Friday, September 14, 2012


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2012 

PRESS CONTACTS:              
Garland Scott, 202.675.0342
Peter Eramo, Jr., 202.675.0344

POETRY SERIES CONTACT:
Teri Cross Davis, 202.675.0374

O.B. Hardison Poetry Series Commences
with Award-Winning Poets
Eduardo C. Corral and Carl Phillips
at the Folger Shakespeare Library
*****  *****  *****  *****  *****  ***** 
Reception and Book Signing
on Monday, September 17 at 7:30pm

 (WASHINGTON, DC) The 2012/13 season of the O.B. Hardison Poetry Series at the Folger Shakespeare Library will begin on Monday, September 17 at 7:30pm with the powerful poems of Eduardo C. Corral, the first Latino to win the Yale Younger Prize. Mr. Corral will read along with Yale Younger Series judge and poet Carl Phillips. The O.B. Harrison Poetry Series – which is presenting thirteen exceptional poets in this, its 44th season – showcases the latest talents in contemporary poetry alongside more established poets. Both Phillips and Corral will be reading from their accomplished works, with a reception and book-signing to follow. Tickets for this event are $15 and can be purchased at the Folger Box Office at 202.544.7077 or by visiting www.folger.edu/poetry.

Eduardo C. Corral’s poems have appeared in Beloit Poetry Journal, New England Review, Ploughshares, and Poetry. In addition to garnering the Yale Younger Prize, he has received a Discovery/The Nation Award and the 2011 Whiting Writers Award. Corral stated, "There’s no other way to say it – being part of the O.B. Hardison Poetry Series is a dream come true. The Series is one of the best in the country, and it will afford me the pleasure of reading with Carl Phillips, another dream come true."

Carl Phillips is the award-winning author of twelve books of poetry, including Double Shadow, which was a finalist for the 2011 National Book Award for poetry and won the 2011 Los Angeles Times Book Prize. In April 2010, Mr. Phillips was named as the new judge of the Yale Series of Younger Poets.
“Each year, it’s delight to select poets for the renowned O.B. Hardison poetry series,” said Teri Cross Davis, Poetry and Lectures Coordinator at Folger. “This year is no different and the season couldn’t get off to a better start than with the explosive and considerable talents of Eduardo C. Corral and Carl Phillips.”

The evening, co-sponsored by Letras Latinas, includes a moderated conversation to enlighten, engage, and entertain the audience. A complimentary wine reception with book-signing follows each reading, which provides audience members an opportunity to speak with the poets as they sign copies of their latest works.

About The O.B. Hardison Poetry Series
The O.B. Hardison Poetry Series, one of the nation’s most established poetry reading programs, is noted for featuring an extensive range of outstanding poets. The series was founded in 1970 when the late O.B. Hardison, Jr., a renowned teacher, scholar, and poet, became director of the Folger Shakespeare Library and established many outreach programs to make the resources of the extraordinary research library available to the Washington community. Major funding for the O.B. Hardison Poetry Series is provided by the Lannan Foundation, which sponsors readings at the Folger and at Georgetown University, as well as a collaborative undergraduate learning program with the Lannan Fellows.

About The Yale Series of Younger Poets
The Yale Series of Younger Poets, of which Phillips is now a judge, champions the most promising new American poets. Awarded since 1919, past winners include Muriel Rukeyser, Adrienne Rich, William Meredith, W.S. Merwin, John Ashbery, John Hollander, James Tate, and Carolyn Forché. In April 2010, Carl Phillips was named as the new judge of the Yale Series of Younger Poets, replacing Louise Glück. Phillips has chosen Eduardo C. Corral’s Slow Lightning as the 2011 competition winner. 

About Letras Latinas
Letras Latinas, the literary program of the Institute for Latino Studies, seeks to enhance the visibility, appreciation, and study of Latino literature both on and off the campus of the University of Notre Dame. We are particularly interested in projects that identify and support emerging voices. Letras Latinas actively seeks collaboration with individuals and organizations in order to more effectively carry out its mission

Ticket Information

An eight-reading season subscription is now on sale for $80. Individual tickets are $15. Subscriptions and individual tickets can be purchased at www.folger.edu/poetry or by calling the Folger Box Office at 202.544.7077. Unless otherwise noted, all readings take place at 7:30pm at the Folger Shakespeare Library.

FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY
201 East Capitol Street, SE | Washington, DC  20003 
Metro:  Capitol South (orange/blue lines) or Union Station (red line)
Open Monday through Saturday, 10am–5pm. Closed Sundays and federal holidays.

Tickets & Information:  Folger Box Office at 202.544.7077 or www.folger.edu/poetry

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