"Words to Stir the Soul: Readings from the American West," will be hosted by the CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø Center of the American West at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31, in the Old Main Chapel on the Â鶹¹ÙÍø campus.
The popular program celebrates the rich literary heritage of the American West as more than a dozen CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø professors, students and community members read segments from their favorite western-inspired literature for up to five minutes.
The program also will be held, with different readers and reading selections, at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Cherry Creek Tattered Cover Book Store at First Avenue and Milwaukee Street in Denver. Both programs are free and open to the public.
Among the readers for the fourth annual CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø event will be former Â鶹¹ÙÍø Mayor Leslie Durgin, CU Libraries Dean James Williams and several CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø professors including Patricia Nelson Limerick and Phil Deloria of history, William Riebsame of geography, Daniel Cress of sociology, Lynn Ross-Bryant of religious studies and Lee Krauth of English.
Among the readers at the Tattered Cover program will be Dennis Gallagher, Denver city councilman; John Hickenlooper, owner of the Wynkoop Brewery; Joyce Meskis, owner of the Tattered Cover Book Store; Manuel Ramos and Robert Greer, mystery writers; Sam Arnold, owner of The Fort Restaurant in Morrison, Colo.; and Tom Noel, CU-Denver professor of history.
The program was inspired by the experience of a patient of Dr. Niles Utlaut of Â鶹¹ÙÍø, who chose to undergo surgery that would either dramatically improve his eyesight or destroy it. When the surgery was a success, the exhilarated patient wanted to hold an event celebrating the ability to read.
The mission of the Center of the American West is to explore the distinctive character and issues of the region and to help Westerners become well-informed, participating citizens in their communities.
For more information call (303) 735- 3261 or visit .