The name Edgar Allan Poe immediately conjures thoughts of macabre tales and haunting imagery that have made him one of the most celebrated writers in American history. In this presentation, we will explore the literary qualities and narrative brilliance that enabled Poe to become one of the most adept authors of the short story genre in all of the nineteenth century. Together with participants, Joseph Luzzi, the Asher B. Edelman Professor of Literature at Bard College, will consider such classic works as “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” and more, as we explore Poe’s place in the literary pantheon and his relation to such contemporary luminaries as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, and the other writers who helped give American literature of the time its vibrancy and enduring appeal.
Joseph Luzzi received his Ph.D. from Yale University and is a Professor of Comparative Literature and Faculty Member in Italian Studies at Bard College, where he has taught since 2002 after being a visiting faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania. A frequent contributor to publications including the New York Times, TLS, and Chronicle of Higher Education, he is the author of 5 books, including "My Two Italies," a New York Times Editors' Choice selection and "In a Dark Wood: What Dante Taught Me About Grief, Healing, and the Mysteries of Love," a Vanity Fair “Must-Read” selection. His work has been translated into multiple languages and his many awards include a Yale College Teaching Prize, Dante Society of America Essay Prize, and Wallace Fellowship at Villa I Tatti, Harvard's Center for Italian Renaissance Studies. In 2017 he was named Cittadino Onorario/Honorary Citizen in Acri, Calabria, his Italian parents' birthplace. His next book is "Botticelli's Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance," which will be published by W. W. Norton. Professor Luzzi is the founder of the Virtual Book Club, an online community of readers dedicated to exploring some of the best books ever written. Learn more at JosephLuzzi.com.
This conversation is suitable for all ages.
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.
