M. H. Abrams at 100: A Weekend Celebration

Saturday, July 21 – Sunday, July 22, 2012

On July 23, Class of 1916 Professor Emeritus M. H. Abrams will turn 100. One of the most distinguished scholars ever to teach at Cornell, Professor Abrams is the author of The Mirror and the Lamp, named one of the 100 most important works of non-fiction of the 20th century by the Modern Library, and is the founding editor of The Norton Anthology of English Literature. This year, W. W. Norton will publish his new book, The Fourth Dimension of a Poem and Other Essays. Please join us on July 21 and 22 for a weekend of events in honor of this extraordinary scholar and teacher. A preliminary schedule appears below:

Saturday, July 21
A Conversation with M. H. Abrams
3:00 p.m., Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium

Jonathan Culler (Class of 1916 Professor of English, Cornell), Geoffrey Harpham (Director, National Humanities Center), and Donald Lamm (Chairman Emeritus, W. W. Norton) join Professor Abrams as he reflects on his career and on the many developments he has witnessed in literary studies. A reception will follow.

Sunday, July 22
Open Mike for Mike
12:30-2:30 p.m., A. D. White House

Friends, students, colleagues and admirers are invited to pay tribute to Mike Abrams on the eve of his birthday. The recitation of poems is especially encouraged. We ask that talks be limited to five minutes. These talks will be videotaped and presented to Professor Abrams to enjoy at his leisure.

If you are interested in participating in this event, please contact Karen Kudej (kek77@cornell.edu). We want to make sure that everyone is accommodated, and will adjust the starting time of the program if necessary.

The Fourth Dimension of a Poem: A Lecture by M. H. Abrams
3:00 p.m., Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium

Professor Abrams will deliver a lecture on the special qualities of poems that can only be fully experienced when reading them aloud. Sandra Gilbert (Professor Emerita of English, UC - Davis), Lawrence Lipking (Professor Emeritus of English, Northwestern), and Jon Stallworthy (Oxford) will also give short talks on this theme. A reception will follow.