The Talking Table 2020
Leonard Cohen and other poets and writers of Lesbos
Since ancient times Lesbos has been the island of the poets, from Sappho (615-518 BCE) to the Nobel Prize winner Odysseus Elytis. Writers, musicians and artists have flocked to and lived and worked in Molyvos, hometown of The Talking Table, to this day.
One of the most famous of the twentieth and current century was Leonard Cohen. Aviva Layton presents a discussion and lecture on the poetry of Leonard Cohen and his mentor, Irving Layton (her late husband), generously laced with personal memories and anecdotes of the times they spent in Molyvos. She will be reading unpublished poetry and showing the new documentary, Marianne and Leonard.
She will talk about Sappho, Elytis, and another Nobel Laureate who visited Molyvos, Patrick White. Also the Homer translator Peter Green and William Golding, who wrote Lord of the Flies in our village.
Having known most of these personally, Aviva's presentation promises to be informative and fascinating, but also colourful and hilarious.
Left to right: Aviva Cantor (later Layton), Irving Layton, Anne Sherman, and Leonard Cohen, summer 1957.
The Talking Table
The Talking Table is a place on the beautiful port village of Molyvos on the Greek island of Lesbos where people learn, eat and talk together. Hosted by two ex-corporate South Africans, guests participating in various workshops are welcomed with warmth and generosity and given a safe environment for their creativity to flourish. Hearty long-table meals of mostly Greek food are served, while good conversation is always on the menu. A number of workshops are held in South Africa during the autumn.
Fee and booking
The fee of €500 includes breakfast and a long-table meal each day, and the course fee. Accommodation, travel and transfers are excluded.
Sign up (click the blue button at the top) and we will email you details of payment plus options for accommodation. There is a list of beautiful venues to suit every budget.
50% deposit secures your place.
Otherwise, email us at info@thetalkingtable.com