Brunswick Downtown Association and Bowdoin College, with support from the Nathaniel Davis Fund and the Association of Bowdoin Friends, will host "Longfellow Days 2009" from February 1 - 26 in celebration of Bowdoin graduate Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The annual event—now in its fifth year—will boast an international theme in homage to its figurehead's work promoting knowledge of cultures beyond America's.
This year's program, "Longfellow: Citizen of the World," will focus on the lesser-known activities of Longfellow as Bowdoin's first professor of modern languages, a linguist, and a translator of Spanish, Italian, French, German, Icelandic, and Norwegian languages.
Throughout his career, the poet worked to promote knowledge of European literature in the United States and knowledge of American letters in Europe.
Longfellow, a graduate of the Class of 1825, was a poet associated with the romatic movement in American literature. His most well-known works include "The Song of Hiawatha" and "Paul Revere's Ride."
The events of the coming month will examine the influence of Longfellow, a man who studied and made friendships across the globe while still relating to the cultural heritage of Brunswick citizens.
Recognized historians, Bowdoin students, local poets, and members of the town will come together for the dozen events scheduled in the series, the majority of which are free of charge.
A three-part "Poets in the Community Series" will take place at 1 p.m. on February 1, 8, and 15 in the Fireplace Room in the Curtis Memorial Library. Edward Gottfried '11 is set to read alongside Maine poets Ted Bookey and Sheryl Hansen on February 1.
Poets affiliated with Moonpie Press, including Jim Mello, Alice Persons, and Jim Glenn Thatcher will read on February 8, and additional Maine poets Herb Coursen, Joyce Pye, and Anne Tobey Oleson '87 will perform on February 15.
As the only present-day Bowdoin student involved in the poetry readings, Gottfried said, "I feel like I play a pretty symbolic role...tying history with the present of Bowdoin and Brunswick and the school with the arts. I'm honored to be playing that role."
In addition, four Bowdoin students who have recently returned from studying abroad or performing community service in other countries will relate their different cultural encounters on February 9 at 7 p.m. in Daggett Lounge of Thorne Hall.
Kristina Dahmann '10, who spent last semester in Granada, Spain, said, "I did my best—while abroad—to embrace Spain and its culture and live like a Spanish person would. I did my best to talk to as many Spaniards as possible and especially to discuss politics, with all the election coverage that's been going on."
"I also tried to tie in who I am and where I come from whether it's with other university students and people in restaurants, even bartenders," Dahmann added.
Assistant Professor of Economics Stephen Meardon will deliver a lecture called "U.S. Trade in Longfellow's Time and Now" on February 12 at 4 p.m. in Daggett Lounge. Meardon will compare U.S. economic policies of the 1820s to today's, relating them to Longfellow's personal opinions on international economics and foreign affairs.
Professor of German and the Humanities Helen Cafferty will speak alongside Assistant Professor of Romance Languages Katherine Dauge-Roth and Research Associate of German Otto Emersleben in a talk entitled "The Translator's Art" on February 18 at 12:15 p.m. in the Morrell Room of Curtis Memorial Library.
A listing of other events in the Longfellow Days celebration can be found on the Bowdoin Web site at http://www.bowdoin.edu/ news/events/archives/005768.shtml.