Monday, August 16, 2010

Parables, Prophets and Pillocks

Corrigendum: This event will be the Malaysian launch of Cecil Rajendra's latest book Parables, Prophets and Pillocks (which has already been launched in the UK). This is not to be confused with the readings (of his older works) by him on the 16th of September at Leonardo's Wine Loft in celebration of Malaysia Day 2010.

Reading by Cecil Rajendra on Saturday, the 18th of September at 6.00pm at Silverfish Books, 58-1 Jalan Telawi, (map) Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Tel: 228 448 37, in commemoration of Malaysia Day, the first time it is being celebrated with a holiday since Malaysia was declared in 1963. (Crazy but true.) Admission is free, but do come early if you have any idea how a Cecil Rajendra event attracts people (including some you might not recognise).

Parables, Prophets and Pillocks is Cecil Rajendra's 20th collection of poetry and marks over 40 years of creative writing. His first collection, Embryo, was published in London in 1965 while he was still a student reading law at Lincoln's Inn. His poems have been published in over 50 countries and have been translated into many languages including German, French, Japanese, Malay, Tamil, Tagalog and Swahili.

On his return from London, Rajendra initiated Malaysia's first rural legal aid centre in a remote village offering pro-bono legal advice and assistance to farmers, fishermen and factory workers. In 2005, Cecil Rajendra became the first receipient of the Malaysian Humanitarian Award.