Award-winning novelist and Princeton Professor Toni Morrison will read from her newest novel, "A Mercy," at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required, with ticketing beginning Monday, Oct. 6.
The reading is a preview of the latest work by Morrison, a Nobel laureate and Princeton's Robert F. Goheen Professor of the Humanities Emeritus, which will reach bookstores in November. The book is set in the early days of America, and shows the unforeseen consequences of acts of mercy.
Morrison is the author of eight previous novels: "The Bluest Eye," "Sula," "Song of Solomon," "Tar Baby," "Beloved," "Jazz," "Paradise" and "Love." In addition to receiving the Nobel Prize in literature in 1993, she won the National Humanities Medal in 2000.
Morrison also has created collaborative works with artists in other disciplines, including choreographer Bill T. Jones, pianist André Previn, drummer Max Roach, opera singer Jessye Norman and theater director Peter Sellars. Her collaborative work inspired her to establish the Princeton Atelier, an academic program in which professional artists from various fields develop new work in the company of students. She has taught at Princeton since 1989.
The reading is co-sponsored by the University's Council of the Humanities and the Center for African American Studies.
Holders of Princeton University ID cards may pick up complimentary tickets from noon to 6 p.m. at the Frist ticket office, beginning Monday, Oct. 6. Members of the general public may pick up tickets at the Richardson Auditorium ticket office from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, and thereafter at Frist, with a limit of two tickets per person. There will be open admission at 5:20 p.m. for any remaining seats on the day of the event.
Members of the news media interested in obtaining media seating must RSVP no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, by e-mailing ccliatt@princeton.edu. The event is open to print media.
Two media images are available upon request: a photo of Morrison (Credit: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders) and an image of the book cover for "A Mercy." E-mail ccliatt@princeton.edu to request images.
Flash photography will not be permitted inside the venue, and photographs will be restricted to before and after the reading.
