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February 2008, eNewsletter
February 2008

Save The Date For Philip Roth's 75th Birthday Tribute, April 11th


The American Studies Program at Columbia University and The Library of America, in collaboration with the National Book Foundation, present a 75th  Birthday Tribute to Philip Roth. The National Book Foundation is currently preparing an online exhibit of Roth's literary career, spanning from 1959 to the present
.

In 1960, Roth won the National Book Award in Fiction for his first novel, Goodbye, Columbus, and again in 1995 for Sabbath's Theater, and has been a Finalist four other times. In 2002, he was awarded the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He has received numerous honors including the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for American Pastoral, the National Medal of Arts, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal in Fiction.

The tribute will feature a panel composed of Jonathan Lethem, Nathan Englander and Charles D'Ambrosio discussing Roth's work and its influence on their writing, moderated by Judith Thurman. Writers and critics Hermione Lee, Ben Taylor, Ross Posnock, Claudia Roth Pierpont, and Ross Miller, who is Roth's biographer, will discuss their favorite Roth books as well as his career. Joel Conarroe will moderate this discussion. The event will culminate with special remarks by Philip Roth.

Friday, April 11th
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Miller Theatre, Columbia University
2960 Broadway (at 116th Street), NYC

Admission is free, but seating is limited. Please register by April 4th by contacting rothtribute@columbia.edu with your name and email address.

Images: Top left photo: Roth at 2002 NBAs. Top right photo: (left to right) Robert Lowell, Richard Ellmann, Roth at 1960 NBAs. Bottom photo: Roth with 2002 NBA Winners Ruth Stone, Julia Glass, and Nancy Farmer.


Save the Date for Special Appearance by Denis Johnson


Presented by The
Foundation and The New School, April 16th

On April 16th, The National Book Foundation and The New School present Denis Johnson, winner of the 2007 National Book Award in Fiction for Tree of Smoke, reading from his work and discussing the literary life.

In addition to Tree of Smoke, Johnson has published several other acclaimed works of poetry, nonfiction, and fiction. His prose work includes Angels (1983), Fiskadoro (1985), The Stars at Noon (1986), Resuscitation of a Hanged Man (1991), Jesus' Son (1992), Already Dead: A California Gothic (1997), The Name of the World (2000) and Seek: Reports from the Edges of America and Beyond (2001).

His works of poetry include The Incognito Lounge (1982), The Veil (1987) and The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millennium General Assembly: Poems, Collected and New (1995).

In a recent interview about being a Finalist for the National Book Award, Johnson noted:

"Storytellers have enjoyed quite a wide audience over the last few centuries. Now it's dwindling, and if the world's leaders have their way they'll probably return us to an era when we tell tales around small fires in caves...."  Read the interview and an excerpt of Tree of Smoke.

6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 16th
Tishman Auditorium, The New School
66 West 12th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues), NYC

Admission is free. No tickets required. Further information on admission will be available in the March eNewsletter.
Denis Johnson photo: Cindy Johnson


Foundation Partners with Concordia College and MPR for Annual NBAs on Campus Weekend


The National Book Foundation is partnering with Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), to present the third annual National Book Awards on Campus Weekend featuring Woody Holton, the 2007 National Book Award Finalist in Nonfiction for Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution, and Jim Shepard, the 2007 National Book Award Finalist in Fiction for Like You'd Understand, Anyway.

As part of the visit, on Thursday evening, March 27th, Holton and Shepard will participate in a reading and discussion to be hosted by MPR's Kerri Miller. Miller is the host of MPR's Midmorning and Talking Volumes - a joint book club of MPR, the Star Tribune and the Loft Literary Center.

To read interviews by Holton and Shepard or excerpts from their books, visit www.nationalbook.org/nba2007.html

Additional information will be posted on Concordia College's website www.cord.edu.


Eat, Drink and Be Literary Series, February and March Lineup


The National Book Foundation and the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) present eight acclaimed authors for Eat, Drink & Be Literary: Dinner and a Reading in BAMcafé in 2008. The events begin at 6:30 p.m. with live music and wine provided by Napa Valley's award-winning Pine Ridge Winery, followed by a delicious buffet dinner in the BAMcafé prepared by executive chef, Tim Sullivan. The author readings and discussions begin at 8:00 p.m.

Upcoming featured authors and moderators are:

  • February 28th: André Aciman, with Harold Augenbraum, a few tickets left
  • March 13th : Fran Lebowitz, with Aoibheann Sweeney, SOLD OUT
  • March 20th : Peter Carey, with Aoibheann Sweeney, a few tickets left

Tickets are $48 per event, including admission to the reading, dinner, wine, tax, and tip.  A 20% discount is available to those who buy tickets to five or more events. 

For tickets and more information, visit the BAM Box Office.           



IS HE DEAD? A New Comedy by Mark Twain, the Father of Modern Literature


Mark Twain's recently discovered play, "Is He Dead?", a fast-paced comedy, has been adapted for the Broadway stage. The plot centers around a struggling artist who stages his own death to drive up the prices of his paintings.

The play is at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City, and can be seen from now to February 28, 2008 at reduced prices ranging from $45.00 to $56.00 per seat for select orchestra and mezzanine rows and certain performances.  

To order tickets and for additional information :

  • Visit Broadwayoffers.com and enter the code IDFAM56
  • Call 212-947-8844 and mention code IDFAM56
Visit www.IsHeDead.com.


Giving to the National Book Foundation


The National Book Foundation is a non-profit organization that depends on the help of friends to support our mission, to celebrate the best of American literature, expand its audience, and enhance the cultural value of good writing in
America. Please visit the Donate Now page on our website to strengthen the Foundation's public and educational outreach programs by making a tax-deductible contribution online.
Thank you for your support.

WHAT'S NEW
New on nationalbook.org

Podcast of George Saunders at the Foundation's Eat, Drink & Be Literary Series at BAM, recorded on January 17, 2008.


2008 National Book Awards

The National Book Awards Ceremony and Gala is on the move in 2008. Scheduled for Wednesday, November 19th, the evening will be hosted at Cipriani Wall Street, New York City.

Other Notable 2008 NBA Dates 
April 15th
Guidelines and entry forms mailed to publishers.

June 16th
Entry form deadline.

Mark These Dates

March 27th – 28th
NBA Campus Weekend
with
Concordia College and MPR featuring National Book Award authors Woody Holton and Jim Shepard in Moorhead, MN.

April 11th
Philip Roth’s 75th Birthday Tribute
4:00 p.m.
Miller Theatre
Columbia University
New York
City
Admission is free.

April 16th
Denis Johnson,
2007 NBA Winner in Fiction.
6:30 p.m
Tishman Auditorium
The New School
New York City.
Admission is free.


The National Book Foundation thanks the following corporate sponsors for their generous support.
 

Barnes & Noble; Random House, Inc.; Bloomberg; Coral Graphics; R.R. Donnelley; Ingram Book Group, Inc.; Lindenmeyr Book Publishing Papers; Penguin Group (USA); Borders; Hachette Book Group USA; HarperCollins Publishers; Levenger; Quebecor World; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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