BY ROBYN MCMURRAY

Arguably, Longley’s experience as a teacher manifested itself in his ability to engage the audience with his own poetry and the work of some of his past pupils, including Robert Johnson. Similarly, Frank Ormsby’s pride in the school was evident as he recounted the literary achievements of the school over the past two hundred years, including those he has taught over a career which has included thirty-nine years as the master of English. Both poets demonstrated their ability to transform everyday occurrences into art, including memories of school trips, as well as tackling the larger political issues which have affected the country. Longley describes poetry as his religion, which exemplifies its ability to unify personal experiences of Belfast despite the political tension which has occurred over the past decades. Their focus on mutual experience exemplified poetry’s ability to be a common denominator for the population of Belfast.

Undoubtedly the evidently close friendship between Longley and Ormsby also added to the atmosphere of camaraderie to be expected from an evening celebrating two hundred years of achievement by one of Belfast’s leading schools. The enthusiasm of current pupils assisting at the event suggests that R.B.A.I. will continue to engage and encourage its pupils’ literary talents. As Longley suggests, poetry is like a fountain and it seems that poetic flair will continue to spring from R.B.A.I as it celebrates this momentous anniversary in a manner which engages with the past as well as nurturing the poets of the next generation.

BY ROBYN MCMURRAY

With entrants ranging from novice to elite, Queen’s Trampoline society welcomes new members of all levels. From the obligatory fancy dress on Friday to the night out on Saturday, the competition promises to be an opportunity for all members to stand out from the crowd, in both the sporting and social sector. From first year to final year, QUB Trampoline club would like students to “Come Bounce with Us”. All students are encouraged to learn a new sport, as well as represent the university and gain the extra-curricular experience which will undoubtedly stand by graduates.

The descent of the ‘Demon Dog of American Fiction’ on the Waterfront Hall was a unique literary event. ‘An Evening with James Ellroy’, hosted by No Alibis of Botanic, saw the end of Ellroy’s tour to promote his latest novel, ‘Blood’s a Rover’. The book completes the Underworld USA trilogy, which provocatively investigates the politics of America during the presidency of J.F. Kennedy. As an author who is noted for his clipped and telegraphic style of prose, ‘Blood’s a Rover’ promises also to be a bold novel full of raw energy, as well as being Ellroy’s most personal novel since ‘The Black Dahlia’.

BY ROBYN MCCMURRAY

Arguably, Ellroy’s biography explains his position as a rising star of detective and crime fiction. After the murder of his mother when he was ten years old, Ellroy was set upon a path of crime himself, which saw a misspent youth followed by a nervous breakdown. The similarities between Ellroy and the protagonist of ‘Blood’s a Rover’ are hauntingly similar from the voyeuristic habits of the character, to his obsessive love with women and his unhealthy interest in solving his mother’s death. The contradictions in Ellroy’s confusing personal persona were evident throughout the evening. From statements such as ‘I am going to tell you everything’ to a personal criticism of his exploitation of his past, Ellroy allows the audience to see intimately into his own life before reverting to a carefully rehearsed stage character.

Often noted for his strong political views, Ellroy showed his personal fascination with the matter through his opening joke regarding Northern Ireland’s political difficulties, as well as his critique on the politics of 1960’s America, which he summed up as ‘being ruled by bad men with bad money’. Ellroy admits to holding right wing views, which he sees as the only answer to his cynical view of America both historically and to the present day. This self-confessed perfectionist judges the world by the same high standards he sets himself.

Ellroy openly shared with his Belfast audience the rewards of his hard work. Yet despite the success of film adaptations of his work, he describes his relationship with Hollywood as strictly financial. The audience were left with the distinct impression that what Ellroy seeks from his career is not fame but justice. As an audience member, I left the auditorium feeling that Ellroy’s appearance although highly informative revealed little about the man himself. His stage persona seems as carefully constructed as his fictional characters. However, I am confident that in expressing this opinion, I am verifying Ellroy’s belief in the human desire to find conspiracy everywhere. A desire which Ellroy has exploited throughout his fiction.

Therefore, James Ellroy’s use of the insignificant individual to deal with universal issues of politics and world events extends across the decades. His expression of these universal truths shows him to be, in his own words, ‘an imperfect human who has perfected a skill’.