Sunday April 18, 2004

Much ado about reading

Compiled by Hariati Azizan

In a tribute to master writers whose works have left an indelible mark not just in the literary world but in the hearts and minds of generations of readers, we celebrate the ninth year of the World Book and Copyright Day on April 23 with a bookstravaganza from MPH Bookstores.

UNBEKNOWNST to many, April 23 is a historically significant day for world literature. On this date in 1616, renowned English playwright William Shakespeare and Spanish classic writer Cervantes (Don Quixote) died.

It is also the date of death or birth of other prominent writers like Vladimir Nabokov and Maurice Druon.

Thus, it came as no surprise when in 1995, Unesco's General Conference, held in Paris, chose this date to pay tribute to books and authors.

Named the “World Book and Copyright Day”, it is celebrated on this date every year; everyone, particularly youth, are encouraged to explore the pleasure of reading and discover the writers who have enriched the world’s social and cultural heritage.

The idea for this celebration originated in Catalonia, Spain, where on April 23 or Saint George’s Day, a rose is traditionally given as a gift for each book sold. In its ninth year now, on the World Book and Copyright Day, various worldwide events are organised by Unesco with the aim of drawing public attention to books as a means of knowledge, expression and communication.

As highlighted by the director of Unesco's Division of Creativity, Cultural Industries and Copyright, and Head of the organisation's Publishing Office, Milagros del Corral who said: “There are books on all subjects, for all publics and for all times. But we must make sure that books are accessible to everybody everywhere.”

Hence, in conjunction with this momentous literary event, StarEducation and MPH Bookstores are bringing Master Writers to your attention. Best of all, there are discounts on offer. Read on.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
PENGUIN CLASSICS- VARIOUS TITLES

“ALL that glitters is not gold,” “Wild goose chase”, “It’s Greek to me” and “Knock, knock! Who’s there?” – who would have thought that these expressions were coined by Shakespeare 400 years ago?

Very much part of modern English language, these are someexamples of Shakespeare’s contributions to the English language.

William Shakespeare is regarded by many as the best writer who ever lived and his plays are still performed on stages around the world.

His first play, Henry VI, premiered at the Rose Theatre in 1592, and the prolific writer went on to produce more than 40 plays in less than 10 years, earning him the moniker the “Bard”.

Despite the passing of time, Shakespeare remains the most popular playwright in the world because of his universal theme - human nature and behaviour- something that is relevant after all these years.

Another reason why Shakespeare’s plays are produced so often is that they are adaptable and can be interpreted in so many different ways. Unsurprisingly, more than 360 movies are based on Shakespearean plays – there are nearly 40 film versions of “Hamlet” alone. His plays have also been translated into over 80 languages, including Chinese, Zulu and of course, Bahasa Malaysia.

The Bard’s plays can be divided into comedies, tragedies and histories.

Here are some of his most popular plays:

Romeo and Juliet

This well-known tragedy tells of a pair of young lovers who are kept apart by their families’ feud.

Hamlet

Hamlet is the tortured Prince of Denmark who is torn when his murdered father comes to him as a ghost to demand for vengeance.

The Tempest

This fairy tale-like play is about a duke and his young daughter set adrift at sea. They land on an island inhabited by magical beings.

Othello

This tragedy tells the story of a bitter man, Iago, who decides to get even with the general, Othello, who passed him over for promotion. Iago tricks Othello into becoming so jealous of his wife, Desdemona, that he murders her.

Other Shakespeare titles available: Macbeth, Anthony and Cleopatra, As You Like It, Henry V, Julius Ceasar, King Lear, Measure for Measure, Merchant of Venice, Midsummer’s Night Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night

PABLO NERUDA
TITLES: MEMORIES: I CONFESS THAT I LIVED
THE CAPTAIN'S VERSES
RESIDENCE ON EARTH 1 AND 2
100 LOVE SONNETS
PABLO NERUDA: SELECTED POEMS
LOVE: TEN POEMS BY PABLO NERUDA

BORN Neftalí Ricardo Reyes Basoalto, this Chilean poet and diplomat was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. Neruda is the most widely read of the South American poets. From the 1940s on, his works reflected the political struggle of the left and the socio-historical developments in South America. However, he is equally famed for his love poems.

Neruda started writing poetry when he was 10 years old. At the age of 12, he met the Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral, who encouraged his literary efforts. Neruda's first literary work, an article, appeared in 1917 in the magazine La Manana.

In 1920, he published poems in the magazine Selva Austral, using the pen name Pablo Neruda to avoid conflict with his family, who disapproved of his literary ambitions.

The following year saw the publication of Twenty Poems of Love and One Song of Despair, one of his best known and most translated works. Alongside his literary activities, Neruda studied French and pedagogy at the University of Chile in Santiago.

Between 1927 and 1935, the Chile government put him in charge of a number of honorary consuls, which took him to Burma, Java, Singapore, Buenos Aires and Madrid. His poetic production during that difficult period included, among other works, the collection of surrealistic poems, Residence on Earth 1 and 2 . In 1933, Neruda met Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca who inspired him and introduced him to leftist politics. García Lorca was murdered not long after that, leaving a deep mark in Neruda, which was translated in his consequent poems.

In 1966, he married a Chilean singer, Matilde Urrutia, who was the inspiration of much of his later poetry, among others, One Hundred Love Sonnets (1960).

His political leanings made him an exile. He lived and travelled in Mexico, the Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe before returning to Chile in 1952.

During his long literary career, Neruda produced more than 40 volumes of poetry, translations and verse drama.

In conjunction with the centenary celebration of Pablo Neruda worldwide, MPH Bookstores have specially brought in Neruda's works, some of which were previously unavailable in Malaysia. IT IS a time of festivity and fun at MPH Bookstores nationwide in honour of the World Book and Copyright Day on Friday.

DISCOUNT: from April 12 - 25, 2004. Customers who purchase one paperback novel (code 02) can get the second at a 20% discount.

FREE BOOKMARK: Customers who purchase books in MPH will receive one limited edition bookmark commemorating the centenary year of Pablo Neruda. Limited to one per customer.

FUNFILLED EVENTS:

* Poetry Recital by students from Help Institute MPH Megastore 1 Utama:

Sat, April 17, 3-4pm

MPH Mid Valley:

Sun, April 18, 3-4pm

* Story-telling sessions by students from Help Institute

MPH Mid-Valley:

Sat, April 24, 4-5pm

MPH Megastore 1 Utama:

Sun, April 25, 4-5pm

* Movie screening of Il Postino (The Postman)

Based on true events, Italian star and film-maker Massimo Troisi plays a shy postman, Mario, who strikes up an unlikely friendship with exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (Phillippe Noiret). Set in 1954, the movie is a romantic comedy.

Subtitles are in English. Limited seats available, on a first-come-first served basis.

Date: Friday, April 23, 2004

Time: 6.30pm

Venue: Booker Room (Level 2), MPH Megastore 1 Utama

* Book Fair at Help Institute from April 20-23, 2004

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