Noted writers flocking to Wellesley College this fall

Wellesley College this fall invites 5 accomplished writers to take part in its Newhouse Center for the Humanties Distinguished Writers Series. All events are free and open to the public.

Peter Carey Tuesday, Sept. 28 | 4:30 PM | Newhouse Center for the Humanities – 237 Green Hall

Two of his 11 novels have won the Booker Prize —Oscar and Lucinda in 1988 and True History of the Kelley Gang in 2001.His most recent novel, Parrot and Olivierin America, an improvisation on the life of Alexis de Tocqueville, author of Democracy in America, was published in 2010.

Meena Alexander and Tomaž Šalamun Tuesday, Oct. 12 | 4:30 PM | Newhouse Center for the Humanities – 237 Green Hall
Alexander has published six volumes of poetry including Illiterate Heart, which won the PEN Open Book Award. She is the editor of Indian Love Poems and author of the volume of poems and short prose pieces, The Shock of Arrival: Reflections on Postcolonial Experience. Poetics of Dislocation appeared in 2009 in the University of Michigan’s Poets on Poetry Series. Her prose includes two novels,a memoir and two academic studies on early English Romanticism.
Considered Slovenia’s greatest living poet, Šalamun was born in the city of Zagreb in 1941 and is considered one of the foremost figures of the Eastern European avant-garde. His books  include The Book for My Brother, Poker, Row, and Woods and Chalices. A new book of poetry, Blue Tower, translated by  Michael Biggins, will be published this year.

Russell Banks Tuesday, Oct. 26 | 4:30 PM | Newhouse Center for the Humanities – 237 Green Hall
His latest novel, The Reserve, was published in early 2008. His novels Afflictionand The Sweet Hereafter were adapted into feature films that received widespread critical acclaim.  Continental Drift and Cloudsplitter were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize; Afflictionand Cloudsplitter were finalists for the PEN/Faulkner Award.

Maryse Condé Tuesday, Nov. 9 | 4:30 PM | Newhouse Center for the Humanities – 237 Green Hall
Her literary honors include the Grand Prix Litteraire de la Femme (1986) for I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem, the Prix Marguerite Yourcenar (1999) for Tales from the Heart, True Stories from my Childhood and the Prix Carbet de la Caraibe (1997) for Desirada.