NYU’s International Houses along the Washington Mews and in the vicinity will open their doors for readings and discussions sure to excite the literary passions and tickle the muse of any lover of novels, memoirs and verse.

PEN’s Indie Book Fair to Unfold on Washington Mews – Fri., May 3

A vibrant indie book fest, part of the PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, will unfold from morning to evening at New York University on Friday, May 3, enticing visitors to stroll the storied, cobblestoned Washington Mews, browse tables where literary magazines and independent presses will proffer the work of up-and-coming writers, or take in busking musicians or a lively puppet show.

What follows is a schedule of the indie book fair events (while the full PEN Festival runs from April 29-May 5). All of the Washington Mews happenings are free and open to the public. Washington Mews is nestled between University Place and Fifth Avenue, just north of Washington Square Park. For detailed information and updates on the fest, please visit www.worldvoicesfesival.org.

LEARN - 10am-Noon:

African Writers Workshop with Igoni Barrett. NYU Africa House, 44 Washington Mews.

“Do You Have a Garden In Mind?” with Barbara Frischmuth. Deutsches Haus, 42 Washington Mews.
Why Fiction? Why Not?: A Workshop with Antonio Molina. King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center, 43 Washington Square South, Suite 201.

“Fiction as Guide” with Belinda McKeon. Glucksman Ireland House, 1 Washington Mews.

How to Create a Digital Book: A Workshop with Alexei Taylor. Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics, 20 Cooper Square.

Literary Translation with James Byrne with Zeyar Lynn. Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House, 58 West 10th Street.

LOOK & CONSUME - Noon-5pm:

Washington Mews Book Fair, curated by the Council of Literary Magazines & Presses:

Chapbook binding, make-your-own noteebooks, & more with independent literary publishers.

Photographer Nancy Crampton leading a tour amplifying “Writers,” a current photo exhibit at the Lillian Vernon House.

The Griot: African Storytelling Through Song, Music, and Poetry

Irish Song Workshop with Padraig O Cearuill.

“Grimm Fairy Tale Songs” with Tine Kindermann & Band.

Kasperl-Puppet Theater at Deutsches Haus

(Delicious bread donated by Le Pain Quotidien.)


Lunchtime/Evening Conversations:

12-1pm: Jean-Euphele Milce (Haiti) & Agata Tuszynski (Poland). La Maison Française, 16 Washington Mews.

1:30-3pm: “The Testament of Mary”: A Discussion on the Broadway Show. Fiona Shaw, Colm Toibin, and director Deboprah Warner. The New School: Tishman Auditorium, 66 W. 12th St.

2-3pm: James Kelman (Ireland) and Emmelie Prophete (Haiti). La Maison Française, 16 Washington Mews.

2-4pm “The Search for Happiness” with Gerbrand Bakker, Lisa Dierbeck, Rolf Lappert. Deutsches Haus, 42 Washington Mews.

4-6 pm Is there a Literature of Multilinguality?, with Barbara Firschmuth, Claudio Magris, and Norman Manea, Deutsches Haus, 42 Washington Mews.

4-6pm “Speaking in Tongues: (Poetry Reading), with Odi Gonzale z, Melcion Mateu, and Tere Irastorza. Hosted by Mariela Dreyfus and Lila Zemborain. King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center, 53 Washington Square South, Suite 201.

4 -6pm “Kissing The Sword: A Prison Memoir,” with Sharnush Parispur, Asian/Pacific/American Institute, 8 Washington Mews.

5-6:30pm African Writers Panel, with A. Ignoni Barrett and Oiufemi Terry. Africa House, 44 Washington Mews.

5-7pm “Bones Will Crow: An Anthology of Burmese Poetry,” with Khin Aung Aye, James Byrne, and Zeyar Lynn, with remakrs by special guest Yusef Komunyakaa. Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House, 58 W. 10th Street.

6-7:30pm Edna O’Brien: “Country Girl: A Memoir” (Reading). Glucksman Ireland House, 1 Washington Mews.

About New York University:
Founded in 1831, New York University is now one of the largest private universities in the United States. Of the more than 3,000 colleges and universities in America, NYU is one of only 60 member institutions of the distinguished Association of American Universities. www.nyu.edu .

About PEN American Center:
Founded in 1922, PEN American Center is a fellowship of writers dedicated to defending freedom of expression and persecuted writers and journalists, advancing literature and literary translation, and fostering international literary exchange. It is the largest and most active of the 145 chapters in 101 countries that comprise International PEN (founded in 1921). www.pen.org .


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