Writer Will Self to Give Reading at A&M-Commerce

Prolific British author and journalist Will Self will give a reading of his work in room 203 of the Hall of Languages on Monday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. A book signing will precede the reading at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

“Will Self's appearance here marks his first visit to Texas, and it provides students, staff and faculty, as well as others in this area, with the opportunity to hear an acclaimed writer and public intellectual read from his work,” said Dr. Hunter Hayes, associate professor and head of the Department of Literature and Languages.

Self is known for his satirical and sometimes fantastical writing on topics such as the human condition, mental illness and urban life. His body of work includes nine novels, five collections of shorter fiction, three novellas, five collections of non-fiction and numerous shorter pieces. Self's 2012 novel “Umbrella” was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.

While Self's work elicits associations with British writers Iain Sinclair and Peter Ackroyd through the use of psychogeography to study urban regions and other environments, Self has emerged as unique.

“His fiction and journalism interrogate and critique the contemporary world, including its many pathologies, through a blend of satire, parody, comedy, surrealism, and other narrative techniques that compel readers to reimagine their surroundings,” Hayes said. “He is a highly distinct writer with a style that runs up and down the scales of the English language.”