Carleton to Host Lecture By Noted Author, Rancher on "Writing the Great Plains"

Distinguished writer and self-described buffalo rancher Dan O’Brien will be speaking about his latest field work in the Great Plains and discussing his upcoming book on April 14 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Carleton College’s Boliou Hall room 104.

His appearance, sponsored by Carleton’s Environmental and Technology Studies (ENTS) department, is free and open to the public.

O’Brien has just completed three years of field work in the Great Plains with photographer Michael Forsberg, culminating in the production of the book “Great Plains: America’s Lingering Wild.” He will read from his essays, which make up the text of the book, discuss the field work and show some of the photographs from the three years he spent in the field. The book is due out from University of Chicago Press in September 2009.

In addition to being a distinguished author of numerous novels, memoirs and a non-fiction book, O’Brien has also been a wildlife biologist and rancher for more than 30 years and is one of the most celebrated falconers in America today. He is a two-time winner of the National Endowment for the Arts individual artist's grant, a two-time winner of the Western Heritage Award and a 2001 recipient of the Bush Creative Arts Fellowship.

O’Brien is visiting Carleton as a Headley Distinguished Visitor-In-Residence in Environmental and Technology Studies, supported by a generous gift from Angus and Margaret Wurtele, friends of Carleton College. The Wurtele’s fund brings distinguished authors on the environment, conservation, natural history and natural landscapes to campus for an extended stay.

For more information regarding the lecture or disability accommodations, please contact Tami Little in the ENTS department at (507) 222-5769.