanley Kunitz

John Burnside

1October, 2008

For this Close Encounter, John Burnside explored the National Library of Scotland's holdings on W S Graham, including unique manuscript items and notebooks. John Burnside's own poetry and prose fiction has won him awards including most recently the Forward Poetry Prize 2007 for the poetry collection Gift Songs, and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his novel The Devil's Footprints.

• John Burnside's Close Encounter with W S Graham

Annie Freud

March 2007

Annie Freud visited the Scottish Poetry Library on 12 March 2007, to talk about a poem by John Stammers and a poem of her own, 'The Best Man That Ever Was'

• Annie Freud's Close Encounter with John Stammers

Ruth Padel

November 2007

Ruth Padel came to the Scottish Poetry Library in November 2007, and talked about a poem by C K Williams and a poem of her own, 'The Soho Leopard'

• Ruth Padel's Close Encounter with C K Williams