A Talk with Literary Critic John Lang

On Tuesday, March 24th at 7:00p.m., literary critic John Lang will discuss numerous Appalachian Authors and their writing.

Born and raised in the Midwest, John Lang earned his B.A. in English and philosophy at St. Olaf College and his Ph.D. in British and American literature at Stanford University, the latter degree after a two-year stint in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era. In the fall of 1983 he began teaching at Emory & Henry College, from which he retired in May of 2012. While at Emory & Henry, he coordinated the college's annual Literary Festival and edited The Iron Mountain Review, which publishes the proceedings of each festival. He also coordinated the annual Leidig Lectureship in Poetry. Dr. Lang is the author of three books: Understanding Fred Chappell (2000); Six Poets from the Mountain South (2010), a critical analysis of the poetry of Jim Wayne Miller, Robert Morgan, Fred Chappell, Charles Wright, Jeff Daniel Marion, and Kathryn Stripling Byer; and Understanding Ron Rash (2014). He lives with his wife Esther in Meadowview, Virginia, less than two miles from the Emory & Henry campus.

Dr. Lang will read and speak for approximately 45 minutes, followed by a question and answer period. Refreshments will be served, and the event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and signing by the author. Appalachian Arts Center is located on US Route 19; 2.5 miles south of Claypool Hill.

Sponsors for the author series include Trustpoint Insurance, Deskin Mountain Farm, Richlands Realty, Community Home Care Services, Hurst-Scott Funeral Homes, Ultra Pipeline, Omega Mining, First United Methodist Church, the Historic Dixie Apartments, SWCC, CART and the Richlands Area Chamber of Commerce.