Alibi – from the Latin ălĭbī, ‘elsewhere’ – is the first anthology collecting the voices – displaced, transferred, transported – of Italian poets living, or who used to live, in the United Kingdom. In a programmatic and lyrical manner, it is published in the aftermath of Brexit and at the invitation of Albanian Italophone poet Gëzim Hajdari. This book presents the reader with the polyglot ghost of the major poets of the Italian tradition, from Dante to Leopardi. It invites us to join an intimate (ultimate?) dance with friends while also imposing on us a painful exile. It allows us to experience again the space of the womb whilst also opening up the void of a grave. It points out that distance is premature yet fossilised poetry. (From Marta Arnaldi’s ‘Introduction’)

This is the launch and choral presentation of the bilingual anthology Alibi, as well as a poetry reading. Co-editors and poets Marta Arnaldi and Luca Paci will present the project together with poet Gezim Hajdari and Prof Peter Hainsworth, the author of the anthology’s Afterword. A number of poets and translators featured in the anthology will read and discuss their texts. We will reflect on the identitarian, political and ethical role of poetry at a time of global displacement.

The presentation will be followed by a drinks reception. Everyone is welcome.

For more information, please visit the event page: www.occt.ox.ac.uk/alibi-italian-poets-uk
If you have any questions, please contact Erin Nickalls (erin.nickalls@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk).