RELEASED: April 7, 2005

DANVILLE, KY—William Henry (Hank) Lewis's new collection of stories, I Got Somebody in Staunton (Amistad/HarperCollins), which hit bookstores nationwide on April 26 has received glowing advance reviews from such literary luminaries as 2004 Pulitzer Prize winner Edward P. Jones, poet Nikki Giovanni and Dave Eggers. Lewis is visiting assistant professor of English at Centre College.

In addition, I Got Somebody in Staunton has been receiving enthusiastic notices in all the major book review publications, including Kirkus Reviews ("evocative stories with a potent kick"), Publishers Weekly ("a thoughtful, appealing collection") and Booklist—as well as Entertainment Weekly and O: The Oprah Magazine.

"William Henry Lewis has more than fulfilled the grand promise that was his first wondrous work, In the Arms of Our Elders," wrote Jones, who will deliver a Humana lecture on Tuesday, April 26, at Centre College in Young Hall 101. "His storytelling gifts have matured, but he continues to be fiercely truthful and beautifully honest. His new collection of stories is tender, ironic, disturbing, and always poetic. His work is a treasure."

Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and editor of McSweeney's Review, wrote "There is greatness here, all over the place, plain and simple. Sentence by sentence, this deeply felt and lyrical collection proves that Lewis is a master of the short story. I Got Somebody in Staunton has more warmth than almost any recent book I can remember; I'd urge it on anyone."

Lewis has a number of signings and readings scheduled for April, including appearances at Joseph Beth Booksellers in Lexington on April 12, and Joseph Beth in Cincinnati on April 16. Towards the end of the month he will travel to Manhattan, where he will read at the Chelsea Barnes & Noble on April 28. June will take him on a western swing, with appearances scheduled in Denver, Seattle and Portland, Ore.

Lewis is the author of a previous collection of stories, In the Arms of Our Elders, which Ann Beattie called "a powerful first collection," and his work has appeared in numerous publications, including The Best American Short Stories 1996.

Although he has lived for four years in the Bahamas, Lewis is from the United States and has also taught writing, American ethnic literature, and literature with a focus in American Studies at the University of Virginia, Denison University, Mary Washington College and Trinity College (Conn.).

- end -

Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.

Back to News and Events Home Page