The O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library will host a book-signing and reading from noon to 1pm on Tuesday, February 28 with author James Silas Rogers, director of the university’s Center for Irish Studies. All are welcome!
Rogers will read from his recently published Irish-American Autobiography: The Divided Hearts of Athletes, Priests, Pilgrims, and More. Refreshments will be served and books will be available for purchase.
Praise for Jim Rogers and his Irish-American Autobiography:
“Any study of Irish Americans telling tales about themselves is bound to encounter some blather, some blarney. James Silas Rogers sorts through it all in this delightful collection of smart essays. From the angels and the saints to Ralph Kramden and Frank McCourt, he understands the voices that define, and embellish, Irish-American life.” – Alice McDermott, novelist and National Book Award winner
“Rogers draws on a richly varied assembly of autobiographies to offer a dynamic portrait of Irish-American identity and experience. Combining expert historical insight with fine-trained textual analysis, this important study challenges us to revisit our preconceptions about this often misunderstood community. A sparkling achievement.” – Liam Harte, University of Manchester, editor of A History of Irish Autobiography and Modern Irish Autobiography: Self, Nation and Society.
Author, James Silas Rogers
Jim Rogers, 63, is the director of St. Thomas’ Center for Irish Studies. For the past 12 years he has edited its quarterly journal of Irish studies, New Hibernia Review, considered a journal of record for Irish studies scholars and the only Irish studies quarterly in North America. He began his professional career in Irish studies with the Irish American Cultural Institute in 1983. He has a bachelor of arts degree in Irish studies from Metropolitan State University and a master of arts in English from St. Thomas. He has served as president of the American Conference for Irish Studies and in 2011 received the Curtin-Conway Award from the Minnesota Irish Fair. Rogers, who has published and lectured widely on Irish-American literature and culture, is the author of a chapbook of poems, Sundogs, and his 2015 book, Northern Orchards: Places Near the Dead.
From the webpage of the distributor of Rogers’ book, “Irish-American Autobiography is the story of a continued search for connection—documenting an “ethnic fade” that never quite happened.”
We look forward to hearing Jim talk about his book and hope you will join us. You’ll find him in the O’Shaughnessy Room, Room 108.
