POETRY lovers are in for a busy couple of days in York, with two successive evenings of readings by acclaimed poets.

Tonight at the city's Central Library at 6pm Mairi MacInnes and Peter Robinson will read from their work in the latest event organised by Read Write York.

Born in County Durham but now living in York, Mairi has a rich tapestry of experience on which to draw for her poetry.

Author of the acclaimed memoir Clearances, published in 2002, as well as two novels and six books of poetry, she worked as a driver with the Women's Royal Navy Service in the Second World War. Since then she has held down jobs as everything from advertising copywriter to MP's secretary. She has lived in post-war Berlin, Mexico and America, where she was awarded National Endowment in Arts.

Brought up in Wigan and Liverpool, Peter Robinson studied at the University of York and, dividing his time between Japan, Italy and England, now writes regularly for the Guardian and Times Literary Supplement.

The author of several collections of poetry, his latest Selected Poems was published earlier this year.

Described by critic Eric Griffiths as "the finest poet of his generation", Peter's first collection of poems was labelled "a major event" by the Guardian.

Tomorrow night at the Friargate Theatre there will be a further feast of poetry from 7.30pm. Poets Douglas Dunn and Henry Shukman will be reading from their work in what is the second of the theatre's Poetry Doubles events.

Douglas Dunn's first collection of poetry, Terry Street, was published in 1969, and was awarded both a Scottish Arts Council Book Award and a Somerset Maugham Award. Since then there have been several more volumes of award-winning poetry, some short-story collections and a number of plays for TV and radio.

Henry Shukman's first poetry collection, In Doctor No's Garden, was shortlisted for the Forward Prize and won the Aldeburgh Prize.

The Times called his book "the most important debut this year".

His poems have also appeared in many national newspapers and magazines and he is poet in residence at the Wordsworth Trust in the Lake District.

Mairi MacInnes and Peter Robinson, tonight, 6pm, York central library.

Tickets £4, £3 concessions.

Douglas Dunn and Henry Shukman, tomorrow, 7.30pm, Friargate Theatre, Lower friargate, York.

Admission £7.50, concessions £5.

Updated: 09:33 Wednesday, July 23, 2003