4/16
Louisa Shepard
Senior News Officer
lshepard@upenn.edu
Literature
The 2020 Summer Reading List: Book recommendations from Penn faculty and staff
The 2020 Summer Reading List: Book recommendations from Penn faculty and staff
Book recommendations from Penn personalities to carry you through your summer.
Literary characters as masks: A reflection on identity during a pandemic
Literary characters as masks: A reflection on identity during a pandemic
An English and visual studies double major, May graduate Amy Juang created five masks to reflect the identities of characters in novels she studied in a young adult literature course taught by Melissa Jensen.
Virtual visitors at the Kelly Writers House
Virtual visitors at the Kelly Writers House
The Kelly Writers House Fellows course continued remotely this semester for the class sessions and public conversations. Last week’s guests were Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham of The New York Times podcast “Still Processing.”
Professor Emily Wilson named 2020 Guggenheim Fellow
Professor Emily Wilson named 2020 Guggenheim Fellow
The School of Arts and Sciences professor has received a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in the humanities category for her translations of ancient Greek and Roman literature and philosophy.
Bringing the science of leadership to the art of parenting
Bringing the science of leadership to the art of parenting
A new book co-authored by a Wharton School professor dissects the challenge of working parents looking for greater harmony, connection, and impact in all parts of life.
With ‘The Sacramento of Desire,’ Julia Bloch completes a personal trilogy
With ‘The Sacramento of Desire,’ Julia Bloch completes a personal trilogy
The creative writing professor’s most recent book of poetry focuses on her desire for making a family as a member of the queer community.
Tales of bringing the dead back to life
Tales of bringing the dead back to life
Meet Vikram Paralkar, an oncologist at Penn Medicine who has received extraordinary attention for his new fiction novel, “Night Theater,” a story where a surgeon is asked to bring the dead back to life.
Exhibition showcases the brilliance of Black women writers
Exhibition showcases the brilliance of Black women writers
A major exhibition and symposium organized by two Penn graduate students highlighting African American women literature is open in the Penn Libraries’ Kamin Gallery.
Archive of pioneering author and artist comes to Penn Libraries
Archive of pioneering author and artist comes to Penn Libraries
The collection of Ashley Bryan’s work includes thousands of pieces of art, correspondence, photos, manuscripts, and books. A small exhibition of his collection is now on display at the Libraries, and a major symposium and exhibition are expected in 2022.
English professor J.C. Cloutier’s latest book sheds new light on African American literature
English professor J.C. Cloutier’s latest book sheds new light on African American literature
Like a literary detective, English prof Jean-Christophe Cloutier sifts through library archives searching for material written by African American authors that is often hidden, uncatalogued, misfiled, or forgotten.
Media Contact
In the News
BBC
The Iliad: How modern readers get this epic wrong
In a Q&A, Emily Wilson of the School of Arts & Sciences discusses what the Iliad can tell us about modern society, from masculinity to environmentalism.
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The New York Times
Warriors who seek immortal fame and find it, in epic poetry
A book review of the School of Arts & Sciences’ Emily Wilson’s translation of the “Iliad” says she brings Homer’s great war story to rousing new life.
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Scientific American
What’s the world’s oldest language?
Deven Patel of the School of Arts & Sciences believes that Sanskrit is the oldest continuous language tradition, which means that it’s still producing literature and being spoken.
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Philadelphia Sunday Sun
‘Be Holding’ dives into Black genius and joy
“Be Holding,” a poetry performance that seeks to heal grieving Black families, was directed by Brooke O’Harra and composed by Tyshawn Sorey, both of the School of Arts & Sciences.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
The life and work of acclaimed Black children’s author and illustrator Ashley Bryan is honored in a new Penn exhibit
Lynne Farrington of the Kislack Center comments on a new Penn Libraries exhibit celebrating the late Black children’s author and illustrator Ashley Bryan.
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The New York Review of Books
Trees in themselves
“Elderflora: A Modern History of Ancient Trees,” a new book by Jared Farmer of the School of Arts & Sciences, is reviewed.
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