WRITERS READING

Notes, introduction, photograph for Anne Tyler reading at Johns Hopkins University

Introduction for James Michener reading, with article from the Hopkins News-Letter

As a writer, John Barth is known for his noteworthy live readings, which sometimes involve humorous props like this poster for the novel Coming Soon!!! As a professor, he created opportunities, in turn, for other writers to give readings at Johns Hopkins—which were also opportunities for students to hear a variety of fictional voices. Barth often took charge of local arrangements for visiting writers and gave introductions at the events. These items document the visits of three very different fiction writers: Robert Coover, one of Barth’s experimental peers; James Michener, the author of long, historical sagas; and the Baltimore writer Anne Tyler, known for her character-driven novels.