The English Department has numerous events, talks, and workshops throughout the year, for students, alumni, and community members.

The English Department, in collaboration with The Sewanee Review, the Mountain Goat Literary Journal, the Sewanee Literary Society, and the Sewanee Writing House, are pleased to offer lots to do in Sewanee, and remotely! 

Please check at our event calendar and subscribe (Google calendar: english@sewanee.edu): 

PROFESSOR ENGEL PUBLISHES ON RENAISSANCE PRINT CULTURE

English Professor Bill Engel has written a book on The Printer as Author in Early Modern English Book History: John Day and the Fabrication of a Protestant Memory Art.

PROFESSOR ENGEL'S LATEST BOOK ON SHAKESPEARE

Sewanee English Professor Bill Engel has edited a new collection of critical essays, The Shakespearean Death Arts, for Palgrave Macmillan.

Come to a Talkback with the Director and Cast of Much Ado!

The English Department invites you, on Monday afternoon, at 4:30 p.m. in Gailor 224, to a "Talk Back" with Dakota Collins and the cast of his Much Ado About Nothing, whose final performance unfolds this (Thursday) evening at 6 p.m. in Angel Park.

Ciona Rouse Reads from Her Poetry

Ciona Rouse, a Nashville poet teaching African-American Literary Societies this semester at Sewanee, will read from her poetry at 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 6, at 4:30 PM in Gailor Auditorium. An award-winning poet, Rouse is also well-known for her electrifying readings. 

Read an Interview with Kevin Wilson about his New Novel

Kevin Wilson's new novel, Now Is Not the Time to Panic, will be published on November 8, by Ecco. A coming-of-age story, the book focuses on two kids named Frankie and Zeke over the course of a summer. 

Professor Macfie Reads from Her Memoir

Dr. Macfie, the Samuel R. Williamson Distinguished University Professor at Sewanee, is working on a memoir, Unlettered, a part of which has been published in the Sewanee Review. Hear her read new material on Thursday, April 7, at 4:30 PM in Gailor Auditorium. 

Jos Charles Poetry Reading

As part of the Sewanee Medieval Colloquium, poet Jos Charles will read from her poetry, including from feeld, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. The reading will take place April 9, at 1 PM in Gailor Auditorium. Her poems, whose language blend together the ambiguity of Middle English and the punch of text-speak, reckon with youth, desire, and trans experience. In addition to the reading, she will be in conversation with medievalist and trans scholar Dr. Gabriel M.W. Bychowski. This event is co-sponsored by the English Department, the Sewanee Review, and the University Lectures Committee. 

Professor Michael Publishes New Poetry

Dr. Jennifer Michael (also C'89), in addition to teaching Romantic literature at Sewanee, has recently published some new poetry, including a new chapbook from Finishing Line Press. 

Being in Shakespeare's Company: A Lecture/Workshop

On March 23, 2022, at 4:30 PM in Gailor Auditorium, the English Department presents a lecture-workshop with Ralph Cohen, the co-founder of the American Shakespeare Center, a Shakespeare-centered performance group based in Staunton, VA, in the world's only recreation of the Blackfriars Theatre, Shakespeare's indoor performance space. He and actors from ASC will lead students in discussion and performance workshops. No prior acting experience required!

Novelist Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi Reading and Reception

On February 8 at 4:30 in Gailor Auditorium, PEN/Faulkner Award-winning novelist Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi will read from her work. The reading will be followed by a reception and book-signing.

Dr. Tucker Publishes a Book: "Unexpected Pleasures"

In February, Clemson University Press will publish Dr. Lauryl Tucker's book, Unexpected Pleasures: Parody, Queerness, and Genre in 20th-Century British Fiction. The book dives into Dr. Tucker's interests in humor, especially the humor that queers conventions both social and literary. You can find the book here, and Dr. Tucker will discuss it at a Dean's Faculty Research Presentation on January 27, from 12:30-1:30 at McGriff Alumni Hall. 

Radney Foster: "The Business of Creativity"

Mr. Radney Foster, C’82, Nashville singer, songwriter, author, and actor (and Sewanee English major) will be the Babson Center’s 2022 Humphreys Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Navigating the fluid nature of the music industry, Mr. Foster will share insights of his journey from West Texas to Sewanee to the Music City and will offer wisdom to his success. 

Nikki Giovanni Reads in Convocation

Celebrated poet and honorary degree recipient Nikki Giovanni will give a reading from her writings at 4 PM in Convocation Hall, January 13; she will receive her honorary degree the next day during Winter Convocation. 

The Mountain Goat's Reading Series Continues February 1

The Mountain Goat is back from break! You can submit online here - and come to their reading every first Tuesday of the month, this month at 6 PM, at the Social Lodge!

Yea! Sewanee Reads

The English Department and the University Bookstore are joining forces to feature our favorite titles, just in time for holiday shopping! Come to the opening, November 4, from 5-7 PM, and get discounts on books and the Blue Chair Tavern!

What Do You Do With an English Degree?

If you've ever wondered (or been asked) what you can do with an English degree (besides being a teacher or a writer), we have answers for you from alumna and English major Caroline Morton Huffman (C'86), who has had a long career in business and is looking forward to helping answer your questions. Come chat at 7 PM, Wednesday, Nov 3 at the Social Lodge. This event is sponsored by the English Department and the Babson Center. 

Kevin Wilson's Fiction Wins Big Awards

Professor Kevin Wilson's most recent novel, Nothing to See Here, was selected by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of their Big Read program, where they select 15 books for the year and offer grants to communities to discuss the book that they choose.  His short story, "Biology" was selected by Jesmyn Ward for this year's Best American Short Stories. 

Publishing Roundtable in Gailor Auditorium

Are you interested in publishing your work, or working in publishing? Wondering how publishing works in different ways for fiction, poetry, translations, or academic texts? Come to a roundtable on October 22 at 4 PM at the Writing House, featuring William Engel of the English Department, Stephanie McCarter of the Classics Department, Matthew Mitchell of the History Department, Gwen Kirby of the Sewanee Writers Conference, and Eric Smith of The Sewanee Review. This event is organized by the Writing House!

Japanese Breakfast in Concert

We are very pleased to present Michelle Zauner (aka Japanese Breakfast) in concert and conversation Sunday, April 25 at 4:30 PM. Recording as Japanese Breakfast, Michelle Zauner has released two critically-acclaimed albums, Psychopomp and Soft Sounds from Another Planet; her third album, Jubilee, will be released June 4, 2021. She is also the author of Crying in H-Mart, a memoir that develops her essay of the same name in the New Yorker. You can read more about the memoir here. This concert is presented by The Mountain Goat Literary Journal, the Writing House, the Asian Languages and Culture House, the Wick, Campus Activities, the Sewanee Review/Dakin Fund, and the Departments of English and Music.



Claire Crow Accepted at Yale

Out of over 550 applicants, English major, Claire Crow, was offered (and accepted) one of 3 positions in the Ph.D. Program in English at Yale to continue her work on depictions of race in medieval romance. She was also accepted with full funding into the Ph.D. program in Medieval Studies at Cornell and into the English Ph.D. programs at Indiana University, The Ohio State University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Fordham University. In addition, she was offered positions in the M.A. program in English at NYU and at the University of Birminhgam (UK), the M.A. program in Comparative Literature at Dartmouth, and the M.A. program in the Humanities at the University of Chicago.

English Graduates Found a Literary Journal

Recent Sewanee graduates and English Majors Sydney Leibfritz C'20, Briana Wheeler C'20 and Carlos Zayas-Pons C'20 have founded a new literary journal entitled Ample Remains. 

Knight School - A Medieval Podcast by Claire Crow C'21

A new Sewanee student run podcast bringing you weekly doses of the medieval world with guest appearances from experts and scholars.