Mario Petrucci in Coventry TONIGHT, with Open Mic: 8pm

London poet Mario Petrucci will read in Coventry on Thursday night, as guest poet at the monthly open mic night run by The Heaventree Press.

Petrucci’s first collection, Shrapnel and Sheets (1996), dealing with war themes, family relationships, bereavement and scientific issues, won a Poetry Book Society recommendation. This was followed by two further collections: Lepidoptera (1999) and Bosco (1999). In 2002, he won the Daily Telegraph Arvon International Poetry Competition, with a book-length poem on Chernobyl . This led to the publication of Heavy Water: a poem for Chernobyl (2004), launched on the 18th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, along with its sister volume, Half Life: Poems for Chernobyl (2004). His most recent volumes are Flowers of Sulphur (winner of the 2007 New London Writers Award) and Catullus, a set of translations from the Latin.

“Twin engines drive Mario Petrucci’s poetry: one engine is a personal and cultural knowledge of the sweep of European history; the other is a scientific understanding few poets have. Between them, these engines take Mario's poetry to dazzling heights.” – Ian McMillan

Mario Petrucci will read at Liquid Cafe Wine Bar in the City Arcade. 8pm start. Free entry. Reduced price drinks for performers.

Hope to see you there!