Pulitzer Prize winner to hold book signing Nov. 18
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Peter Balakian will give a poetry reading and sign copies of his latest work, “Ozone Journal,” on Nov. 18 at 10 a.m. in the North Avenue Academic building. Photo courtesy of Kean University
By Jeremy Negron | Published Nov. 10, 2016
New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winning poet Peter Balakian will be at Kean University Friday Nov. 18 at 10 a.m., at the North Academic Building for a poetry reading.
After the reading Balakian will also be signing copies of his latest collection of poetry, “Ozone Journal,” which was published in 2015 and addresses Armenian genocide.
Born and raised in Teaneck, Balakian is an Armenian American whose grandmother escaped the Armenian genocide of the early twentieth century.
Though initially Balakian was a writer and poet for reasons concerning nature and the environment, the stories of his family history inspired him to address themes of genocide and human rights by incorporating them in his poems and books.
Some of his other works include Dyer’s Thistle (1996), Reply from Wilderness Island (1988) Sad Days of Light (1979) and Ziggurat (2010) to name a few.
“Peter Balakian’s poetry touches so many subjects that vitally need to be spoken —human rights, genocide, environmental and social sustainability, and the struggles of the individual with disease, death, and both personal and social conflict.”said Dr. Jeffrey Beck, dean of Kean’s Nathan Weiss Graduate college, in a press release.
Balakian is the brother of Dr. Jan Balakian, an English professor at Kean.
Educators will be allowed to bring their students to the book signing/poetry reading. The event is public and free of charge. Contact Dr. Beck at jefbeck@kean.edu to reserve a space for a class or for any other comments or questions about the event.
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