Final at UMW under my supervision, that is. It may happen again at my next post, and for all I know the Miltonist who succeeds me at the University of Mary Washington may be just ambitious, idealistic, and nutty enough to want to keep the tradition going. Time will tell. (Yes, I will blog about my new job very soon.)
The readathon will be at Alvey House from Friday, July 11 to Saturday, July 12. We’ll begin between 7 and 7:30 p.m. and read until we’re done. If the past is a guide, the event will conclude about 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. If you’d like to attend, just come when you can and leave when you want. Bring a copy of Paradise Lost with you if you have one. If you don’t, we’ll have some extras on hand. Readers of all ages and abilities are welcome. I extend a particularly warm welcome to alumni of the University or the reading or both.
No reservations are necessary for the reading. If you’d like to join us for the traditional Parthenon Restaurant supper before hand, please do let me know by Thursday, July 10 at the latest.
I’ve given an account of the event and its history earlier on this blog. It’s a simple and very moving event. This year, it’s also a loving farewell to my fourteen years at Mary Washington.
I hope you can join us.
1104 College Avenue, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
I want to RSVP for the Parthenon pre-game show now, and sign myself up through Book 2. Wouldn’t miss your finale for all the tea in China, or even all the plastic toys waiting to be shipped to the US.
@Jim You’re in. Glad to hear you can join us!
Have a grand time, Gardner et al. Wish I could be there – think of me during the “solitary flight” passage.
@Bryan I wish you could be here, too. What a grand evening that would be! We’ll be sitting in the room where you and Brian and I had our epic conversation a little over three years ago. (Those have been three very full years, have they not? Never a dull moment.)
We will indeed savor a Bryan moment during that solitary flight. Pennons unfurled.
is it sacrilegious to record this?
i can imagine it is a have to be there type event but thought it might be nice to keep a memento if it is the last one.
j
I wish I could come! I was sad to have missed this last year, and wish I could come over this year, but alas, I cannot. I do hope the all-niter will continue both at Mary Wash and over in Texas. I wonder if anyone in the ‘noke would be interested in something like this… Just the idea of reading something communally, in one sitting no less, really appeals to me. I wonder if the experience would be similar with another text.
I’m rooting for one in TX, so hope you carry on the tradition, even if it’s in a different geographical location. Hey, maybe we should find a way to integrate SL into it and then location won’t really matter will it? 🙂
I tried without luck to contact you, so I’ll just be there in spirit this evening!
Sorry I was in Corolla when your announcement and reading took place. I’m sure it was a wonderful time.
I may have to journey to Texas someday to join in your next reading.