Reader meet author
Friday 06 November 2009
A new book which argues that
Morrissey is the greatest lyricist in the history of British popular music will
be officially launched in Manchester
this weekend (Saturday 7 November 2009).
The book, written by an academic from the University of St Andrews,
will be launched to the sounds of leading tribute band The Smiths Indeed at a
special Morrissey-themed event. Appropriately, given the academic nature
of the book and the singer's famous bookishness, the event will be held at
Blackwell's University bookshop in the city's Oxford Road.
Morrissey: The Pageant of His Bleeding Heart, by Dr Gavin Hopps, is the
first academic study of the singer, and compares Manchester's most famous son to literary
luminaries such as Samuel Beckett, Philip Larkin, John Betjeman and Oscar
Wilde, as well as comedy greats Frankie Howerd and George Formby.
The book explores all the major subjects in Morrissey's writing - such as love,
melancholy, monstrosity and alienation - and is the first to examine the
singer's literary influences in any depth.
Dr Gavin Hopps, one of the few academic experts on the work of Morrissey and
The Smiths, was one of the speakers at the first academic conference on the
subject of the band, hosted appropriately by the University of Manchester.
An expert in British Romanticism and one of the founding trustees of the
Scottish Byron Society, Dr Hopps is the author of a number of papers on poetry
and pop music, including 'Morrissey and the Light that Never Goes Out,' 'A
Foreigner at Home: Morrissey and the Art of Embarrassment,' 'Celibacy,
Abstinence and Rock 'n' Roll: Morrissey's Deconstruction of Pop'.
During Saturday's event, Dr Hopps will talk about his book and take questions
from the audience.
Morrissey: The Pageant of His Bleeding Heart, by Gavin Hopps, will be
launched at 4pm on Saturday 7 November, in the Manchester University
branch of Blackwell (University Precinct Centre, Oxford Road). The event is open to
the public.
ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE LAUNCH (4-5.30pm) - THE AUTHOR GAVIN HOPPS WILL
BE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW ON THE DAY.
NOTE TO PICTURE EDITORS:
IMAGES OF THE BOOK AND OF THE AUTHOR ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE PRESS OFFICE ON THE
CONTACTS BELOW.
Issued by the Press Office, University of St Andrews
Contact Gayle Cook, Senior Communications Manager on 01334 467227 / 462529, mobile 07900 050 103, or email gec3@st-andrews.ac.uk
Ref: Morrissey Manchester 061109
View the latest University press
releases at www.st-andrews.ac.uk