Forgotten Letters: An Anthology of Literature by Dyslexic Writers

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Forgotten Letters: An Anthology of Literature by Dyslexic Writers Editor: Nim Folb Book Launch, 2 November 2011 Theatro Technis, 26 Crowndale Road, London NW1 1TT What is a dyslexic writer? There are far too few books that are written for dyslexics. The ones available tend to focus on recovering from the problem. They offer guidance or reassurance that dyslexia, can be solved, or lessened. They point out the advantages, disadvantages, or what it looks like. All too common, is the perception that dyslexics would be better off in a world without books, without language, without reading. In November 2011, to coincide with Dyslexia Awareness Week, RASP will be releasing Forgotten Letters: An Anthology of Literature by Dyslexic Writers. The book is a compilation of work by contemporary dyslexic writers, both renowned and emerging, including but not limited to, Billy Childish (co-founder of the Stuckism Art Movement); Andrew Solomon (winner of the 2001 National Book Award and finalist for the 2002 Pulitzer Prize); Thomas West (author of Thinking Like Einstein and In the Mind’s Eye); Sally Gardner, (winner of the 2005 Nestlé Children's Book Prize Gold Award and, shortlisted for the British Children's Book of the Year in 2006); Philip Schultz (winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry); and Benjamin Zephaniah (included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008). Some contributors have chosen to explore the concept of dyslexia through orthographic aberrations, while others have addressed their techniques for writing or discussed what writing means to them. Together they bring attention to the structure of stories, images in words, and the authors’ love of language. As such, this anthology is about more than the forgetting of letters. It is a testimony to the value of writing to dyslexics. It brings to the fore notions of authorship, and authority. It asks: who decides what dyslexia is? And who authorises if whether dyslexics can write, or not? The book is considered to be of interest, not just to dyslexics, but also those interested in the relationship between identity and authorship as authority. It provides a compelling read to all concerned with the limitations of representation and gives a voice to those who have been marginalised by literary traditions. Copies of Forgotten Letters: An Anthology of Literature by Dyslexic Writers will be available to buy at the launch November 2nd 2011 at Theatro Technis, London. Thereafter they can be purchased online through www.r-a-s-p.co.uk. Nim Folb will be attending the launch event where you can discuss RASP further, or contact her at [email protected] Nim Folb is a PhD student at the Educational Studies Department Goldsmiths, University of London. forgotten letters an anthology of dyslexic poetry

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An invitation to the launch of Forgotten Letters: An Anthology of Literature by Dyslexic Writers, November 2nd 2011 at Theatro Technis, London.

Transcript of Forgotten Letters: An Anthology of Literature by Dyslexic Writers

Page 1: Forgotten Letters: An Anthology of Literature by Dyslexic Writers

Forgotten Letters: An Anthology of Literature by Dyslexic Writers

Editor: Nim FolbBook Launch,2 November 2011Theatro Technis,

26 Crowndale Road,

London NW1 1TT

What is a dyslexic writer?There are far too few books that are written for dyslexics. The ones available tend to focus on recovering from the problem. They offer

guidance or reassurance that dyslexia, can be solved, or lessened. They point out the advantages, disadvantages, or what it looks

like. All too common, is the perception that dyslexics would be better off in a world without books, without language, without reading.

In November 2011, to coincide with Dyslexia Awareness Week, RASP will be releasing Forgotten Letters: An Anthology of Literature

by Dyslexic Writers. The book is a compilation of work by contemporary dyslexic writers, both renowned and emerging, including but

not limited to, Billy Childish (co-founder of the Stuckism Art Movement); Andrew Solomon (winner of the 2001 National Book Award

and finalist for the 2002 Pulitzer Prize); Thomas West (author of Thinking Like Einstein and In the Mind’s Eye); Sally Gardner, (winner of

the 2005 Nestlé Children's Book Prize Gold Award and, shortlisted for the British Children's Book of the Year in 2006); Philip Schultz

(winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry); and Benjamin Zephaniah (included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in

2008).

Some contributors have chosen to explore the concept of dyslexia through orthographic aberrations, while others have addressed

their techniques for writing or discussed what writing means to them. Together they bring attention to the structure of stories, images

in words, and the authors’ love of language.

As such, this anthology is about more than the forgetting of letters. It is a testimony to the value of writing to dyslexics. It brings to the

fore notions of authorship, and authority. It asks: who decides what dyslexia is? And who authorises if whether dyslexics can write, or

not? The book is considered to be of interest, not just to dyslexics, but also those interested in the relationship between identity and

authorship as authority. It provides a compelling read to all concerned with the limitations of representation and gives a voice to those

who have been marginalised by literary traditions.

Copies of Forgotten Letters: An Anthology of

Literature by Dyslexic Writers will be available

to buy at the launch November 2nd 2011 at

Theatro Technis, London. Thereafter they can

be purchased online through

www.r-a-s-p.co.uk.

Nim Folb will be attending the launch event

where you can discuss RASP further, or

contact her at [email protected]

Nim Folb is a PhD student at the

Educational Studies Department

Goldsmiths, University of London.

forgotten lettersan anthology of dyslexic poetry