Listen and join in to Gus Noble’s conversation with prize-winning poet and author Michael Pedersen, one of Scotland’s brightest young talents.

On the 264^th birthday of Scottish poet, Robert Burns, who is widely regarded as the authentic voice of Scotland, Michael and Gus will chat about the enduring resonance of Burns’ words and wit, views and values, politics and peculiarities. Beyond Burns, they’ll discuss Scotland, friendship, music, oysters, poetry and Scottish identity.

Michael Pedersen is a prize-winning Scottish poet and author. He’s produced two acclaimed collections of poetry with a third slated for release in summer 2023 (Little Brown). His prose debut, Boy Friends, was recently published by Faber & Faber to rave reviews in the UK and North America. Pedersen won a Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship, the John Mather’s Trust Rising Star of Literature Award, and was a finalist for the 2018 ‘Writer of the Year’ at The Scottish Culture Awards. With work anthologised by Pan MacMillan and Canongate Books, his writing has attracted plaudits from voices as diverse as: Stephen Fry, Irvine Welsh, Shirley Manson, Kae Tempest, Jackie Kay, Ian Rankin and Charlotte Church. Pedersen also co-founded the prize-winning literary collective Neu! Reekie! and regularly features on BBC Radio & Arts networks.

Gus Noble OBE is president of the Chicago Scots, the oldest 501c3 non-profit in Illinois and one of the world’s largest Scottish Societies.  Chicago Scots’ principal charity is Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care, an elder care community which has an impeccable record of safety and care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you to our partner organizations the Scottish Government USA, The National Trust for Scotland USA and The American Scottish Foundation.

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