Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Greenblatt author of The Swerve and Will in the World March 7 at Bend High School.

The Deschutes Public Library Foundation presents Pulitzer Prize winning author Stephen Greenblatt as part of its Author! Author! Literary Series. Author Stephen Greenblatt will speak at the Bend High School auditorium on Thursday, March 7 at 7pm and discuss his award-winning novel The Swerve which won the Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction in 2012 and the National Book Award in 2011.

Mr. Greenblatt is an American literary critic, theorist and scholar. He is regarded by many as one of the founders of New Historicism, a set of critical practices that he often refers to as “cultural poetics;” his works have been influential since the early 1980s when he introduced the term. Greenblatt has written extensively on Shakespeare, the Renaissance, culture and new historicism and is considered to be an expert in these fields. He is also co-founder of the literary-cultural journal Representations, which often publishes articles by new historicists. His most popular works are the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner The Swerve: How the World Became Modern and Will in the World, a biography of Shakespeare that was on the New York Times Best Seller List for nine weeks.  

Stephen Greenblatt is the third author to visit Central Oregon as part of the Library Foundation’s Author! Author! literary series. Author! Author! presents world-class, award-winning authors to Central Oregon through a lecture, question and answer session, book signing, and outreach to area high school students. Revenue from ticket sales provides funds to enhance the Library’s services and programs. The Library Foundation hosts one author each quarter from September 2012 through June 2013.  

“The Author! Author! Literary Series celebrates four of the finest authors writing today,” said Community Relations Manager Chantal Strobel. “We believe these acclaimed voices are critical to expand the cultural landscape in Central Oregon. Author! Author! improves literacy in the region, strengthens community dialogue, and enhances the programs and services of the Deschutes Public Library. It’s a win-win for Central Oregon!”  

The Author! Author! Literary Series schedule for 2012/2013 is as follows:

• Pulitzer Prize Winner Stephen Greenblatt author of The Swerve: How the World became Modern; Will in the World: How Shakespeare became Shakespeare presents Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 7:00pm at Bend High School Auditorium.
• Edgar Award winner Erik Larson author of Devil in the White City; In the Garden of Beasts will present Thursday, June 20 at Bend High School Auditorium.

The Library Foundation will gift 100 copies of Greenblatt’s award winning books, The Swerve and Will in the World to area high schools, as well as provide 200 seats to his presentation/conversation for area high school and community college students.  

“The Library Foundation is working with regional high schools to provide books for students to read prior to each author’s visit, as well as provide 200 tickets for students to attend the presentations,” Strobel said. “This is part of an effort to reach out to young adults in the region and expose them to quality literature while engaging them in discussions regarding the book’s themes and content.”

Tickets are $20 and are available at the Deschutes Public Library Foundation’s website at www.dplfoundation.org To volunteer to assist with the Author! Author! series, please contact the Library Foundation at: admin@dplfoundation.org