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Come to another exciting event at the English-language Library: “Burgess’s Innocence: Writing The Black Prince”.

In an interview in the 1970s, Anthony Burgess talked about his plan to write novel about the Black Prince. After reading the interview, Roberts was intrigued to find out what of this novel Burgess had left behind. It turns out that he had written a screenplay on the Black Prince that was never turned into a film. After reading the screenplay, Roberts decided to try to turn it into the novel that never was. « The Black Prince » was published by crowd-funded publisher Unbound in 2018. It tells the story of Edward of Woodstock, son of King Edward III and father of Richard II, who spent is life fighting in the Hundred Years’ War. “It’s a stylistic pastiche that is far more than a tribute act – as though Roberts has dismantled the clockwork that made Burgess tick and reassembled it in a new form.” – The Guardian. Click here for the review in goodreads.

Adam Roberts has made a name for himself as a Science Fiction novelist, a literary critic, and a professor. He received his Master’s in English from Aberdeen University and his PhD from Cambridge. He teaches literature and creative writing at Royal Holloway University of London. He has published over 40 books ranging from novels to short story collections to parodies to literary criticism, along with numerous articles and blogs. His most notable works include Jack Glass (2012), Salt (2001), Gradisil (2007) By Light Alone (2011), and Yellow Blue Tibia (2010).

This talk is free and open to the public. No reservations necessary, but seating is limited. This event has been sponsored by the CIRPaLL, research group at the University of Angers.

The Internet is wonderful and can answer all your questions. For most of us, it is the main source for news. Indeed, we have immediate access to plenty of media from different parts of the world. But can they all be trusted? Using different sources and media, the press review helps you to find your way through the news and be well-informed. This is an informal sharing and discussion of the news in English. Please feel free to bring in an article that you would like to share with the other members of the group.

Meetings are held on Saturdays from 2-3pm. Upcoming dates for the fall 2019 are October 19^th and November 23rd.

This activity, free for library members, is organized by freelance journalist and library volunteer: Isma Hassaine-Poirier.

2020 will be another spectacular year at the library and will mark a full year of the library’s supporting local artists. Sometimes these artists render the world in a way that is new, and fresh and exciting, sometimes they capture moments both intimate and universal all at once! At the end of the day they all are telling stories which is something familiar, satisfying and meaningful to those of us who love the library.

To schedule 4 art shows in 2020, the exhibitions committee announces an open a call for applications for shows to be held:

• Early (mid January-early March)  6 weeks
• Spring (Mid March-debut of May) 6 weeks
• Summer (Mid May- debut of July) 7 weeks
• Fall (Mid-september – mid-november)

Applications should include a text about your work & 5 images to illustrate your form of art.

Deadline for applications is December 15th, 2019. Please send all applications to jp.molenaar@yahoo.fr

The Internet is wonderful and can answer all your questions. For most of us, it is the main source for news. Indeed, we have immediate access to plenty of media from different parts of the world. But can they all be trusted? Using different sources and media, the press review helps you to find your way through the news and be well-informed. This is an informal sharing and discussion of the news in English. Please feel free to bring in an article that you would like to share with the other members of the group.

Meetings are held on Saturdays from 2-3pm. Dates for the fall 2019 are Sept. 28th, October 19^th and November 23rd.

This activity, free for library members, is organized by freelance journalist and library volunteer: Isma Hassaine-Poirier.

Join us in celebrating the library’s 20th Anniversary of partnership with the Médiathèque of Saumur! Come to the garden party in Saumur, with books, cakes and tea, board games, readings in English, cocktails and a sing-along.

It’s an afternoon full of festivities, come and join the celebration! For more details have a look at the program here.

For music lovers who are not necessarily musicians, the library presents a series of sessions aimed at illustrating English Classical Music in its most beautiful forms. Each session will focus on a composer, with a short presentation of their work as well as listening to select pieces and videos. The point is to share comments and criticism as a group. Please note: this session will feature Short Works by Henry Purcell.

These sessions are free and open to the public. For more information or to sign up please contact the group leader here.

The April read for the bookclub is « The Razor’s Edge » by W. Somerset Maugham.

Larry Darrell is a young American in search of the absolute. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involve him with some of Maugham’s most brilliant characters – his fiancee Isabel, whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions, and Elliot Templeton, her uncle, a classic expatriate American snob. The most ambitious of Maugham’s novels, this is also one in which Maugham himself plays a considerable part as he wanders in and out of the story, to observe his characters struggling with their fates.

For any inquiries about joining the book club please send an email by clicking here.

The library is an authorised test center for the TOEIC Listening and Reading Test (the Test of English for International Communication). For more information please visit our TOEIC page or to sign up go to the official ETS website.

« Springtime in the States » is a 3-day English-learning workshop for teenagers (ages 12 to 14). Participants learn English in a fun, interactive way with games, songs and activities with lots of talking and moving around! The workshop will be at the library for three consecutive afternoons: Tuesday, April 16th, Wednesday, April 17th and Thursday, April 18th from 3 to 6 PM.

Please contact the front desk to sign up by phone: 02 41 24 97 07 or email: info@ellia.org. Limited to 15 participants so sign-up fast! Cost is 75 euros (includes snack, materials and library membership).

The film club presents a film in English once a month on a Saturday afternoon. This showing will be of « Maurice, » a 1987 British romantic drama film based on the novel by E. M. Forster. It is a tale of gay love in early 20th-century England. The story follows its main character, Maurice Hall, through university, a tumultuous relationship, struggling to fit into society, and ultimately being united with his life partner. The film stars James Wilby as Maurice, Hugh Grant as Clive and Rupert Graves as Alec. Watch the trailer here.

Screening begins at 3 o’clock sharp and will be followed by a discussion in English. This activity is free and open to all library members. If possible, please reserve by signing up at the front desk.