Thursday, November 12

Noted author Lucille Clifton to speak at Wells College

Poetry and fiction writer Lucille Clifton will read from her work on Thursday, November 12 at 8:00 p.m. in Macmillan Hall's Art Exhibit Room at Wells College. The reading is free and open to the public.

Clifton's subjects and themes run the gamut of human experience. Like many women writers she explores her role as mother, daughter, lover, and woman. She also addresses herself to the quality of the African American experience in America. While many of her poems examine serious issues, Clifton also revels in a vibrant sense of humor directed at others as well as herself.

One of the striking characteristics of Clifton's poems is their brevity. She, like Emily Dickinson, offers only the most essential elaborations on her experiences. After the third edition of Contemporary Poets was published in 1980, the only comment Clifton had on her work was "I am a black woman poet, and I sound like one."

Clifton, an Emmy award winner, is the only author to have two books of poetry chosen as finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in one year, 1980. She has received numerous awards for her poetry as well as her fiction.

A professor of humanities at St. Mary's College in Maryland, Clifton was born in Depew, New York, and educated at SUNY Fredonia.

Monday, November 16

Miriam Grace Monfredo, author of The Seneca Falls Inheritance will speak about her work on Monday, November 16, in the Morgan Opera House above the Aurora Free Library at 7:30 p.m. A book signing will be held at 7:00 p.m. The talk is free and open to the public.

The Seneca Falls Inheritance gave birth to Monfredo’s mid-19^th century feminist, Glynis Tryon, an unmarried, small- town librarian in nearby Seneca Falls. Ms. Tryon’s extended family has made Monfredo’s five Seneca Falls mysteries essential reading for those who seek to understand the role of women in the history of this nation. Her books have become required reading in many women’s studies programs across the country. The 1992 hardcover edition earned Monfredo a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was nominated for the prestigious Agatha Award as the Best First Mystery Novel of 1992.

Her latest book, The Stalking Horse, released by Berkley Books during Women’s History Month this past March, is set on the eve of the Civil War and is based on a true event - a diabolical conspiracy that nearly changed the course of history. This story focuses on the next generation of women - Glynis Tryon’s niece Bronwen Llyr. Bronwen is the young detective sent by the Pinkerton agency to thwart the assassination attempt on President-elect Lincoln.

"This time I wanted to write a thriller and feature a younger woman. Glynis was more thoughtful, a natural observer. Bronwen may follow her aunt’s beliefs, but she has a reckless streak. She is an Annie Oakley type of feminist," Monfredo explained.

As a teenager, Miriam Grace Monfredo hated history because there were no women mentioned in her textbooks. In college a professor told Monfredo if she wanted to learn anything about women’s history, she would have to unearth it myself. That suggestion became the focus of her future. Monfredo wants people, especially women to know what role our female ancestors played in helping women know the freedoms they enjoy today.

"Although set in the 19^th century, Ms. Monfredo’s books touch contemporary issues including racial prejudices, gender relations, equality, and diversity. That makes them timeless," said Sandra Groth, a member of the Aurora Free Library staff and coordinator of the author’s visit to the village. Monfredo’s visit is co-sponsored by the Aurora Free Library and Wells College Women’s Studies Department, and the Office of the Dean of the College. Since the primary theme in Monfredo’s work is women’s rights, Groth felt it was a natural union for the library and Wells to work together to make this event possible.

"Ms. Monfredo is a vibrant speaker who has turned the history of this area into readable fiction," said Ellen Hall, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college at Wells. "She is a model of great creativity and entrepreneurship. She lets us know about the accomplishments of other women, and she is an accomplished woman herself who serves as a role model for all of us," said Hall.

For more information on campus events call Wells College Public Relations at (315) 364-3209

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