Albert Murray to Speak at Faulkner Centenary Observance

Albert Murray, distinguishedAmerican novelist, cultural critic and blues scholar will speak on Faulkner'slegacy on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 4:15 p.m., in the Fillius Events Barn at Hamilton College. His lecture is part of the Faulkner centenary observance sponsored by the English Department.

Murray, who received an honorary doctorate from Hamilton at last spring'sCommencement ceremony, was born in Alabama and grew up in the South. Hestudied English at Tuskegee Institute and immersed himself in the works ofFaulkner, Hemingway and Mann. It was at Tuskegee where he also cultivated hislove of jazz and blues.

The author of several books, includingThe Omni-Americans, South to aVery Old Place, Train Whistle Guitar and The Blue Devils ofNada, Murray has taught at Columbia University, Barnard and the MusicWriter's Institute at the Smithsonian Institution.

Earlier this year at the University of Mississippi's Faulkner centenaryobservance, Murray received a standing ovation from a crowd that included someof the world's most distinguished Faulkner scholars.

As part of the celebration at Hamilton, the film The Long Hot Summer, aMartin Ritts adaptation of Faulkner's comedic novel The Hamlet will alsobe shown at 8:30 p.m. in the Kirner-Johnson Auditorium.

On Thursday, September 25, William Faulkner would have been 100 year