Please join the Department of English and the PhD in Creative Writing & Literature Program in welcoming poet Matthew Zapruder to USC for a reading from his most recent book, Why Poetry, followed by a discussion with Prof. David Ulin.  Refreshments and book signing to follow. This event is free and open to the public.

Bio:

MATTHEW ZAPRUDER is the author of four collections of poetry. His poetry, essays, and translations have appeared in publications including The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Tin House, and The Believer. An associate professor in the Saint Mary’s College of California MFA program and English department, he is also editor at large at Wave Books and, from 2016 to 2017, was the editor of the poetry page of the New York Times Magazine. He lives in Oakland, California, with his wife and son.

Praise for Why Poetry, by Matthew Zapruder:

“The pleasure in Zapruder’s book is in going beyond those feelings into an exploration into the hows and whys of poetry. . . . It recaptures that which draws us to poetry as children, while showing us the even deeper pleasures we are capable of as adults.”   — Chicago Tribune

“[Zapruder] writes with clear and inviting prose . . . Why Poetry is part-inspiration, part-guidebook, and part literary memoir. . . . the cogent and lively argument that poetry truly matters, fueled by passion rather than pretense.” — The Millions

“Even for people who already eat poetry three times a day, Why Poetry still offers a refreshingly convivial discussion of poetry’s purpose in a world where it’s too often made to seem like public therapy or pointless frippery.” — Paste Magazine