UCLA’s 8th Annual Marathon Reading Showcases Dos Passos’ Trilogy
Date: April 18, 2003 Contact: Meg Sullivan ( megs@college.ucla.edu ) Phone: 310-825-1046
WHAT:
UCLA's Eighth Annual Marathon Reading, a 24-hour, nonstop fundraiser for student scholarships and fellowships, will celebrate John Dos Passos' three‑volume, epic masterpiece, "USA."
WHO:
Between 150 and 250 UCLA students, actors, writers, faculty and staff will read aloud from Dos Passos' novel in 5- to 10-minute segments that continue through the night. The public is invited to observe and participate in the action.
WHEN:
Noon, Thursday, May 8, to 4 p.m., Friday, May 9.
WHERE:
The Rolfe Hall Sculpture Courtyard, located adjacent to the home of UCLA's Department of English in Rolfe Hall (north of Royce Hall).
BACKGROUND:
Hailed by Time magazine as "one of the most ambitious projects that an American novelist has ever undertaken," the 1,288-page, trailblazing trilogy that was completed in 1936 depicts the growth of American materialism from the 1900s to the Great Depression. By crosscutting between fragments of popular songs, news headlines, stream-of-consciousness monologues and vignettes from the lives of a wealth of unrelated characters, Dos Passos has been credited with "inventing the entire grammar of communication of the late 20th century." "USA" — described by Norman Mailer as "the single greatest novel any of us have written, yes, in this country in the last one hundred years" — ranks No. 23 on the Modern Library's list of Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century.
Founded, organized and run by graduate students in English, the UCLA Marathon Reading raises money for student fellowships and scholarships and helps pay for student participation in scholarly conferences. For additional information, please refer to the event Web site at www.english.ucla.edu/news/annual_marathon_reading.html.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Meg Sullivan, megs@college.ucla.edu, (310) 825-1046.
PARKING:
Parking is available in Lot 5 at Royce Drive and Sunset Boulevard. Permit must be picked up at kiosk on Westwood Plaza. The nearest 24-hour entrance to campus is at Wyton Drive and Hilgard Avenue. Call Meg Sullivan for reservations.
