From: ggeorge@acs.bu.edu (Gerry George)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.caribbean
Subject: More on Derek Walcott, Nobel Prize recipient.
Date: 9 Oct 92 16:42:46 GMT
Organization: Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
Originator: ggeorge@acs.bu.edu




From the Boston University Daily Free Press  Friday, Oct 9, 1992

taken without permission.

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                WALCOTT WINS NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE
                Professor, poet awarded second in BU history.


Boston University professor, poet and playwright Derek Walcott was awarded
the 1992 Nobel Prize in literature yesterday, becoming the second Nobel
winner in the history of the university.
        Walcott joins humanities professor Elie Wiesel as a BU Nobel recipient.
Weisel won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his writings  and lectures
promoting human rights.
        Along with the prestige of being a Nobel Prize winner, Walcott will
receive a $1.2 million award during a ceremony to be held Dec. 10 in Stockholm.

BU president John R. Silber praised Walcott for the contributions he has made
to BU and humanity.
        "Derek Walcott's poetry, rooted in the particularities of his native
West Indies, gives voice to the joy and suffering of the islanders.  By
displaying their humanity in its remarkable complexity and depth, he enriches
that of his readers around the world.  Boston University is honored by his
presence", Silber said in a statement.

        A native of St. Lucia, in the West Indies, Walcott centers much of his
work around life in the Caribbean, but the Nobel Academy said te 62-year-old
poet's works held a universal meaning for mankind.
        "In his literary works, Walcott has laid a course for his own cultural
environment, but through them he speaks to each of us", the Academy said.

        Creative writing program director Leslie Epstein said Walcott's prize
will only add more prestige to BU's writing program.
...
...
stuff relevant to BU and department deleted...
...
...

        The Academy cited Walcott's most recent work, "Omeros", a 64-chapter
Caribbean epic poem completed in 1990, as a major factor in it's decision.  In
addition to "Omeros", Walcott has published nearly 20 collections of poems and
plays.

        Walcott came to BU from Harvard in 1981 and is the founder and
artistic director of BU's University Playwrights' Theatre.
...
...
...
        Walcott's plays and collections of poems include: "The Arkansas
Testament" (1987), "Collected Poems, 1948-1984" (1986), "Midsummer" (1984),
"Joker of Seville & O Babylon!" (1978), "Sea Grapes" (1976), "Another Life"
(1973)

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I say the guy definely is still in touch with his roots.


As an aside, This incidentally makes it the second St. Lucian son to have received the Nobel Prize.  Back in 1983 or somewhere thereabouts, Sir  Arthur Lewis was awarded the Nobel Prize in economics.  My times may be a little off, though.

Sir Arthur Lewis currently resides in Barbados, and I think he is the Chancellor of Cave Hill (but I may be wrong... can anyone in the know clarify?), but is a native of St. Lucia, brother to past governor-general Allen Lewis.

Ah wo, I say we really making it, boy. (Nou ca faire'i)

later, nuh breds

Gerry George
Proud 'Lucian