UNC Asheville will launch its new Writers on
the Line series in February with talks by acclaimed Jewish authors
Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole. The ongoing series will feature
readings, workshops and programs by noted writers and artists.
Hoffman will speak on February 8, followed by Cole on February 9.
Both events are free and open to the public.
Hoffman will discuss "My Happiness Bears No Relation to Happiness: A
Poet's Life in the Palestinian Century" at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at
UNC Asheville's Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. The talk will be based on
Hoffman's forthcoming book of the same title, which tells the life
story of poet Taha Muhammad Ali. Arabic scholar Michael Sells has
called text "among the five 'must read' books on the
Israel-Palestine tragedy." Hoffman is also the author of "House of
Windows: Portraits from a Jerusalem Neighborhood." Her essays and
criticism have appeared in the Nation, Washington Post, Times
Literary Supplement and on the BBC.
Cole will give a reading from and discuss his recent work at 7 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 9, at UNC Asheville's Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. The
recipient of a 2007 MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, Cole has
published three books of poetry, "Rift," "Hymns & Qualms" and
"Things on Which I've Stumbled." In addition, Cole is a
prize-winning translator of the Hebrew Golden Age poets. His new
book "The Dream of the Poem" is the most comprehensive gathering of
medieval Hebrew poems ever assembled in English. It has been hailed
as one of the "the finest labors of poetic translation…seen in many
years."
In 1998, Hoffman and Cole founded Ibis Editions in Jerusalem. This
small press and non-profit organization publishes Levant-related
books of poetry and belletristic prose. The press focuses on
translations from Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, French and other languages
of the region. Ibis Editions publishes new works along with
overlooked writing from the past.
Hoffman and Cole's talks are co-sponsored by UNC Asheville's Center
for Jewish Studies, the Belk Distinguished Professorship, UNC
Asheville Hillel and the University's student chapter of Amnesty
International.
For more information, call 828/232-5027.
