Richard Georges Explained

Richard Georges (born 1982) is the first poet laureate of the British Virgin Islands.^{[1] [2]} He is the current president of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College^{[3] [4]} and a founding editor of MOKO: Caribbean Arts & Letters.^[5] Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Georges was raised and currently resides in the British Virgin Islands.

Education

Georges earned a B.A. (English) from the Texas Christian University, an M.A. (Creative Writing) from Aberystwyth University, and a Ph.D. (Creative and Critical Writing) from University of Sussex, where he published his thesis "Charting the sea in Caribbean poetry: Kamau Brathwaite, Derek Walcott, Dionne Brand, Alphaeus Norman, Verna Penn Moll, and Richard Georges."^[6]

Georges says that while studying for his B.A. degree, he found himself "falling in love with images and rhyme and would find parallels between writers like Walcott and Eliot with lyrical rappers like Nas and Eminem."^[7]

Writing

Georges' poetry is enveloped in the textured sensuality of the sea while also addressing the violent history of the Caribbean and recent events such as Hurricane Irma and the climate crisis.^[8]

Make Us All Islands, Georges' first book of poetry (Shearsman Books, 2017) was shortlisted for the Felix Dennis Prize for Best First Collection by the Forward Prizes for Poetry.^{[9] [10]}

In 2018, Georges' second collection, Giant (Platypus Press) was Highly Commended by the Forward Prizes and longlisted for the 2019 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature.^[11] That same year, Georges presented the talk "The power of poetry" for TEDx Tortola.^[12]

In 2020, Georges won the poetry category and the overall OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature with his third collection, Epiphaneia.^{[13] [14] [15] [16] [17]}

Selected works

• Make Us All Islands, poetry (2017),
• Giant, poetry (2018),
• Epiphaneia, poetry (2019),

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dr Richard Georges appointed the BVI's first Poet Laureate . British Virgin Islands . 21 November 2020.
2. News: Kampa . Dana . Richard Georges named VI's 1st poet laureate . 21 November 2020 . The BVI Beacon . November 19, 2020.
3. Web site: New Leadership Appointments At HLSCC Government of the Virgin Islands. 2 October 2020. 2020-10-12. bvi.gov.vg.
4. Web site: 2020-10-05. Four new appointments at HLSCC. 2020-10-12. BVI News. en.
5. Web site: About . MOKO: Caribbean Arts & Letters . 21 November 2020.
6. Charting the sea in Caribbean poetry: Kamau Brathwaite, Derek Walcott, Dionne Brand, Alphaeus Norman, Verna Penn Moll, and Richard Georges . University of Sussex . 9 January 2017 . 21 November 2020 . Georges . Richard William Ethan .
7. Web site: Richard Georges . Forward Arts Foundation . 21 November 2020.
8. News: Bagoo . Andre . Richard Georges' poems: Skywards . 21 November 2020 . Newsday . May 24, 2020.
9. News: Betteley . Carys . Aberystwyth University poets in Forward Prize shortlist . 21 November 2020 . BBC News . July 2, 2017.
10. News: Kean . Danuta . Michael Longley heads shortlist for Forward prizes for poetry . 21 November 2020 . The Guardian . June 12, 2017.
11. Web site: T&T writers dominate award OCM Bocas Prize longlist . Loop . 1 April 2019. 21 November 2020.
12. Web site: The power of poetry Richard Georges TEDxTortola. YouTube . 23 January 2018 . 21 November 2020.
13. Web site: 2020-05-02. Richard Georges wins the 2020 OCM Bocas Prize. 2020-10-12. Bocas Lit Fest. en-US.
14. Web site: 2020-05-03. Poet wins top OCM Bocas prize. Paula. Lindo. 2020-10-12. Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. en-US.
15. Web site: 'Epiphaneia' storms through to the top. 2 May 2020. 2020-10-12. Trinidad Express Newspapers. en.
16. Web site: 2020-05-05. Local author wins top Caribbean literary award. Kamal. Haynes. 2020-10-12. BVI News. en.
17. Web site: 2020-05-06. In a Virgin Islands first, Georges wins Bocas prize. Ahmed. Zarrin Tasnim. 2020-10-12. The BVI Beacon. en-US.