This choral reading from his writings on animals is devised by Katya Berger-Andreadakis and read by two of John’s children Katya and Yves. It is a family contribution to the centenary year of John Berger’s birth.
There is hardly any book of John Berger’s that doesn’t include a few pages about animals. Both as a writer and as a visual artist, some of his most vivid insights concern non-human living things, ranging from mushrooms to eels, from insects to hounds. His lifelong reflection on the relationship between man and nature led him to listen carefully, but without an ounce of anthropomorphism, to the voices of countless speechless creatures – that finally extended all the way to clouds or biological cells.
A free, photographic display drawn from John Berger archive, held at the British Library, may be seen during normal building opening hours.
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John Berger (1926–2017)
Storyteller, essayist, novelist, screenwriter, playwright, painter and critic – one of the most internationally influential writers of the last 50 years.
Solo or in collaboration, he published more than 30 titles including the Booker Prize winning novel G and the bestselling Ways of Seeing. He lived and worked for many years in Quincy, a small French peasant community, the setting for his trilogy Into their Labours. On hundred years since his birth, painters, cineastes, writers, dancers, curators have been and are still inspired by his work.
Venue and bar opening times
This is an in-person only event in the British Library Knowledge Centre.
The Knowledge Centre and bar open from 18.00.
Please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event. If you have specific access requirements please email customer@bl.uk
Concessions
There are a range of concessions available. These include discounts for British Library Members, Young Persons (16–25s), and visitors on Universal/Pension Credit and free entry for carers.
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