Poet and 'cheerful misanthropologist' to speak on campus

The Connecticut College Department of Literatures in English will host "An Evening with Brendan Lorber," a poet, essayist, editor and "cheerful misanthropologist," on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. in the Charles Chu Asian Art Reading Room in Shain Library. Lorber is the author of the forthcoming book "Ruin & Desire: Radical 21st Century Poetics & the Secret Path of Ecstasy Within Despair," which he describes as a "rigorous cautionary tale and wild-eyed how-to guide on wrecking everything." He is also the editor of "Lungfull! Magazine," an annual poetry anthology in which contributors' rough drafts appear along with the final versions so readers can see the creative process as it happens. Lorber, who studied with Allen Ginsberg, has also taught workshops at the St. Marks Poetry Project, edited The Poetry Project Newsletter and has performed his work on NPR and PBS and at The New York City Fringe Festival, The National Arts Club and The Nuyorican Poet's Café. "Brendan Lorber is an important figure in New York's poetry scene," said Jeff Strabone, assistant professor of literatures in English at the College. "Although all of his work revolves around poetry, he wears many hats: poet, publisher, performer, series host and educator. And he brings poetry performance online in a unique way. The audience at our event will have a chance to take the pulse of American poetry in the 21st century, and it will be very cool." The English department is sponsoring "An Evening with Brendan Lorber" in part through the Ida Preston Gibson Memorial Fund. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 860-439-2350.

---

October 1, 2012