File 029517
Letter Inviting Guest for Poetry in America Public Television Series (File 029517)
Letter from Harvard English professor Elisa New inviting a guest to participate in the Poetry in America television series, which has featured prominent public figures including Bill Clinton and Joe Biden.
Summary
Elisa New, Director of Poetry in America at Harvard University, writes to invite a recipient to be a featured guest on the Poetry in America television series. The series features distinguished guests discussing poetry and airs on public television, Amazon Prime, and international airlines. The proposed segment would involve reading and interpreting a poem by Pulitzer Prize winner Sharon Olds titled 'The Language of the Brag,' with content to be used in both television and an online course for medical professionals developed in partnership with Harvard Medical School.
HARVARD UNIVERSITYDEPARTMENT OF ENGLISHBarker Center - 12 Quincy Street - Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138ELISA NEWPowell M. Cabot Professor of American LiteratureNovember 25, 2018Dear Ms. Williams:Tel:Fax:I am writing now to invite you to be a featured guest of Poetry in America(poetryinamerica.org). Poetry in America's first season's guests included Bill Clinton,Joe Biden, Cynthia Nixon, Shaquille O'Neal, Yo Yo Ma, Samantha Power, HerbieHancock, John McCain, Nas, Angela Duckworth, Bono, Regina Spektor, Frank Gehry,Stuart Weitzman, E.O. Wilson, and many others. Seasons Two and Three will feature justas distinguished a line up. The series airs on public television stations everywhere,streams via Amazon Prime and other streaming services, and it is now also airing on avariety of domestic and international airlines.The poem we'd read and interpret together is by Pulitzer Prize winner Sharon Olds, andit's called "The Language of the Brag." It's a gutsy poem that compares feats of (male)athletic prowess—and feats of poetic prowess—to childbirth. You are the ideal reader forthis poem. We would use what we filmed together in an upcoming season of Poetry inAmerica. We would also use the content in an online course for medical professionals Iam creating in partnership with Harvard Medical School. Everything we create would benon-commercial and educational.Thank you for considering this request. I would be very honored to work with you.Sincerely,Elisa NewDirector and Host of Poetry in AmericaPowell M. Cabot Professor, HarvardHOUSE OVERSIGHT 029517