Donald Hall '47 Reads from his Work April 9 at 7:00 p.m.

April 8, 2007

U.S. Poet Laureate Donald Hall. Photo: Steve Lewis.

Donald Hall '47, U.S. Poet Laureate, returns to Exeter on Monday April 9 for a public reading of his works. James Billington, Librarian of Congress, cites Hall as "one of America's most distinctive and respected literary figures. For more than 50 years, he has written beautiful poetry on a wide variety of subjects that are often distinctly American and conveyed with passion.” Hall has authored 15 books on poetry and a comparable number of prose works – including criticism, fiction, essays and children's books.

Hall's reading, part of the Academy's yearlong series of events in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Harkness gift, is sponsored by The Friends of the Academy Library. The event will take place in the Assembly Hall. It is free and open to the public.

Maggie Dietz's lively interview with Hall, which appears in the current issue of The Exeter Bulletin, touches on everything from Hall's early literary inspirations, including his conversations with former Exeter English instructor Leonard Stevens, to more recent events, such as the death of his wife, poet Jane Kenyon, and his appointment as U.S. Poet Laureate. To learn more about Hall, from his earliest years, read the full interview, "Life Work."

For a brief biography of Hall, and to hear audio clips of Hall reading his own work, see the Library of Congress website.

Read the press release for the event...