Maine Humanities Council

Wonder what writers really think about? Get ready for a literary extravaganza! The Maine Festival of the Book, brought to you by Maine Reads brings together writers and readers to enjoy readings, panel discussions, book signings, and performances. With the exception of Opening Night and Youth Outreach, festival events are first-come, first-served, un-ticketed seating, and are free. Almost 2000 people attended this year’s three-day event. In its four years of existence, the Maine Festival of the Book has featured more than 200 authors, including four Pulitzer Prize winners.

For more information about The Maine Festival of the Book and to join the mailing list for 2011, check out Maine Read’s website.

There are no new stories, just new ways of telling the old ones. Or so some people say. In this panel presentation, three authors whose work involves the retelling of old stories discuss their inspiration. Graphic novelist Nicole Chaison will talk about Joseph Campbell and hero journey stories, author Elizabeth Searle will talk about her fascination with stories of celebrities in disgrace, and novelist Debra Spark will talk about reading The Book of Esther on the eve of the Iraq War.

The Maine Festival of the Book is an annual festival brought to you by Maine Reads with support from the Maine Humanities Council.

 

 No New Stories [60:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2172)

Wonder what writers really think about? Get ready for a literary extravaganza! The Maine Festival of the Book, brought to you by Maine Reads brings together writers and readers to enjoy readings, panel discussions, book signings, and performances. With the exception of Opening Night and Youth Outreach, festival events are first-come, first-served, un-ticketed seating, and are free. Almost 2000 people attended this year’s three-day event. In its four years of existence, the Maine Festival of the Book has featured more than 200 authors, including four Pulitzer Prize winners.

For more information about The Maine Festival of the Book and to join the mailing list for 2011, check out Maine Read’s website.

This lectured entitled “The Reawakening of Ayn Rand” featured Anne C. Heller, author of Ayn Rand and the World She Made, offers a new perspective on the novelist-philosopher’s life and work and why she is still popular today.

The Maine Festival of the Book is an annual festival brought to you by Maine Reads with support from the Maine Humanities Council.

 

 The Reawakening of Ayn Rand [57:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1)

David Carey, Jr. is an associate professor of History and Women’s Studies at the University of Southern Maine. He holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Studies from Tulane University; his publications include Ojer taq tzijob’äl kichin ri Kaqchikela’ Winaqi’ (A History of the Kaqchikel People) (Q’anilsa Ediciones, 2004) and Engendering Mayan History: Mayan Women as Agents and Conduits of the Past, 1875-1970 (Routledge, 2006).Professor Carey is the second in our series of podcasts from our December, 2009 event: Cuban Exceptionalism: Reflections on Latin American History. This one day event examined the colonial history of Cuba, the Revolution and the post-revolution era of the region. Professor Carey’s lecture entitled Cuba and the United States, informs us on Portland’s important connection with Cuba at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Professor Carey’s lecture was part of the Cuban Exceptionalism symposium which took place on December 4, 2009 in the Albert Brenner Glickman Library at the University of Southern Maine.

 

 Cuba and the United States [15:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (892)

Allen Wells, the Roger Howell, Jr. Professor of History at Bowdoin College, scholarship has focused on modern Mexican history, especially Yucatán. His most recent book is Tropical Zion: General Trujillo, FDR and the Jews of Sosúa. Professor Wells is the first in our series of podcasts from our December, 2009 event: Cuban Exceptionalism: Reflections on Latin American History. This one day event examined the colonial history of Cuba, the Revolution and the post-revolution era of the region. Professor Wells’ opening lecture entitled Colonial Legacies: Cuba and Latin America, set the scene of Cuba’s history of colonialism and how baseball played a role in politics.

Professor Wells’ lecture was part of the Cuban Exceptionalism symposium which took place on December 4, 2009 in the Albert Brenner Glickman Library at the University of Southern Maine.

 

 Colonial Legacies: Cuba and Latin America [43:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1687)