Peter Covino, associate professor of English and creative writing at the University of Rhode Island and translator of the award-winning collection What Sex is Death? (University of Wisconsin Press), will be on campus Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 22-23.

On Monday, Sept. 22, Covino will be reading his own recently published translations of Dario Bellezza's poetry, as well as his own award winning poetry from Cut Off the Ears of Winter and The Right Place to Jump. This event will take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in GEAR 130. Pearl's Books will have copies of Covino's books for purchase and signing.

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, Covino will give a lecture in GEAR 130 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. titled, "'More tarantellas of the coasts': The Challenge of Italian American Poetry in the Next Decade." This presentation will offer an overview of the historical background that highlights the disparate traditions of Italian American poetic production, while building on earlier research that argues for an inclusiveness of traditional and experimental forms. Poems and close reading strategies will consider examples from key literary figures both in English and some in translation, including the work of Diane DiPrima, W.S. DiPiero, Dana Gioia, Elaine Equi, Dario Bellezza, Kathy Ossip and Nicole Santalucia, among others. 

These events are sponsored by the Italian Program, the Honors College, the Gender Studies Program and the Department of English. If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Calabretta-Sajder (calabret@uark.edu).