
Thoughts on Hyam Plutzik, Letter from a Young Poet
In the posthumously published memoir Letter from a Young Poet, University poet Hyam Plutzik, describes early aspects of his efforts to become a poet.

From Uncle Tom to Aunt Phillis: Professor sheds new light on race, slavery in American literature
Ezra Tawil has edited a new collection of essays that show how the complex legacies of race and slavery have been addressed in American culture from the 18th century to the present day.

The Poitier Effect: New book by film scholar examines ‘change without change’
Sir Sidney Poitier became a cultural icon in the 1950s as the first black actor to break racial barriers in film. But as art and art history professor Sharon Willis argues in her new book, his image on screen creates a false sense of equality that continues to appear in the popular media and remains damaging to race relations today.

Transcending loss, tragedy, self-righteous hatred: An evening with Izzeldin Abuelaish
Izzeldin Abuelaish, who is currently an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, is the author of I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity.

Writing about music: Eastman Music Series fills gap in scholarly, popular understanding
Eastman Studies in Music seriesWith the recent publication of its 100th title, the Eastman Studies in Music series shows great breadth in an era of increasing musical specialization.

New history of University highlights 155 years of transformation
In a new book, Our Work Is But Begun: A History of the University of Rochester, 1850–2005, author Janice Bullard Pieterse traces the growth of the University of Rochester from a small undergraduate program in 1850 to a leading research university and engine for regional economic growth.

Acclaimed author’s new novel steeped in family mystery
As a child, professor and noted author Joanna Scott played with figurines collected by her great-grandfather, Armand de Potter. After unearthing a trunk filled with diaries and documents, Scott realized her great-grandfather wasn’t the man he seemed. This disquieting discovery became the basis for her new novel, De Potter’s Grand Tour.

Debut novel explores betrayal, brotherhood in the South
Tough economic times can bring out the worst in people, especially when you mix in family, desperation, and the drive to get ahead in business. This is one of the messages in Bluff City Pawn by professor Stephen Schottenfeld.

First-of-its-kind study connects music, Saint Anne
You will find no references to St. Anne in the New Testament. And yet, from the early 15th to early 16th centuries, the apocryphal mother of the Virgin Mary was a subject of great veneration by women of all social ranks, especially among royalty. In his new book, Michael Alan Anderson, associate professor of musicology at the Eastman School, examines how this devotion was expressed in the music of this time period.

New book explores awkward moments in film and media
Films like This is Spinal Tap have built large followings around their use of awkward and cringeworthy comedy. But according to Jason Middleton, assistant professor of English and director of the film and media studies program, the use of staged “awkwardness” extends far beyond the domain of contemporary popular culture and into the earliest days of filmmaking.