A 1962 graduate of Hamilton, Nichols achieved international acclaim with thepublication of his novel The Sterile Cuckoo in 1964. His other novelsinclude The Wizard of Loneliness and his most popular work TheMilagro Beanfield War, a story of the struggles of poor Chicanos topreserve their land and rights against powerful business interests.
Nichols settled in New Mexico in the late 1960s. Since then, he has writtenseveral books on the life and times of modern New Mexicans. In addition to hisfiction works, he has also published several non-fiction books. He wrote thetext for If Mountains Die, and The Last Beautiful Days of Autumn,two books of photography on New Mexico. He is a popular essayist, and highlyregarded political speaker. Although each of his books have a differentemphasis, he said that "they all deal with questions of land, cultural ethics,problems of ecology, economics, history and human survival." His most recentwork, Keep it Simple: In Defense of the Earth is an essay on the needfor simplicity as a prerequisite not only for the health of the self, but alsofor the planet.
Three of Nichols' novels have been made into major motion pictures. Publicshowings of the films will be held in conjunction with his visit. TheSterile Cuckoo and The Wizard of Loneliness will be shown as adouble feature on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the Kirner-Johnson Red Pit.The Milagro Beanfield War will be shown on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7:30p.m. in the Kirner-Johnson Red Pit. Admission is free and open to thepublic.
