James Salter: Walt Whitman Writers Series
Award winning writer James Salter (The Hunters, Dusk and Other Stories, All That Is) read from his collection of work and answered questions from the audience as the latest speaker for St. Francis College's Walt Whitman Writers Series on Wednesday, November 6. (www.sfc.edu/waltwhitman)
Salter grew up in New York before becoming a fighter pilot in the Korean War. He is a prolific writer whose best known works include; The Hunters, A Sport and a Pastime, Light Years, Solo Faces, Dusk and Other Stories (Pen/Faulkner award), Burning the Days, Gods of Tin, and Last Night. His latest novel, All That Is, has received numerous excellent reviews. Salter has worked on screenplays for Robert Redford in Hollywood, and has also written extensively about travelling and food.
The Walt Whitman Series is a continuation of St. Francis College's commitment to supporting Brooklyn's literary community. In addition to visits by these authors, the College also offers the biennial $50,000 St. Francis College Literary Prize and helps sponsor and host events for the Brooklyn Book Festival; giving students, faculty and the entire Brooklyn community a front row seat to some of the best and most diverse professional writers at work today.
St. Francis College hosted a community read for the evening, purchasing copies of Salter's work and sharing them with students, faculty and staff ahead of Salter's appearance.
Salter was the ninth writer to visit St. Francis for the Walt Whitman Series which continues to bring top contemporary authors to Brooklyn Heights to share their work and writing experiences with students, faculty and the entire Brooklyn community. Previous authors include Colum, McCann, Ben Marcus, Dinaw Mengestu, Kate Christensen, Julie Orringer, Jonathan Lethem, Darcey Steinke, and Rick Moody.