Joseph Plut to speak at library

Talk about it

Author Joseph Plut will give a presentation in Alexandria on Thursday, March 24 in conjunction with the Alexandria Area Community Read.

Plut, a colleague and friend of Minnesota author Jon Hassler, wrote the book Conversations with Jon Hassler.

He will discuss the writings of Hassler and his long-time friendship with the author during a public presentation at the Douglas County Library at 7 p.m.

Plut received a bachelor of arts degree in English from St. John’s University and a master of arts degree in English and comparative literature from Columbia University.

He met Jon Hassler in 1968 when both were in the English Department at Brainerd Community College (now Central Lakes College). Plut taught English and humanities there for 36 years.

In the years preceding Hassler’s death, Plut interviewed him extensively about the origins, publication, history and themes associated with each of his nine popular novels.

Plut used postcards, journal entries, published reviews and experiences the two shared while teaching and traveling together to stir Hassler to reminisce about his career as a novelist.

The result is Conversations with Jon Hassler, a series of casual conversations offering food for thought to anyone interested in how a novelist handles his material.

For more information on the presentation, contact the Douglas County Library at (320) 762-3014.

Tags: variety, events, plut, hassler, library