Tuesday, October 13, 2009
PRINCESS ANNE, MD-The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is one of nine stops in the state for The Maryland Humanities Council second annual One Maryland One Book tour, Maryland s only statewide community reading program. James McBride’s novel, “Song Yet Sung,” set on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, was chosen as the 2009 title. McBride visits the university on Wednesday, October 28, at 2:30 p.m. in the Student Services Center Theater.
McBride, an award-winning author, composer, and screenwriter, is also the author of the New York Times best-selling memoir, “The Color of Water,” and the novel, “Miracle at St. Anna,” which was recently made into a film directed by Spike Lee.
“”Song Yet Sung’ by James McBride features the Eastern Shore of Maryland in the 1850’s for its backdrop. Centering around the Dreamer, an escaped slave with the power to see the future, it is a spellbinding tale of slavery, slave hunters, the Underground Railroad and the mysterious code that slaves used to pass information. It is based soundly on historical events and figures like ruthless slave trader Patty Cannon, and is of great local interest,” said Jennifer Neumyer, special collections and outreach librarian, Frederick Douglass Library, UMES.
“I am delighted. It has to be one of the proudest moments of my career,” said McBride on hearing of the selection of Song Yet Sung as Maryland’s book for 2009. “The fact that the book was chosen by native Marylanders means all that much more. Like many Americans, I had no idea that the Eastern Shore of Maryland was the gateway to freedom for so many; nor did I realize the depth and complexity of relationships that existed between blacks and whites at that time, all of which were played out in Maryland.”
In addition to the tour, every Maryland jurisdiction will participate in One Maryland One Book by holding local programs during the months of September and October at libraries, colleges and universities, high schools, museums and bookstores. There will be over 100 events around the state, including book discussions, living history performances, author appearances and writing workshops. Updated information will be posted on the One Maryland One Book calendar at www.onemarylandonebook.org.
One Maryland One Book is designed to bring together diverse people in communities across the state through the shared experience of reading the same book and participating in book-centered discussions and other related programming.
The author’s visit to UMES is sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Council, UMES’ Frederick Douglass Library and the Princess Anne Public Library. For more information on the One Maryland One Book author visit at UMES, call 410-651-7696. The event is free and open to the community.
# # #
Gail Stephens, assistant director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-651-7580, gcstephens@umes.edu.
Suzanne Waters Street, director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-621-2355, sstreet@umes.edu.
