Letters From a Poet: A Celebration of James Merrill

April 5, 2021
​LETTERS FROM A POET: A CELEBRATION OF JAMES MERRILL
Co-Hosted by the James Merrill House & Washington University in St. Louis
 
In partnership with Washington University in St. Louis, the James Merrill House is celebrating the publication of A Whole World: Letters from James Merrill (Knopf) with a special 3-part webinar series. Join the book’s co-editors Langdon Hammer and Stephen Yenser as they share discoveries made while culling through the Pulitzer-winning poet’s witty and voluminous correspondence with friends, lovers, and family.
 
Saturday, April 10, 5-6pm, Part 1
“James Merrill: A Man of Letters”
Merrill biographer Langdon Hammer, the Niel Gray, Jr. Professor of English at Yale, and Merrill’s friend and literary co-executor Stephen Yenser, Distinguished Research Professor at UCLA, along with Knopf poetry editor Deborah Garrison, discuss telling moments and themes in Merrill’s correspondence. Literary scholar, author, and Merrill House Committee member Willard Spiegelman will introduce the series and participants. Hosted by James Merrill House via Facebook Live and YouTube.
 
Friday April 23, 4-5pm CDT (5-6pm EST), Part 2
“The Making of A Whole World”
Langdon Hammer and Stephen Yenser converse with Tim Young, Curator of Modern Books and Manuscripts at Yale University’s Beinecke Library, and Chelsie Malyszek, a Visiting Assistant Professor of Rhetoric at Hampden-Sydney College, who helped the editors prepare Merrill’s correspondence for publication. Moderated by Joel Minor, Curator of Modern Literature/Manuscripts at the Washington University in St. Louis Libraries. Hosted by Washington University in St. Louis. Register in advance at https://library.wustl.edu/events/the-making-of-a-whole-world-letters-fro…
 
Friday, May 7, 5pm-6pm, Part 3
“Reading & Reminiscence”
Stephen Yenser, co-editor of six volumes of James Merrill’s poetry including, most recently, The Book of Ephraim (Knopf, 2018), and Langdon Hammer, author of the biography James Merrill: Life and Art (Knopf, 2015), read selected letters from A Whole World and elucidate what they reveal about Merrill’s character and relationships with his correspondents. Willard Spiegelman moderates. Hosted by James Merrill House via Facebook Live and YouTube.
 
For more information contact:
Bergin O’Malley, Program Coordinator
 
James Merrill House programming is accessible on our YouTube and Facebook channels. 
For the full schedule please visit our Website.
 
 
News Type: 
Department News