Please join us for a discussion of “Leo Africanus” by Amin Maalouf to be held in the Program Room of the Sturgis Public Library on Thursday, March 23, at 7:00pm. The author is a Lebanese writer, once editor in chief of Jeune Afrique. The discussion leader is SD Humanities Council scholar Candy Hamilton.
From the book’s first page: “My wrists have experienced in turn the caresses of silk, the abuses of wool, the gold of princes and the chains of slaves. My fingers have parted a thousand veils, my lips have made a thousand virgins blush, and my eyes have seen cities die and empires perish.”
From Library Journal: Written in the form of a memoir, this historical novel explores the meeting of two worlds, Islam and Christendom, through the adventures of real-life Arab traveler and geographer Hassan al-Wazzan. Born in Spain just as the Moors were expelled in 1492, Hassan grows up in North Africa and as a young man crosses the Sahara to Timbuctu, eventually reaching Cairo on the eve of its conquest by the Ottomans. In the last of his sojourns Hassan arrives in the Rome of Pope Leo X, who christens him Leo Africanus. Chronicling the loves and adventures of his wandering protagonist, the author deftly weaves into Hassan’s account a score of the traveler’s more famous contemporaries, including Columbus, the Medicis, Martin Luther, and Suleiman the Magnificent. Enjoyable reading for general readers.
Our moderator: With a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University in English (journalism and sociology minors) and her master’s degree from USD in English with a creative writing thesis, Candy Hamilton is a retired journalist and teacher who lived on the Pine Ridge Reservation for most of her adult life. She has worked in addiction prevention and treatment and continues to work as an artist in schools and communities in addition to her work as a SD Humanities scholar. Her writing has been published in a number of literary magazines and won her national awards. She lives in Rapid City with three rescued dogs, a cat, and a ridiculous number of books.
This program is made possible with a grant from the South Dakota Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Sturgis Area Arts Council and the Sturgis Public Library are co-sponsors. The books are available at the library now for you to borrow. Refreshments will be served.
