Author Andrea Barrett, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and recipient of the National Book Award, came to Drexel University for a series of lectures on November 14th and 15th, 2007. This year Barrett is the focus of the College of Arts & Sciences' Freshman Reading Program Seminar and her novel Servants of the Map is required reading for all freshman students.

The major event of Barrett's visit was a reading presentation sponsored by The Department of English and Philosophy, which took place on November 14th at 1pm in the Main Auditorium. Hundreds of students and faculty attended the lecture that consisted of a short reading by Barrett followed by a question and answer session.

Barrett was introduced by Dr. Fred Siegel, the Associate Director of the Freshman Writing Program, and following his kind words, Barrett received a raucous reception. She acknowledged the welcoming crowd and conceded that it was the first time she had been welcomed like a "football player." After her opening pleasantries, Barrett read from her novel The Air We Breathe, set in the Adirondacks during the mid-1910s, and which follows various characters in a public sanatorium and private cottages for TB patients. Barrett described the book and connected it to her style of writing about science, which is at the center of many of her works. Her interest in science stems from her youth and the time she spent as an undergraduate biology major at Union College. "I wanted to become Darwin in a skirt," she said.

Following the reading, the floor was opened for a question and answer session. As the majority of the audience consisted of freshman, who were required to read Barrett's Servants of the Map, many questions focused on this work. In addition to inquiries directly related to the text, the majority of questions were in regards to Barrett's methods and inspiration for her writing. She emphasized the personal nature of her writing style and encouraged everyone to find a style that works for them, stating that "any strategy that makes you write is a good strategy." She felt that her own writing style was very chaotic. "I just flail around and then every once in a while I'll write what sounds like a true statement." Similarly, when asked about the creation of her characters, she stated, "Very hazily characters start to appear, and, even more hazily, their natures start to emerge."

Upon conclusion of the hour-long program, a reception was held in the Main Building lobby. During this time, Barrett was available to sign books and to answer further questions.

--Tim McGovern

At 10 past one, Dr. Fred Siegel stepped up to the podium in the Main Auditorium. Loud and enthusiastic, Siegel introduced Andrea Barrett on behalf of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of English and Philosophy.

Upon taking Siegel's place on-stage, Barrett noted that it felt like Drexel was welcoming a football star, not the author chosen for the freshman reading program in 2007.

Barrett, winner of the National Book Award for Ship Fever in 1996 and Pulitzer Prize Nominee for Servants of the Map in 2001, began by speaking about several of her short stories and novels, and how they tie together. After explaining that The Air We Breathe was set in the same place as "The Cure" (the last story in Servants of the Map), she proceeded to read a few pages of that novel's opening chapter.

After reading for 10 minutes or so, Barrett switched her focus to her writing style, and topics that she covers. Barrett considers writing similar to the work of scientists, whom she closely associates with, having attended Union College for biology. "I wanted to be like Darwin in a skirt," she told her audience, laughing.

Siegel then opened the floor to questions, of which there were many. Asked why the story "Two Rivers" began at the ending, Barrett replied, "Something in my imagination comes at things slant-wise." She explained that she wants to put a clear image into her readers' minds before delving into the actual story, in part because "you get to be pushy about where your reader goes."

Another student wanted to know how she goes about creating characters. "Stories often start for me," said Barrett, "not with a character, but with an image… very hazily, characters will start to emerge."

When her strategies for writing fiction were asked about, Barrett said that she finds the writing process to be extremely variable. "Any strategy that causes you to write is a good strategy." Expanding upon her personal methods, she continued, "I am a very chaotic writer. I just start writing material. I throw out a lot of stuff and waste a lot of paper." Something within her "crummy, flailing writings" will catch her attention eventually, and then she enhances it. She also mentioned that she chooses professions for her characters that she is interested in "because I'll have to go learn about them."

Although many in attendance still had questions, Siegel was forced to bring the event to a close so that students could get to their classes on time. Barrett thanked everyone for listening to her, and Siegel invited everyone into the lobby for refreshments.

--Mike Benesch