This past fall, the Library’s Hispanic Division presented a series of events to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616), the author of Don Quixote—considered one of the most influential works of literature ever published. On December 2, the Poetry and Literature Center co-sponsored one of these …
It’s been a busy month for us here at the Poetry and Literature Center as we excitedly prepare for the upcoming Asian American Literature Festival, which will take place all around Washington, D.C. from Thursday to Saturday, July 27–29. Co-presented with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, the festival—the first of its kind—will feature more …
If there’s a literature-shaped absence in your life, don’t fret: The Library of Congress has you covered. Whether you’re local to Washington, D.C. or elsewhere on the globe, our literary events are archived online and available for you to watch anytime. In case you missed out on …
The following is an interview with Conor MacVarish, who recently completed a year-long internship at the Library of Congress Poetry and Literature Center. Where and what do you study? How did you intend your internship to relate to your studies, college experience, or future plans? I just graduated with a double major in literature and political science …
It’s been nearly a year since my last update on state poets laureate. Since then, ten states have welcomed new poets laureate, four of which have been appointed since May 1: Beth Ann Fennelly started her term as Mississippi Poet Laureate on August 10, 2016; Michael Erdelen was named Premiere Poet of Indiana in October …
The following post is part of our monthly series, “Literary Treasures,” which highlights audio and video recordings drawn from the Library’s extensive online collections, including the Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature. By showcasing the works and thoughts of some of the greatest poets and writers from the past 75 years, the series advances the Library’s …
It’s been a full week since Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced Tracy K. Smith as the 22nd Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. As you can imagine, our new Laureate has been keeping herself busy: After the announcement, dozens of interviews and articles have appeared about her appointment, her view of the Laureateship, and her …
Today the Library of Congress announced the appointment of the 22nd Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, Tracy K. Smith. Following is an interview that Poetry and Literature Center Digital Content Manager Anne Holmes conducted with Smith via e-mail. What was it like to get the call from the Librarian, asking you to be the next …
We’ve had a wild, whimsical ride this past year with Catalina Neon and her bandana-clad dog, Tortilla. From gooey plants to laser beams to secret tunnels to carrot astronauts in the Galactic Poetry Cosmic Library, Catalina and Tortilla have been through it all—with a love for poetry guiding them along. Today, Poet Laureate Juan Felipe …
