On Dec. 3, the Master”s Office, Atkinson Faculty of Liberal & Professional Studies, presented its third event in the Caribbean Women”s Writers Series with the appearance of writer Olive Senior. Diana Cooper-Clark, master of Atkinson, sent Y-File the following account.
Olive Senior, author of three collections of short stories – Summer Lighting (winner of the Commonwealth Writers Prize,1987), Arrival of the Snake-Woman and Discerner of Hearts – and two books of poetry – Gardening in the Tropics and Talking of Trees – read from her books of both prose and poetry.
The audience thoroughly enjoyed her reading which blended standardized English, Jamaican-English and Creole. Her short stories and poetry reveal the richness of Jamaican life at all levels. Following the reading, everyone enjoyed a delicious Jamaican lunch. The eminent writer, Rachel Manley, who spoke at the series in October, attended to hear Senior”s reading.
Senior’s poetry and fiction have been taught at universities internationally, broadcast on both sides of the Atlantic and translated into several languages. She has been the recipient of numerous honours and has held several prestigious positions. Currently, she is on the faculty of The Humber School for Writers, Humber College.
