Writer shocked as Christian group forces cancellation of poetry event
Nov 13 2008 by Steffan Rhys, Western Mail

A BOOKSHOP was at the centre of a freedom of expression row last night when it cancelled a poetry reading after warnings from a Christian group.

Poet Patrick Jones, brother of Manic Street Preachers bassist Nicky Wire, was due to give a reading from his new book, Darkness is Where The Stars Are, at Waterstones in Cardiff at 7pm yesterday.

But shortly before he was due to speak, he received an e-mail from the firm which read: Please be advised that to avoid potential disruption to our store, tonights planned event at Waterstones in Cardiff is cancelled.

Mr Jones, 43, from Blackwood, said he was later told over the phone that Waterstones had received hundreds of complaints from people opposed to the poems subject matter.
Im a bit shaken and shocked, said Mr Jones, a playwright who is credited as one of the earliest influences on the Manic Street Preachers.

A line from one of his poems There is eloquence in screaming appears in the booklet for their first album, Generation Terrorists, and earlier this year, Manics singer James Dean Bradfield scored a new play based on Jones book, Revelation.

Are we living in Iran? Mr Jones said yesterday.

Read the complete report at Walesonline.co.uk