Smith Creative Writers Reading Series

The Smith Creative Writers Reading Series at Penn State Behrend continues Thursday, March 20, with a reading by the author Allegra Hyde, whose story collection “The Last Catastrophe” was a New York Times Editors’ Choice selection.

The reading, which begins at 6 p.m. in the lobby of Metzgar Center, is free and open to the public.

Hyde’s first novel, “Eleutheria,” was named a “Best Book of 2022” by the New Yorker. The book was shortlisted for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Prize and was a finalist for the Ohioana Book Award.

Hyde’s first story collection, “Of this New World,” won the John Simmons Short Fiction Award. She also has received four Pushcart Prizes and an O. Henry Prize.

Hyde’s writing has appeared in the New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, American Short Fiction, BOMB and Best American Travel Writing. She teaches creative writing at Smith College.

The Smith Creative Writers Reading Series is produced by Penn State Behrend’s creative writing program, which leads to a bachelor’s of fine arts degree. The program is the only one of its kind at Penn State.

To learn more about the series, visit the Reading Series webpage, or call 814-898-6108.