WHO’S WHO IN EUROPEAN WRITING?

FOUR BEST-SELLING AUTHORS TO SPEAK AS PART OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK, NOVEMBER 13-17

Madison, Wisconsin — In a unique program, four of Europe’s most prominent writers will appear together Wednesday, November 15 to discuss their work and new trends in contemporary European literature. The talk, entitled "New Voices from the New Europe: An Evening of Literature, Readings and Dialogue with European Authors," begins at 7 p.m. at the Pyle Center, 702 Langdon Street. A book signing will follow the event.

The talk is being sponsored by the European Studies Alliance, the International Institute and the Departments of German; French and Italian; and Scandinavian Studies, in partnership with the European Union Cultural Committee in Chicago. The event is one of several activities planned by the International Institute as part of International Education Week, November 13-17, declared by U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley. This is the first time the U.S. government has designated such a week.

"We are particularly excited to have four writers from different

cultures and countries all within Europe," says Crister Garrett,

Executive Director of the UW-Madison European Studies Alliance. "They remind us that in a time of real and ongoing European unification, a diversity of literary voices exists and thrives," Garrett says. The European Studies Alliance is a coalition of three area studies program at the UW-Madison including the European Union Center, the Center for German and European Studies, and the Center for European Studies.

The four writers featured are Ib Michael of Denmark, Sandra Petrignani of Italy, Alissa Walser of Germany, and Martin Winckler of France. During their visit to Madison the authors will meet with faculty, staff and students.

Ib Michael, born in 1945, is the author of several works including "The Tiger’s Tale" (1981), ""Kilroy, Kilroy" (1989), "The Vanilla Girl," (1991), "The Midnight Soldier" (1993), "Letter to the Moon" (1995), and "Prince" (1997). His fantastical novels and poems have been described as merging space and time, integrating the global and the local, and presenting the reader with an expanded version of reality. He is the recipient of many grants and awards, including the Booksellers Club Golden Laurel, the Danish Author Association Peace Prize, and the Danish Academy Prize.

Sandra Petrignani, born in 1952, has written several novels, short stories and collections of essays, including "The Toy Catalogue" (1990), and "Come Fratello e Sorella" (1998).

French novelist Martin Winckler, who was born in Algiers in 1955, is a medical doctor by training. Winckler, a pseudonym (Winckler’s real name is Marc Zaffran), gave up his medical career to become a full-time writer in 1994 after the publication of his first book "La Vacation." His "The Disease of Sachs," about a country doctor, has been a best seller in France since its release in 1998, and won the Prix du Livre Inter. Seven Stories Press will issue the work this October in the U.S.

France’s Le Monde newspaper said of the work: "With this social autofiction Martin Winckler makes the patients we all are feel the need for, and perhaps have nostalgia for, the old time doctor who listens with empathy, heals your sufferings and perhaps simply recognizes your pain." A movie version of the book, directed by Michel Deville, won first prize at this year’s Chicago Film Festival and will be released in the U.S. next winter.

Alissa Walser, born in 1961 and the daughter of the well-known German novelist Martin Walser, is considered to be one of Germany’s young literary stars. Walser is the award-winning author of two books of short stories, including "This Is Not My Whole Story" (1994) and "The Smaller Half of the World" (2000). According to Marc Silberman, chairman of the Department of German, Walser "is counted as a strong voice among a new generation of German writers who have revived the art of short stories in the ‘90’s." Silberman says American readers may be surprised to find her writing familiar. Walser, who once studied art in New York City, has translated into German some of the works of Edward Albee, Joyce Carol Oates and Sylvia Plath, and been influenced by their literary styles. "She honed her skills on the ruthless conflicts and hard-nosed diction of everyday speech that we find in their texts," Silberman says.

The writers are available for limited press/media interviews. Some of their writings will be available at University BookStore. Excerpts also will be posted on the European Union’s web page. Or check with local bookstores and libraries.

For more information, contact Crister Garrett at (608) 265-4778 or E-mail at cgarrett@facstaff.wisc.edu or Ronnie Hess rlhess@facstaff.wisc.edu