Celebrating 100 years of poetry: Kathleen Jones on Norman Nicholson
This week is the centenary of Norman Nicholson’s birth. ‘Norman who?’ I can hear people ask. I wonder how many of you recognised the name of the most celebrated Lake District poet after Wordsworth - a writer whose work has suffered undeserved neglect since he died in 1987? I'm guessing very few. But, hopefully, all that is about to change. Today the BBC are broadcasting a documentary about his life on Radio 4, at 4.30pm. 'Provincial Pleasures' is narrated by Eric Robson (moonlighting from Gardener’s Question Time) and contributors include Melvyn Bragg, fellow biographer Grevel Lindop and myself. There are also going to be lots of activities defying the notorious Lakeland weather throughout January. On his 100th birthday, the 8th, I’m going to be at a ‘party’ at Carlisle Library - where the speakers will include some of his surviving friends and relatives. Researching and writing an ‘Indie’ biography from start to finish has been an interesting - often challeng...