Phillip Lopate, the University of Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program’s first visiting writer of the academic year, will read from his work at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in Room 101 of Biology Building East on the UI campus.

Lopate will read from his new critically acclaimed essay collection, Portrait Inside My Head, as well as from his collection of greatest hits. The reading is one of several events scheduled around Lopate’s visit; all are free and open to the public.

Among Lopate’s 18 books is the award-winning Waterfront: A Journey Around Manhattan, a history of Manhattan's shoreline. Lopate has also edited five anthologies, including the seminal collection The Art of the Personal Essay, a book that is widely credited with helping to contextualize essays as part of a global tradition dating back to the classical period.

Other events include:

• Screening of Chekhov for Children, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, in the Iowa Theater in the Iowa Memorial Union. This award-winning documentary is about Lopate’s attempt in the 1970s to teach Anton Chekhov's play Uncle Vanya to a class of fifth graders, culminating in a Broadway production of the play starring those students. A discussion and Q&A with filmmaker Sasha Waters and Phillip Lopate will follow the screening.
• Q&A about film criticism, 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in Room 105 of Adler Journalism Building.
• “A Conversation about the Art of Anthologizing” (with John D'Agata), 12:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, Gerber Lounge (Room 304 English-Philosophy Building). This event features a taping for the Essay Press Listening Tour, a digital chapbook being curated by David Lazar.

Lopate is visiting as an Ida Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor. His visit is sponsored by the Provost's Office, the College of Education, the Magid Undergraduate Writing Center, the Department of Cinema and Comparative Literature, the Department of English, and the Nonfiction Writing Program.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to attend this reading, contact the Nonfiction Writing Program in advance at 319-335-0440.