Thursday, March 20, 2008

May 22 2008 - John Updike to Deliver 2008 Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities - Washington, DC

John Updike, Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, short story writer, poet, internationally-known author and critic, will deliver the 2008 Jefferson Lecture, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced today. The annual NEH-sponsored Jefferson Lecture is the most prestigious honor the federal government bestows for distinguished intellectual achievement in the humanities.

Updike will present the 37th annual Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities on Thursday, May 22nd, at 7:30 pm at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. In "The Clarity of Things," Updike will examine the connection between America's art and its ideas by posing the question, "What is American about American art?" Updike's lecture will complement the Endowment's new Picturing America initiative (http://picturingamerica.neh.gov/), which brings great American art to schools and public libraries to help citizens learn about the people, events, and ideas that have shaped our nation's history.

Tickets to the lecture are free of charge and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Ticket requests must be submitted by May 12th via the online form at http://www.neh.gov/. All other inquiries, as well as ticket requests for persons lacking online access, may be directed to (202) 606-8446. The NEH gratefully acknowledges Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Smith for major support for this year's Jefferson Lecture.

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