Award-Winning Author Margaret Atwood to Speak at Adelphi University

Adelphi University is pleased to host acclaimed author Margaret Atwood, who will deliver the Rita Diamandopoulos Lecture in Literature on Monday, March 28, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. in the Ruth S. Harley University Center’s Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY. The event is free and open to the public.

Ms. Atwood, from Toronto, has written over 40 novels, which have been translated into over 30 languages. Her works include The Blind Assassin, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Oryx and Crake, among others. She has received several major awards, including the Giller Prize and the Governor General’s Award (Canada), the Booker Prize (UK), the Dashiell Hammett Award (United States), and the Prince of Asturias Award (Spain).

In addition to novels, Ms. Atwood also writes short stories, poetry, and essays. Though her subject matter varies from romance to dystopian fiction, she develops a unifying sensibility throughout her body of works through her carefully crafted language. She speaks on a wide range of issues, including her own work, modern literature, feminism, social activism, the creative process, and the artist’s role in society. Her unique, witty observations and iconic stage presence have caused her to become a frequently sought public speaker.

The Rita Diamandopoulos Lecture in Literature perpetuates Rita Diamandopoulos’ idea that the core of life lays in the intelligent pursuit of happiness, derived from daily giving, seeking, and helping. A unique mother and authentic teacher, she was always strong and confident about her actions. This annual lecture is a memorial to Mrs. Diamandopoulos’ values, her views on life, and her accomplishments. For more information about this and other upcoming events, please visit adelphi.edu.