Well-known fiction writer Russell Banks added a personal touch to the 3rd Annual William Matthews Memorial Reading on April 10 in the Cohen Library Archives during National Library Week.  He noted that it was a “particularly tender occasion for me to be here,” as the late Matthews, poet and CCNY professor, “was my closest friend for over 30 years” going back to their student days at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He recalled also coming to City College once previously to sit in on a Matthews’ creative writing class, one of whose students was mystery writer Walter Moseley.  Calling Matthews “a great teacher,” Banks said that, “I feel like the arm of Bill is around my shoulder bringing me back here.”

After these gracious remarks, Banks—introduced by Rifkind Center Director, Professor Josh Wilner, as “one of the most distinguished writers of fiction in America working today”—started the evening off by reading three of Matthews’ poems, In Memory of W. H. Auden, Onions, and Living Among the Dead. Banks commented that Williams “could extend the metaphor larger than anyone I ever knew.”

Turning to his own work, Banks read two short stories, The Caul, written when he was 28, and a just-finished story, The Moor, both included in a new collection of short stories, The Angel on the Roof : The Stories of Russell Banks published in May. In turn moving and humorous, Banks’ readings were warmly received.  A number of the author’s books, including Affliction, CloudSplitter, and Trailerpark were available for purchase and signing.

Wilner ended the evening by noting that listening to both authors’ work made him think of “good blended whiskey that wouldn’t let you decide whether it’s mellow or cynical.”  A reception followed the event, jointly sponsored by the Friends of the City College Library, The CCNY MA Program in Creative Writing, and the Simon H. Rifkind Center for the Humanities and Arts at CCNY.
 

A City College audience hear author Thom Weidlich read passages from his just-published book, Appointment Denied: the Inquisition of Bertrand Russell, in the library’s archives on the evening of September 21.

Described by its publisher as “an engrossing page-turner that brings recent history to life and makes us rethink the perennial issues of free thought and moral standards at publicly funded institutions,” the book details the controversy stirred up by the appointment of Russell as a City College professor of philosophy in 1940.  People lined up on either side over the merit of the appointment.  Nation-wide headlines and editorials bore witness to this sorry time at the college when a renowned writer and and philosopher was eventually denied the confirmation that would have brought him to our campus to conclude a distinguished career.

Weidlich, a writer and journalist in New York City and currently the managing editor of Direct magazine, commented that he found the incident he writes about in Appointment Denied to have certain parallels in modern times.  The author opined that he could see such a thing happening again; that a public college’s decisions could be subject to the prevailing religious and political leanings of those in charge of the local establishment.

A reception followed the event, which was sponsored by the Friends of the City College Library and the Simon H. Rifkind Center for the Humanities and the Arts.
 
 
 

Go to previous page

Go to next page