Poetry evening

The Victor Hugo Centre is building upon the success of its inaugural 2024 poetry night with a bigger event following World Poetry Day.

The Centre has organised a free evening of poetry on Thursday 3 April with readings from local students and poets starting from 6.30pm.

People will be treated to a range of literature read in French, English and Guernesais in the Haywards Room at the Guille-Alles Library.

Victor Hugo Centre chairman, Larry Malcic, said: “Victor Hugo first and foremost described himself as a poet and while his novels have drawn in mass audiences from around the world, he is best known for in France for his poetry – his poem Demain, dès L’aube, which translates to ‘Tomorrow, at Dawn’, is regularly voted France’s favourite.

“Hugo published his poetry collection Les Contemplations shortly after arriving in Guernsey and the success of this collection allowed him to buy Hauteville House, where he resided between 1856 to 1870. Even after his move back to Paris, he returned to Hauteville House to write his last literary works.

“A performance and event space forms part of the plans for the Victor Hugo Centre and will celebrate Guernsey as an island of inspiration, showcasing the talent and creativity of islanders and our young people in a diverse range of artistic skills, including music, poetry, filmmaking and photography.”

“With this in mind, the Poetry Night next Thursday will include established local poets, talented students from local schools, and those who simply appreciate reading poems by their favourite poets,” said Mr Malcic.