The Word on Writing

GAMBIER, Ohio (October 20, 2008) The Kenyon Review Literary Festival in November puts the work of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Ford on center stage.

Ford will receive the Kenyon Review Award for Literary Achievement at a gala dinner in New York City on November 6. He will then visit Kenyon to discuss his work and meet with students. The award complements the Kenyon Review Literary Festival.

The festival includes readings, seminars and book signings as well as the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) Midwest Literary Magazine & Small Press Fair. Events begin on November 6 at Kenyon and continue through November 8.

The festival is a nexus of the literary life of the College extended to the community, said David Lynn, editor of the Kenyon Review and professor of English. "On any given night, you may have a poetry reading on campus," Lynn said. "The literary festival is a way to group things together in a kind of critical mass. We will have multiple readings and discussions about literature, and we open this to the community."

Ford is considered one of the finest writers of his generation. The 64-year-old former sports journalist won the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Independence Day. Ford then won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the first time the same book had won both prizes.

"I think he's one of a handful of writers today who bridges the very highest literary standard for his prose style with rich characterization and moving stories," Lynn said of Ford.

Here is a schedule for literary festival events:

Small Town Elegy: A Bilingual Poetry Reading with Jan Wagner; 7:30 p.m., November 6. Peirce Lounge, Peirce Hall. Co-sponsored by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.

Empty Bowls Dinner ; 5:30-8:00 p.m., November 7. Alumni Dining Room, Peirce Hall. Hand-crafted ceramic bowls will be auctioned to benefit the Knox County Food for the Hungry program. Co-sponsored by the Kenyon Canterbury Club, Circle K, and the Craft Center.

Writers Harvest; 8:00-9:30 p.m., November 7. Peirce Pub, Peirce Hall. Public reading event, featuring poet Lynne Thompson. Donation requested to benefit Food for the Hungry. Co-sponsored by the Department of English and the Great Lakes Colleges Association New Writers Award.

CLMP Midwest Literary Magazine & Small Press Fair and Preview Book Sale ; 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., November 8. Peirce Hall Atrium.

Two events will be held in the Kenyon College Bookstore, including "Cocoa and Poetry for Kids," at 11:00 a.m., November 8, and an author book signing and reception, at 4:00 p.m. The book signing will include Fred Andrle, David Baker, Gerald Duff, Margot Singer, and G.C. Waldrep.

Events on November 8 in the Bemis Music Room at Peirce Hall include fiction and poetry readings at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.; panel discussions on the "Art of the Short Story," at 11:00 a.m., and "Breaking into Publishing," at 2:00 p.m.; and a seminar on the history of the Kenyon Review , at 3:00 p.m.

Book arts workshop with Ellen Sheffield (pre-registration required, $25 fee), at 9:30 a.m., November 8, at the Horn Gallery.

Poetry writing workshop with David Baker, poetry editor of the Kenyon Review (pre-registration required), at 1:30 p.m., November 8. Timberlake House.

Denham Sutcliffe Memorial Lecture: An Evening with Richard Ford ; 8:00 p.m., November 8, Rosse Hall. A book signing and reception is at 9:00 p.m. Free tickets can be reserved via e-mail at litfest@kenyonreview.org.