Literary critic to speak at College of Saint Benedict Sept. 26

Terry Eagleton, one of Britain's most influential living literary critics, speaks on Catholicism and Marxism at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26 at the Gorecki Family Theater, Benedicta Arts Center of the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph.

The event, which is sponsored by the Literary Arts Institute (LAI) of the College of Saint Benedict, is free and open to the public.

As author to approximately 50 books, Eagleton is the Distinguished Professor of English Literature at the University of Lancaster, England, a position he has held since 2008. Currently, he is a fellow of the British Academy, and has previously served as a Fellow of four Oxford and Cambridge colleges. In addition, Eagleton has held the John Edward Taylor Professor of English Literature at the University of Manchester (2001-08), and the Thomas Warton Chair of English Literature at the University of Oxford (1992-2001). He has authored studies of literary, cultural and political criticism and written plays for both stage and television in Britain and Ireland.

Eagleton is the author of the widely acclaimed book Literary Theory (1983), which remains an academic best-seller to this day. Much of his writing takes insight on the Marxist take on literary theory, which is evident in his book The Ideology of the Aesthetic (1990). Eagleton's Irish heritage also plays a large role in his connection with Catholicism, and that becomes apparent in much of his work, including his best-selling memoir, The Gatekeeper (2001). Eagleton is also widely credited for his screenplay for Derek Jarman's film Wittgenstein, which was released in 1993.

The LAI of the College of Saint Benedict is a unique organization, founded in 1997, to foster creative writing, publishing and interaction between students and writers. The LAI brings nationally recognized authors to the college (Writers Writing), promotes literary events, holds conferences (Inside Books), supports publications (S. Mariella Gable Prize), and encourages the artistry of fine letterpress (Book Arts Studio). With its local and national partners, such as Graywolf Press, the LAI is able to bring writers and their work together with readers on campus, in Minnesota, and beyond.