The Society for the Humanities welcomes Jonathan Lethem, Roy Edward Disney '51 Professor of Creative Writing and Professor of English at Pomona College, to present his talk "The Novel as Lyric Essay and Stage Play."
Out of his twenty-five years’ experience as creative writing instructor, Lethem will present his eccentric personal account of the elements and development of the basic forms of literary fiction – an account which, while possibly a kind of fiction itself, may prove a useful model for writers and readers to consider.
Celebrated for his novels, short stories and essays, Jonathan Lethem is recognized today as one of America’s foremost contemporary writers. His works include nine novels, five short-story collections, six non-fiction books and an array of essays published in such publications as Rolling Stone, Harper’s and The New Yorker.
His novel Motherless Brooklyn was named Novel of the Year by Esquire magazine and won the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Salon Book Award, as well as the Macallan Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger. He received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2005. At Pomona, he teaches classes in creative writing and contemporary fiction.
Following his talk, a selection of Lethem's books will be available to purchase from PM Press.
In addition to his visit to the Society for the Humanities, Lethem will be participating in the Ithaca is Books festival on Friday , September 13 and Saturday, September 14 in downtown Ithaca. More information on the festival's events can be found here: https://www.ithacaisbooks.org/schedule.
Registration not required. Free and open to the public. Reception to follow the lecture.
