A New Divan

23rd May 2019, British Library, London ‘The Poet and Suleika’ was the first of a series of events over the summer of 2019 celebrating the publication of Gingko’s A New Divan, and featured three prominent participants this ambitious project: Don Paterson, one of Scotland’s greatest contemporary poets, writers and musicians;… Read More

15th August 2019, Spiegeltent, Edinburgh International Book Festival The West-Eastern Divan was Goethe’s last major body of poetry, a tribute to Persian verse. To celebrate its bicentenary, A New Divan brings together 24 poets from West and East in a dialogue exploring otherness. This major international event brought together a brilliant array of acclaimed… Read More

Paradise on Earth, Fadhil al-Azzawi This poem is an original poem written for “A New Divan” by the Iraqi poet Fadhil al-Azzawi, inspired by the book of Paradise in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “West-Eastern Divan” (published 1819). Read More

Mind the Gap, Gilles Ortlieb This poem is an original poem written for “A New Divan” by the French poet Gilles Ortlieb, inspired by the book of Wisdom in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “West-Eastern Divan” (published 1819). Read More

Mind the Gap, Sean O’Brien This poem is the English version by Sean O’Brien of an original poem written for “A New Divan” by the French poet Gilles Ortlieb, via a literal translation by Frank Wynne. The original poem was inspired by the book of… Read More

Letter to Goethe, Adonis This poem is an original poem written for “A New Divan” by the Syrian poet Adonis, inspired by the book of The Poet in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “West-Eastern Divan” (published 1819). Read More