Moved by Wonder

John Cabot University and its department of English language and literature celebrate the life and work of American writer Flannery O’Connor with a two-day symposium from 13-14 June.

O’Connor is recognised internationally as a master of the short story and one of the most important voices in American literature. Half a century after her death at just 39, her influence continues to reverberate throughout the arts.

Entitled Moved by Wonder, the symposium features a keynote address by O’Connor’s biographer William Sessions, Regents Professor Emeritus at Georgia State University; and an exclusive preview of Mark Bosco SJ’s documentary Flannery O'Connor: Mystery and Manners, including interviews with Alice Walker, Tobias Wolff, Tommy Lee Jones, and Michael Fitzgerald.

There will also be a discussion of O’Connor’s influence in Italy by a panel of distinguished writers and poets including M.P. Gallagher, Davide Rondoni, and Alessandro Zaccuri.

As part of the two-day event the English Theatre of Rome will present a reading of O'Connor's short story Parker’s Back. Don Carroll directs, with narration by Natalie Accornero, Bill Guion, Joanna Kohorst, Andrew Park and Andrew Rutt.

There is also an art exhibition entitled Misfit featuring the work of international and local artists including C. Finley, Michelle Rogers, Valentina Mazzei, Andrew Rutt, Lauren Sunstein and Diana Mastrodomenico. The exhibition takes its name from the character of the escaped prisoner in O’Connor’s short story A Good Man is Hard to Find.

For full event details see website.