Literature

Andrew Davies, writer of the Pride & Prejudice miniseries, discusses how the popular television show came to be. He also shares behind-the-scenes stories about the production of the series.

Andrew Davies, writer of the Pride & Prejudice miniseries, shares behind-the-scenes stories from working on the popular television show.

The 15th Annual John Fowles Center Literary Forum is devoted to Latin American writers and writing. Sergio Chejfec reads from his book and Mark Axelrod translates. Chejfek was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. From 1990-2005 he lived in Venezuela, where he published "Nueva sociedad", a journal of politics, culture and the social sciences. He currently lives in New York City and teaches in the Creative Writing Program in Spanish at NYU. Chejfec has written novels, essays and a poetry collection. Some of his work includes, "Lenta biografia", "Las planetas", "Boca de Lobo" and "Los incompletes". His novels usually feature a slow-paced narrator that interweaves the plot with reflection and memory. Some themes prevalent in his work include political violence, and Jewish-Argentine culture and history. "My Two Worlds" was published by Open Letter Books in 2011. Taped by Panther Productions.

Writer Marcio Souza reads from his novels and discusses the impact of literature in his life. Souza's first novel, "Galvez Emperors Acre", was a huge critical success and soon became an international phenomenon. Since then, the prolific writer has penned numerous other novels, essays and dramas. His work includes novels: "Mad Mary", "The Order of the Day", and "The Lost World"; essays: "Draw Against Chico Mendes", "Fascination and Repulsion" and "Short History of the Amazon" and plays: "Dessanas, Dessanas", "The Passioin of Ajuricaba" and "As Folias Latex". Souza is also a screenwriter, playwright and director of theater and opera. As a man of the theater he currently leads the TESC Experimental Theater and "The SESC of Amazonas", the theater group that pioneered the struggle to preserve the Amazon. Marcio Souza has also been a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Currently, he is writing a tetralogy "Chronicles of Grand Para and Rio Negro", of which two books: "Loyalty" and "Disorder" have been published by Editora Record in Brazil.

The John Fowles Center for Creative Writing promotes and advances the discipline of creative writing in all its aspects: fiction, poetry, drama, creative non-fiction and film. The Center offers students and non-students alike an opportunity to gain a greater appreciation for the "written word" and those who write it. Each year a distinguished group of national and international writers is invited to Chapman University, making access to those writers available not only to the Chapman community, but to the Orange County and, by extension, the Southern California community as well. Chapman University’s John Fowles Literary Forum offers readings and lectures by internationally recognized novelists, poets, and screen/ playwrights. The 2012 literary series is devoted to Latin American authors. This session features Alicia Kozameh. Alicia Kozameh is an Argentine author and former political prisoner during the last military dictatorship in her country. She is the author of the novels such as, Pasos bajo el agua (Steps Under Water), a fictionalized account of her experience in prison; 259 saltos and uno inmortal (259 Leaps, the Last Immortal), inspired by her life as a political exile. Filmed by Panther Productions.

Chapman University’s John Fowles Literary Forum offers readings and lectures by internationally recognized novelists, poets and screen/playwrights. The 2012 literary series is devoted to Latin American authors and begins with the novelist Carlos Franz. Franz studied law at the University of Chile (Santiago), graduating with first honors in 1981. From 1980 to 1984, he was fellow member of the literary workshop of José Donoso, in Santiago. In 1997 he founded and directed the National Library Literary Workshop in Santiago, which was an important seeding ground for a new generation of Chilean writers. His novels include "Santiago Cero", "El lugar donde estuvo el Paraíso", "El desierto" (trans. as "The Absent Sea"), & "Almuerzo de vampires". Franz also authored a volume of short stories, "La Prisionera" and a literary essay, "La muralla enterrada". Several of his short stories have been published in Chilean, Latin American and international anthologies, like "Whistler In the Night" (Plume, New York, 2002). He is a regular contributor to several Spanish and Latin American newspapers and magazines like El País (Spain), Letras Libres (México) or La Nación (Argentina). Filmed by Panther Productions.

Victorian art, love, poetry and life are analyzed and discussed by professors Richard Ruppel and Wendy Salmond during Poetry Week at Chapman University. Ruppel, professor of English, breaks down the poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Robert Browning and Christina Rosseti. Salmond, professor of art, connects artwork and poetry through analyzing the works of William Hunt, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and others.

Dr. Lynda Hall hosts Austenelia, a panel discussion featuring and celebrating authors Syrie James, Karen Joy Fowler, Diana Birchall, and Laurie Viera Rigler for their work honoring the literature of Jane Austen as part of Chapman University's 150th Anniversary celebration.