A Life with Books: From the Last Days of Typewriters to the Digital Era
Arsht Hall
Wed, Apr 9 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Join us for an unforgettable evening with Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize-winning book columnist for The Washington Post. In his talk, “A Life with Books: From the Last Days of Typewriters to the Digital Era,” Dirda takes us on a journey through nearly five decades of literary journalism.
From his early days navigating typewriters and Linotype machines to the fast-paced world of digital publishing, Dirda reflects on the changing landscape of book reviewing and journalism. Hear firsthand accounts of his interactions with iconic authors like Ray Bradbury, Ursula K. Le Guin and Joyce Carol Oates. Learn about the behind-the-scenes process of producing a weekly book section in the pre-internet era and the challenges and triumphs of the digital age.
Dirda’s engaging storytelling and deep love for books promise to captivate readers, writers, bibliophiles and anyone curious about the world of publishing. The evening will include a Q&A session, giving the audience a chance to ask about literary journalism, book collecting and more.
The event begins with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. During this time, books by Dirda will be available for purchase through the UD Barnes and Noble Bookstore. Dinner will follow at 7 p.m. and the evening will conclude by 9 p.m. with a Q&A session with Dirda.
Learn more about the menu and sponsorship opportunities on the registration page at www.library.udel.edu/annualdinner
Registration closes on Friday, March 21, 2025.
Michael Dirda, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Washington Post, is the author of several essay collections, including Readings, Book by Book and Classics for Pleasure. His book On Conan Doyle earned an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. Dirda is a graduate of Oberlin College and holds a Ph.D. in comparative literature from Cornell University . He is also a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books and The Wall Street Journal and is currently writing a book on British popular fiction of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Dirda lives near Washington, D.C., with his wife Marian Peck Dirda, an art conservator, and their three grown sons.
