Book lovers, Anderson faculty, staff and students are cordially invited to a reading by Ron Rash, the critically acclaimed and international best-selling novelist, short story writer, and poet, who will read from his recent work, Something Rich and Strange: Selected Stories. Rash has been proclaimed as one of the most original and compelling voices in contemporary literature and has had two novels adapted to the big screen, including the soon to be released Serena starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. Winner of numerous national and international awards, including the prestigious Frank O’Connor Award for Best International Short Fiction, the “gorgeous and brutal” writing of Ron Rash explores the mystery and wonder of the Appalachian region and the conflicts buried deep within the human heart. Rash has written five novels, six short collections, and four volumes of poetry. He also holds the Parris Chair in Appalachian Studies at Western Carolina University.
Rash’s visit to Anderson is part of the highly regarded Mims Lecture Series, which has brought many internationally acclaimed authors to campus over recent years. The series is named for beloved writing teacher Francis Mims who taught at AU.
Mr. Rash will be introduced by Anderson professor Randall Wilhelm, editor of The Ron Rash Reader (USC Press 2014) and co-editor of a forthcoming collection Among the Believers: Critical Essays on Ron Rash. Dr. Wilhelm teaches courses in Southern, Appalachian, and American literature in the English Department.