“Why Ancient Literature Matters: Reading Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey Today” Presented by Professor Joseph Luzzi, Via Live Webinar

What makes the magnificent epic poems of the ancient Greek poet Homer still relevant to our contemporary world? New Canaan Library welcomes author, speaker and professor Joseph Luzzi, PhD, Yale, who will present an illuminating talk on the relevance of ancient literature today. Professor Luzzi will speak via live webinar on Tuesday, November 1 at 7 PM EST. Please register online at newcanaanlibrary.org for Zoom link.
This program supports and celebrates the Library’s 15th annual Literary Luncheon, this year featuring author Madeline Miller, speaking about her New York Times #1 bestseller, Circe.
How can Homer’s masterpieces the Iliad and Odyssey help us make sense of some of the greatest cultural, political, and social problems we face? Professor Luzzi will explore the magnificent world of Homeric epic in relation to such contemporary issues as the effects of endless war, the nature of honor and the costs of ambition, the desire for “immortality” in both a secular and spiritual sense, and the idea of “home” itself as not only a physical space but also as a metaphor and concept that informs our deepest sense of identity.

Joseph Luzzi received his PhD from Yale University and is Professor of Comparative Literature and Faculty Member in Italian Studies at Bard College. His writing has appeared in such publications at the New York Times, and he is the author of five books, including Botticelli’s Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance; My Two Italies, a New York Times Editors’ Choice selection; and In a Dark Wood: What Dante Taught Me About Grief, Healing, and the Mysteries of Love, a Vanity Fair “Must-Read” selection that has been translated into multiple languages. His many awards include a Yale College Teaching Prize, Dante Society of America Essay Prize, and Wallace Fellowship at Villa I Tatti, Harvard’s Center for Italian Renaissance Studies. He is the founder of the Virtual Book Club, learn more at www.JosephLuzzi.com.