WALKING THROUGH THE DARK

Smith College presents a conversation about class and history with poet Diane Gilliam Fisher, author of Kettle Bottom. Joining her will be Rick Fantasia, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Kahn Liberal Arts Institute; Jim Hicks, Director, Smith College American Studies Diploma Program; and Jennifer Walters, Dean of Religious Life.

KETTLE BOTTOM: SUMMER READING 2005

The 2005 summer reading selection for entering students was Kettle Bottom, a book of poems by Diane Gilliam Fisher. Through the voices of immigrant miners and their families, Fisher re-imagines the West Virginia coal mine wars of 1920–1921. An accompanying exhibit of Appalachian Coal strike pamphets from the Jessie O'Connor papers was presented in Neilson Library in fall 2005.

Copies of Kettle Bottom are available in Neilson Library, Smith College - PS 3556 .I8132 K47 2004 Table of Contents for Kettle Bottom. Read more about the book from Perugia Press, publisher of Kettle Bottom. Nominated for Appalachian Writers Association Book of the Year Award for Poetry - see other nominated books. Kettle Bottom was named an American Booksellers Association Book Sense Top Ten Poetry Pick for 2005.

Author Interview Read more about Diane Gilliam Fisher from the Poetry Center at Smith College. An interview with Fisher appeared in the Oct. 20, 2004 issue of the Daily Hampshire Gazette. Copies of the article are available in Neilson Library at Smith College and other local libraries.

Poet Diane Gilliam Fisher

Reviews

Review of Kettle Bottom (Valparaiso Poetry Review)

Review of Kettle Bottom (Newpages.com)

Poems Online

Smith College News

Summer Reading 2005
For all First-Year Students

Summer Reading 2004
The Gangster We Are All Looking For (Lê Thi Diem Thúy)

Summer Reading 2003
Atonement (Ian McEwan)

Summer Reading 2002
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America (Barbara Ehrenreich)

Summer Reading 2001
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (Anne Fadiman)

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