Reclaiming its full span of traditional streetside real estate this year, tThe Printers Row Lit Fest marks its twenty-seventh outing with more than 200 authors and 150 booksellers.
There’s probably something for every taste. Here’s our likely itinerary:
Saturday, June 4
MSNBC junkies will want to catch frequent guest Jonathan Alter, author of “The Promise: President Obama, Year One” being chatted up by the Trib’s Rick Kogan. 10am, Trib Nation Stage
Want to get real insight into Haiti? Listen to this year’s Harold Washington Literary Award-winner Edwidge Danticat in a ticketed event. 11:30am, Harold Washington Library Center/Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
Listen to two of our nation’s preeminent African American literary figures chat it up, when Ishmael Reed sits in conversation with Haki Madhubuti in a ticketed event. Noon, Harold Washington Library Center/Multipurpose Room
Pete Hamill, grizzled New York City newspaper guy and author of “Tabloid City” squares off with grizzled Chicago newspaper guy Rick Kogan. 1pm, Center Stage
Stellar! Apes and Us features nascent lit hero Benjamin Hale, author of “The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore” and Laurence Gonzales, author of “Lucy” in conversation with Tony Romano, 2pm at Grace Place/2nd Floor
Oscar Hijuelos shares his mambo-infused memoir “Thoughts Without Cigarettes” in conversation with Carolyn Curiel in a ticketed event. 3pm, University Center/Lake Room
Sunday, June 5
Our pal Ted C. Fishman discusses his provocative new book, “Shock of Gray,” with Jerome McDonnell in a ticketed event. 11am, University Center/Lake Room.
Obamaology: Edward McClelland, author of “Young Mr. Obama” talks Hyde Park with Rebecca Janowitz, author of “Culture of Opportunity” along with Bruce Dold of the Tribune in a ticketed event. 12:30pm, University Center/Park Fountain Room
Richard Ford
Catch modern-day literary icon Richard Ford in conversation with the Tribune’s Elizabeth Taylor in a ticketed event. 1:30pm, Harold Washington Library Center/Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
If you missed or miss church, catch noted religious scholar Martin Marty in conversation with former Trib editor Owen Youngman in a ticketed event. 2pm, University Center/Lake Room
Gioia Diliberto‘s earlier work, “Paris Without End: The True Story of Hemingway’s First Wife,” is being reissued as Hem’s wives step into the spotlight, and she’ll talk about it with Geoffrey Johnson in a ticketed event. 3pm, University Center/Multimedia Room
Want insight into that recent kerfuffle involving Father Pfleger? Catch his biographer, Robert McClory in conversation with Manya Brachear in a ticketed event. 4pm, University Center/Lake Room
June 4-5, South Dearborn Street from Harrison to Polk. Visit printersrowlitfest.org for ticketed events. Free.
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Lit 50 2023: Fiction Our role in the world seems increasingly ephemeral, which is why so many of us take refuge in the endurability of words on paper, whether in novels, poems, essays or biographies. And Chicago's role in the world of literature has never been stronger.
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