Writer with a hunger for the wilderness

As part of the University of Exeter's ‘Writers Series' Jay Griffiths, writer of ‘Wild: An Elemental Journey' will give a public talk at the University's Queens Building at 6pm on Thursday 10 December.

Jay Griffiths' books have been praised in extraordinary terms:  'Irresistibly provocative', 'A brave and novel rage against the machine' and 'A dazzling, hungry, brave, all-consuming book, jumping with life', are just three examples of the wide range of critical attention her novels ‘Wil' and ‘Pip, Pip' have attracted.

Andy Brown, Director, Centre for Creative Writing & Arts, said ‘Whether writing about the 24-hour society; about modernity, speed and the colonisation of time; or about carnival, anarchy and wildness, Jay Griffiths' writing is, sentence by sentence, always exciting, always deeply researched and even more deeply felt.'

He added, ‘Love it or hate it, Jay Griffiths' unique prose style never fails to provoke strong reactions from readers: in her support of outsiders, minorities, road protesters and indigenous peoples, she is relentless. In her polemics against Christian fundamentalism, rampant capitalism and political expediency, she is to-the-point and rapier-witted. In her poetic explorations of the importance of wildness, wilderness and the individual spirit she is visionary.'

The ‘Writers Series' is part of the University's Centre for South West Writing, which exists to promote the appreciation of the region's many important creative writers.  Future events in 2010 will feature historical novelist Rose Tremain and children's writer Philip Pullman, whose book ‘The Amber Spyglass' became the first children's book to win the overall Whitbread Award. 

These special literary events are open public as well as University staff and students.  The £5.00 tickets for the Jay Griffiths talk are avaialble from the Exeter Phoenix Box Office. There is also the opportunity to pay on the night at Lecture Theatre 2, Queen's Building, The Queens Drive, Streatham Campus.