This event brings together Christopher Ricks, one of the most distinguished critics of our age and author of True Friendship (2010), and Mark Vernon, founder member of The School of Life and author of The Meaning of Friendship (2010), to talk about the ways in which literature has shaped their understanding of friendship. Admission is free, but seats should be reserved. See link.
Christopher Ricks
One of the most distinguished critics of his generation. He is William M. and Sara B. Warren Professor of the Humanities and Co-Director of the Editorial Institute, Boston University, a recipient of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's Distinguished Achievement Award for significant contributions to the humanities, and was Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford (2004-2009). (Wikipedia: 'known as a champion of Victorian poetry; an enthusiast of Bob Dylan, whose lyrics he has analysed at book length; a trenchant reviewer of writers he considers pretentious; and a warm reviewer of those he thinks humane or humorous. Hugh Kenner has praised his "intent eloquence", and Geoffrey Hill his "unrivalled critical intelligence". W.H. Auden described Ricks as "exactly the kind of critic every poet dreams of finding."') Most recently he has published True Friendship (2010).

Mark Vernon
Writer, broadcaster and journalist, his work appears regularly in The Guardian, TLS, Evening Standard and on the BBC. His studies began with a degree in physics, followed by two degrees in theology, and a PhD in philosophy. He is an honorary Research Fellow at Birkbeck College, University of London, and a founding member of The School of Life.

http://www.markvernon.com

This event is part of The Humane Reader day.