Arts and Humanities Commons^™

From The Remains: Reflections On "Station Eleven", Robin A. Bedenbaugh, Arthur Smith, Bruce J. Maclennan, Brooks Clark, Angela Allred, Mark Rasnake, Kevin S. Krahenbuh

Newfound Press eBooks

In fall of 2017, Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel’s novel about the collapse of civilization in the aftermath of a global pandemic, was the focus of two community reading programs in Knoxville, Tennessee. With funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the leadership of the Knox County Public Library, Knoxville hosted a Big Read of Station Eleven. Likewise, the University of Tennessee selected Station Eleven as the Life of the Mind reading for first-year students arriving on campus that fall. From the Remains: Reflections on “Station Eleven” gathers creative responses — both written and artistic …

Toward Justice: Reflections On A Lesson Before Dying, Robin A. Bedenbaugh, Ralph Hutchison, Connor Hess, André Canty, Kaya Grace Porter, Erin Adams, Ginna Mashburn, Jennifer M. Jabson, David B. Byrd

Newfound Press eBooks

In 2016, the citizens of Knoxville, Tennessee, joined in a community reading program called the Big Read. Knoxvillians read Ernest Gaines's book A Lesson Before Dying, and community groups hosted a series of lectures, book discussions, film screenings, and dramatic performances that immersed the community in a five-week conversation on racism.

This book of essays is the University of Tennessee Libraries' contribution to Knoxville's Big Read. The Libraries put out a community-wide call for written responses to A Lesson Before Dying and was richly rewarded with the thoughtful and heartfelt commentaries gathered here.