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A Fair Kop

West End Lane thrills to a poet reading

There are few things to compare to the luxury of hearing a poet read their own verse, so we were excited to welcome local poet, playwright and novelist, the incomparable Bernard Kops, to West End Lane Books.

Kops cut a dashing figure in fisherman's jumper, cords, nonchalantly-slung scarf and jauntily angled cap and it was hard to imagine that it is now over 70 years since he began his epic career on leaving school in the East End at 13.

As his latest volume, This Room In The Sunlight, is a collection of work from throughout his long life, Kops prefaced each poem with a sliver of background as to the who/where/when/how of its origins and how these stories brought the poems and the evening to life.

Listening to him speak was not only a journey through his life and his work, but also a fascinating glimpse into the world—political and cultural—that we all live in today.

Several of the poems concerned his long relationship with his wife Erica, who was in the audience, and how can one not warm to a writer who has dedicated every volume he has written to his wife.

So, not only a man of our area, but also one of our country and our cultural history. If you couldn't make it on the night, This Room In The Sunlight is strongly recommended to all students of life.