Poetry Series No. 24. Thursday, 17^th May 2012. A reading by Seamus Heaney. With an Introduction by David Morphet & Andrew O’Hagan. Booklet. Privately Published for poetry reading at the Athenaeum Club, London. One page biography & bibliography (1939-2010) followed by 17 pages of poems.

Inscribed by Heaney on front cover to publisher Colin Smythe: “For Colin, who clubbed me in the first place, with gratitude – Seamus”

The following are Included:

Two handwritten cards from Heaney on his personal stationary, dated 9th Sept,. 1996 & 22th Dec. 2012 respectively

Three fax letters from Colin Smythe relating to his proposal of poet Ann Saddlemyer for membership of the Athenaeum Club.

One letter from Smythe to Heaney (July 2012) requesting he sign the above programme as he mislaid his original one after the dinner in May.

Faxed reply to Heaney thanking him for return of the signed programme.

A ‘Poetry Dinner’ menu card for the evening (17^th May), with table seating arrangements printed on reverse.

A menu ‘Talk Dinner: What Makes a Good Poet’ Speaker Mr Seamus Heaney. Monday 8^th May 2000.

Proposed by publisher Colin Smythe, Seamus Heaney became a member of the Athenaeum Club in 1996, the year after he received the Noble Prize for Literature.  A portrait of him hangs in the Clubhouse. It was painted by fellow Member Fiona Graham-Mackay after they met at Heaney’s 2012 Poetry Evening at the Athenaeum