Writer/journalist Louis Menand delivered the annual Annie Sonnenblick Lecture Feb. 27 in Russell House. His talk was part of the Russell House Series on Prose and Poetry. Menand focused his talk on the links between French cinema and American movies, particularly the relationship of the French New Wave to American films including “Bonnie and Clyde.”
Menand has maintained distinguished careers in academia and journalism. A staff writer at The New Yorker since 2001, he is well known for his articles about literature, the arts, intellectual history, language and American culture. He is the author and editor of several books including The Metaphysical Club, awarded the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for History and the Francis Parkman Prize. He teaches at Harvard University, where he is the Bass Professor of English and American Language and Literature.Menand traced the cinematic lineage of “Bonnie and Clyde,” long considered to be one of Hollywood’s greatest films, to Jean Luc Godard’s 1960 masterpiece “Breathless.” Following the lecture, Menand signed copies of his books and answered questions from the audience.Menand met with Anne Greene, director of writing programs, director of the Wesleyan Writers Conference. The annual Sonnenblick Lecture is named in honor of the late Annie Sonnenblick ’80, who loved literature and the arts. It was established by her parents, Edmund Sonnenblick ’54, P’80, P’84 and Linda Sonnenblick P’80, P’84, and her sisters, Emily Sonnenblick P’10 and Charlotte Sonnenblick Van Doren ’84. Among the many distinguished Sonnenblick lecturers have been Norman Mailer, Henry Lewis Gates, Jr., Eric Schlosser, George Packer and Ian Baruma. (Photos by Bill Tyner ’13)
For more information on the Russell House Series and to view upcoming speakers, visit the Writing at Wesleyan website.
Olivia Drake
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