14 June 2004
Seamus Heaney book to be published
A unique new limited edition book is to be published commemorating a lecture given by Nobel Laureate
Seamus Heaney at the University of Dundee. The special hardback volume, entitled Room to Rhyme, is a
collaboration between Heaney, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design and world-renowned scientist
Professor Sir Philip Cohen and records the poet's only lecture of 2003.
The book features specially commissioned illustrative images by artist Brigid Collins as well as graphic
design by David Herbert. All profits from the sale of the book will be donated to the campaign led by
Professor Sir Philip Cohen, to build a world class Centre for Inter-Disciplinary Research in diabetes and
tropical diseases at the University's School of Life Sciences. The publication of the book is supported
by the City of Discovery Campaign.
Heaney gave the lecture as part of the University of Dundee's Greatest Minds Lecture series in July
2003. The lecture was one of the highlights of the 2003 Graduation festivities, as University Principal
Sir Alan Langlands recalls, "The Seamus Heaney Greatest Minds Lecture 2003 was a memorable experience.
It has seeped into the fabric of the University as one of those very special occasions. We are delighted
that Seamus has allowed us to publish his remarkable speech - and that he has very kindly agreed that all
profits from the sale of the book will go towards the Centre for Inter-Disciplinary Research"
'Room to Rhyme' immediately plunges the reader into memories drawn from Heaney's childhood providing a
unique insight into what drives his poetic vision. He tells the reader, "Poetry...integrates the
experience of a lifetime and assists in the overall process of maintaining continuity and accommodating
change. To put it another way, poems and rhymes, especially if they are known by heart, appeal to memory
and open a path towards further meaning".
Looking at his own childhood, he recalls the opening lines of a mummers' play:
Room, room, my gallant boys
And give us room to rhyme
We'll show you some activity
Upon this Christmas time-
Heaney also uses excepts from Thomas Hardy and T.S. Eliot, among others, to investigate why memories
can provide the crucial spark of inspiration to write poetry "For a poet , an event that happened will
often not reveal its significance until it is happened upon a second time". He concludes by quoting from
his own renowned poem 'Digging'. A poem, he explains written by someone who was "balanced at that time
between memory and meaning". The poem is printed in full.
Room to Rhyme is co-sponsored by the City of Discovery Campaign. Lord Provost John Letford, chairman
of the campaign, said, "Seamus Heaney is one of the world's leading poets and we were honoured that he
chose to deliver his only lecture of 2003 in Dundee. Poetry and literature are at the heart of the City
of Discovery’s cultural renaissance and we are delighted to be supporting the publication of a
fascinating new book which recounts a memorable occasion. Dundee is increasingly enjoying a reputation
for its vibrant literary scene and this new book will build on the success of the Dundee Book Prize which
this year attracted more than 200 entries."
An official launch encompassing readings and an exhibition of original artwork for the book will take
place on Friday 18 June at 6.30pm in the Cooper Gallery, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design,
University of Dundee.
Copies of the book are available to purchase from the University of Dundee. For further details please
contact the Events Department on 01382 344660 or email, events@dundee.ac.uk.
Notes to Editors
Seamus Heaney served for five years on The Arts Council in the Republic of Ireland (1973-1978) and
over the years has acted as judge and lecturer for countless poetry competitions and literary
conferences, establishing a special relationship with the annual W.B. Yeats International Summer School
in Sligo. He is a member of Aosdana, the Irish academy of artists and writers, and a foreign member of
the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 1996, subsequent to winning his Nobel Prize in literature
in 1995, he was made a Commandeur de L'Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.
The CIR Campaign aims to raise the final £4m to complete the building of a centre for research dedicated
to exploring more effective drug treatments for the world’s two fastest growing epidemics, diabetes and
tropical diseases. The campaign is led by Professor Sir Philip Cohen and Hollywood actor, Brian Cox. For
further information on the campaign, visit www.dundee.ac.uk/externalrelations
or contact Joan Concannon, Director of External Relations, Tel: 01382 345565/ j.concannon@dundee.ac.uk.
The City of Discovery Campaign - The City of Discovery Campaign is the promotional arm of the Dundee
Partnership and is also supported by the European Regional Development Fund. Its aim is to lead the way
in positively transforming the image of Dundee locally, nationally and internationally. And to ensure
that a more accurate perception of the city as a vibrant, attractive and flourishing location is held by
residents, visitors, the business community and potential investors. For more information visit
www.cityofdiscovery.com
For further information please contact the Press Office on 01382 344021
By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344768, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk | 
