Peter Behrens, writer-in-residence, will discuss immigration, Irishness and the writing of historical novels in a seminar on Thursday 20 December.
About the Seminar
Peter Behrens will do a short seminar at 11.30. He will be showing slides, reading some pieces from his novels THE LAW OF DREAMS and THE O’BRIENS, and talking about his family’s history and how he uses history in his fiction. He will talk about the history of Irish immigration in the US and Canada; about his theory that the Irish were the first “immigrants” in North America, who established a “template” that has been applied to each subsequent immigration group for the past 170 years. This usually devolves into a discussion–sometimes an argument–about immigration, which seems to be a live-wire topic everywhere in the West. Here is a link to his op-ed on the subject, from the New York Times, St Patrick’s Day, 2012.
About the Speaker
Peter Behrens is writer-in-residence at NIAS, and author of The Law of Dreams and The O’Briens.
About NIAS Seminars
NIAS Seminars are organised by the Rector of the Institute. They are meant to appeal to interested parties from a wide range of backgrounds and are aimed to encourage closer contact within the Dutch academic world.
NIAS Seminars take place in the Lecture Room (NIAS, Meijboomlaan 1, Wassenaar, telephone 070-512 27 00). This Seminar starts at 11.30 hours and ends at 12.30. Everyone is welcome to attend the seminar and join the discussion. However, since changes in the programme may occur, please let us know if you wish to attend. For further information, contact Communication.