Description

A North Light is the long-awaited memoir of celebrated poet, writer, and curator John Hewitt. Covering his early life through his career at the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery, the book provides an intimate account of the people, ideas, and events that shaped his life and creative vision.

Hewitt reflects on his relationships with prominent literary and artistic figures, including W.B. Yeats, George Orwell, Brendan Behan, Colin Middleton, and John Luke, while offering thoughtful observations on Northern Ireland’s cultural and political landscape. His experiences as a museum curator reveal the challenges of promoting art and culture during a period of significant social and political change.

More than a professional memoir, A North Light is a compelling exploration of identity, creativity, and intellectual independence. It provides readers with an invaluable perspective on twentieth-century Irish cultural history and remains an important work for anyone interested in Irish literature, art, or museum history.