Bernardine writes book reviews, essays and other non-fiction for publications, and for conferences, universities and literary events. In addition, she also chairs and hosts events. (This list does not include her usual UK writer’s gigs that happen throughout the year.)
Here is a list of selected literary criticism, talks and chairing.
2013
Review: Mom & Me & Mom, a memoir by Maya Angelou/Observer
The Gospel According to Caine, a novel by Courttia Newland/ Guardian
2012
Light Falling on Bamboo, a novel by Lawrence Scott/ Guardian
Review: Night Dancer, a novel by Chika Unigwe/ Guardian
Review: Three Strong Women, a novel by Marie N’Diaye/ Independent
Review: Reality, Reality, short stories by Jackie Kay/ Guardian
Chair: Ten poets/ Victoria & Albert Museum
Chair: Ten poets/ Royal Festival Hall
Review: The Prisoner of Paradise, a novel by Romesh Gunesekera/ Guardian
Review: The Last Holiday, a memoir by Gil Scott Heron/ Independent
2011
Essay: in ‘Body of Work’, 40th anthology/ University of East Anglia
Review: The Granta Book of the African Short Story, ed Helon Habila/ Guardian
Review: ‘The Kid’, a novel by Sapphire/ Observer
Review: ‘Third World Girl’ selected poems by Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze/ Independent
Review: ‘Half Blood Blues’ by Esi Edugyan/ Guardian
Reading essay on ‘The Book that Changed Me’ series/ BBC Radio 3Piece on ‘Beloved’ by Toni Morrison/ Times
Review: ‘Staying Alive’ poetry anthology, ed Neil Astley / Times
Chair/Interview: EC Osondu/ Royal Festival Hall
Review: ‘Voice of America’ by EC Osondu/ Financial Times
Review: ‘Is Just a Movie’, by Earl Lovelace/ Guardian
Feature-Review: ‘The Anthology of Rap-/ Independent
2010
Review: For Coloured Girls (the film), Front Row/ BBC Radio 4
Review: Oil on Water by Helon Habila / Guardian
Review: Precious, memoir by Precious Williams/ Times
Review: Red Dust Road, memoir by Jackie Kay /Independent
Talk: TUC – Unionlearn Conference / Congress House/ London
Chair: Orange Award for New Writers shortlisted authors / Royal Festival Hall
Chair: Precious Women of Colour Publishing Event/ Pearson, Strand/ London
Chair: Diversity Roundtable/ National Arts Strategy/ Arts Council England/ London
Talk: Non-linear narrative / Goldsmith’s College/ University of London
Talk: The Beauty of Boredom/ Keynote Speaker / ARK Schools HUB Day / London
Review: The Education of a British-Protected Child, Chinua Achebe / Independent
Mongrel Nation: A Writer’s Perspective on Britain’s DNA / Uni/Huddersfield
Talk: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston, The Women’s Library/ London
Talk: Black Arts in Britain Conference / Keynote Speaker / University of Padua/Italy
Introduction to TEN poetry anthology (co-editor with Daljit Nagra) / Bloodaxe Books
Interview with playwright Kwame Kwei Armah (also co-editor w/Karen McCarthy/ Wasafiri
2009
10,000 word autobiographical literary essay /Contemporary Authors (USA)
Essay on non-fiction book Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin / Times
Review of novel The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood / Financial Times
Review of novel On Black Sisters’ Street by Chika Unigwe / Independent
Review of novel Jerusalem by Patrick Neate / Guardian
Memoir piece My Father’s House / Five Dials / Penguin
Article on novels as campaign tools for Campaign! / British Library
Bottom Draw / Mslexia magazine
Review of novel The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie / Times
Interview with playwright Lizzie Dijeh / Wasafiri
Four of 8-part column on creative writing / Mslexia
Talks
Various talks/discussions around books / Yale University, USA
Roundtable discussion Clearing New Spaces / Munster University, Germany
Host/Chair
Chair: Discussion of Hi Life by Lizzie Dijeh/ Hampstead Theatre
Host: Wasafiri 25th Anniversary Celebration – Poetry / Royal Festival Hall
2008
Review of novel A Mercy by Toni Morrison / Financial Times
Essay: CSI Europe: African Trace Elements / Wasafiri
Review of The Mistresses Daughter by A.M. Holmes / Metro
Book of a Lifetime: The Viceroy of Ouidah by Bruce Chatwin / Independent
Review of poetry Bloodshot Monochrome by Patience Agbabi/ Poetry News
Review of novel The Accidental by Ali Smith / Metro
Four of 8-part column on creative writing / Mslexia
Talks
Essay: History/Belonging/ Travel @ Memory Maps Conference / Cambridge University
Essay: Derek Walcott’s Midsummer/ Newcastle University
2001 – 7
Review of novel Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb / Guardian
Review of novel Trussed by Shiromi Pinto / Independent
Review of The Interruption of Everything by Terry McMillan / Guardian
Review of novel Dancing in the Dark by Caryl Phillips / Times
Review of novel Borrowed Body by Valerie Mason-John / Independent
Review of novel Meet Me in Mozambique by E.A. Markham / Guardian
Review of the Oxford Book of Caribbean Verse / Guardian
Review of novel Moses, Citizen and Me by Delia Jarret-Macauley / Independent
Review of novel Waiting for an Angel by Helon Habila / Times
Review of novel A Distant Shore by Caryl Phillips / Times
Review of Mixed Feelings & London Crossings / Times
Review of Reflections of Osiris by John Ray / Times
Review of The Only Way Forward…by Alice Walker / Indepdendent
Review of novel A Life Elsewhere by Segun Afolabi / Wasafiri
Review of novel All that Blue by Gaston Paul Effa / Wasafiri
Books round-up / British Council website
Article on the Free Verse poetry report / Independent
Article: The Brain Train or Club 20-80 / Independent
Book of a Lifetime piece: Antigone / Independent
Interview with Toni Morrison / South Bank Magazine
Interview with poet Fiona Sampson / Poetry News
Introduction to Contemporary British Poetry / British Council (website)
Article: Spooky Encounters in Soul Tourists / New Books Magazine
Piece Summer Read: Independent People by Halldor Laxness / Independent
Oyster Card Wallet Text / Arts Council England
Piece of Walcott for homage booklet / South Bank Centre Publications
Mixing up the Metaphors / Poetry Review
Writer’s Diary / Calabash
Essay: Origins / British Council
Essay: Writing & The Past / Pen & Inc (UEA)
Essay: The Road Less Travelled / Necessary Journeys, Arts Council England
Essay: European Odyssey/ Europa Express / Eichborn Berlin
Essay: Darling, I don’t get out of bed for less than…../ British Council
Essay: Zora Neale Hurston / Marie Claire
Talks
Essay: A Writer’s Influences / Middlesex University
Essay: Illegal Immigrant – Slipping over Borders / University of E-Nurnberg, GermanyKeynote Speaker @ Transcultural Britain / Magdeburg University
Talk on books @ Cambridge Seminar, Cambridge University, British Council
Talk on the Art of Reading / Essex Book Festival
Various talks on writing/literature to Eng Lit student / Georgetown University, Washington DC
Chair
Of discussion with/ Helon Habila, Biyi Bandele et al / Royal Festival Hall
Of the Free Verse Report panel / South Bank Centre
Of discussion with Delia Jarret-Macauley & David Nwokedi, Royal Festival Hall
Of discussion with Valerie Mason-John, Diana Evans et al / Cheltenham Lit Fest.
