Enjoy an onstage conversation with literary sensation Zadie Smith
Known for her work exploring politics, culture, race, class, and identity, New York Times bestselling author Zadie Smith visits the Moss Arts Center for an onstage conversation on March 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Moderated by Lucinda Roy, Alumni Distinguished Professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of English, the event will be held in the center’s Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall.
Born to an English father and a Jamaican mother in North London, Smith’s first novel, “White Teeth,” provided a vibrant portrait of contemporary multicultural London, told through the stories of three ethnically diverse families. Published in 2000, the book received a number of awards, including the Guardian First Book Award, the Whitbread First Novel Award, the Commonwealth Writers Prize, and two awards from the Ethnic Multicultural Media Academy. “White Teeth” has been translated into over 20 languages and was adapted for television in 2002 and the stage in November 2018.
Since her debut novel, Smith has established herself not just as a fiction writer, but also a singular essayist. She is the author of the novels “Swing Time,” “The Autograph Man,” “On Beauty,” and “NW,” and has published two collections of essays, “Changing My Mind: Occasional Essay” and her latest work, “Feel Free,” which was released last year and offers a survey of important recent events in culture and politics, as well as Smith’s own life.
“On Beauty” won the 2006 Orange Prize for Fiction, while “NW” was named as one of the New York Times “10 Best Books of 2012.” In 2017, Smith was elected a foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and was the recipient of the 2017 City College of New York’s Langston Hughes Medal. She is currently a tenured professor of creative writing at New York University and regularly contributes to “The New Yorker” and the “New York Review of Books.”
This event is presented in partnership with the Department of English Visiting Writers Series and the Women’s Center at Virginia Tech in celebration of its 25th anniversary.
Immediately following her talk, engage with Smith at an informal book signing in the Moss Arts Center Grand Lobby. Smith’s books will be available for purchase.
During her visit to Blacksburg, Smith will participate in an informal discussion with Virginia Tech faculty and master of fine arts students in creative writing.
Tickets
Tickets are $25 for general admission and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Moss Arts Center's box office, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300 during box office hours.
While Virginia Tech students can always attend any Moss Arts Center performance for only $10, the center also offers free last minute rush tickets for students who sign up for text notifications. To receive these notifications, text “arts” to 31996. Availability of rush tickets varies by performance and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last in the box office. Virginia Tech ID will be required for admission.
Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street. Virginia Tech faculty and staff possessing a valid Virginia Tech parking permit can enter and exit the garage free of charge. Limited street parking is also available. Parking on Alumni Mall is free on weekdays after 5 p.m. and on weekends.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Kacy McAllister at 540-231-5300 or email kmcallis@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to an event.
