Elie Wiesel is a remarkable person. Making words his weapon, he turns genocidal tragedy into a life force for world peace. Wiesel and his family were deported to Auschwitz when he was 15 years old. His mother and one of his three sisters died there; his father died later at Buchenwald. "And the Sea Is Never Full" continues the self-portrait of Wiesel begun in his unforgettable memoir, 'All Rivers Run to the Sea." The transformation of the brokenhearted, orphaned boy into a writer of international repute picks up at age 40.

Speaking out for both Holocaust survivors and the disenfranchised everywhere, Wiesel recounts the encounters with world leaders in fighting racism, repression and persecution around the globe. These battles in the Soviet Union, South Africa, Bosnia and front lines in many other countries earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. The memoir relates the behind-the-scenes events that led to the establishment of the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. and his memories of his own vanished family.

In addition to his memoirs, Wiesel many books include his international bestseller "Night," and "A Beggar in Jerusalem," winner of the Prix Medicis. His awards include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States Congressional Gold Medal and the French Legion of Honor. He is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities and University Professor at Boston University. He lives with his wife Marion in New York City.

At the evening forum, Wiesel will be interviewed by Gustav Niebuhr, a national correspondent at The New York Times. Niebuhr reports on major trends in religion and also writes a biweekly column on religion for The Times.

Monday, April 10, 2000

The Kentucky Author Forums are sponsored by the University of Louisville and recorded by WFPL radio and KET-TV.

10 a.m. -- Elie Wiesel will speak to U of L students, faculty and staff in Bigelow Hall on U of L's Belknap Campus. Wiesel will be interviewed by Rabbi Joe Rooks Rapport, of The Temple, Congregation Adath Israel Brith Sholom. Seats are available first-come, first-served. The event is free. Copies of Wiesel's book will be available for sale and autograph

Kentucky Center for the Arts 5 Riverfront Plaza, Downtown Louisville

The evening's activities are as follows:

5 p.m. Hawley-Cooke Booksellers book sale and wine and cheese reception provided by Brown Forman, lobby

6 p.m. Conversation with Elie Wiesel in the Bomhard Theatre

7 p.m. Q & A followed by book signing on Bittners' stage set

A $16 ticket includes the above three events. A limited number of discounted tickets of $5 each are available for U of L students, faculty and staff at the KCA box office --U of L photo ID is required.

8:15 p.m. Dinner with the author, hosted by U of L President John Shumaker and Mrs Shumaker

A $100 package ticket includes the above events plus dinner with Elie Wiesel. (Proceeds go to the nonprofit Kentucky Author Forum, $60 is tax-deductible.)

Tickets available at the Kentucky Center for the Arts, 502-584-7777 (1-800-775-7777)

A taped version of the event will be made available at The Louisville Free Public Library, St. Matthews/Eline Branch, 3940 Grandview Avenue, at 11 am, April 12. There is no fee involved, but those interested must sign up in advance due to limited seating.

The event will be recorded by WFPL 89.3 FM and the Kentucky Education Network (KET) for future broadcast.

The Kentucky Author Forum series is produced by Mary Moss Greenebaum and sponsored by the University of Louisville in cooperation with Hawley-Cooke Booksellers; Brown-Forman Corp.; Bittners of Louisville; WFPL, Louisville's NPR Station for News; The Courier-Journal; KET, the Kentucky Network; and the Kentucky Center for the Arts.

624 West Main, Second Floor
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
Phone 502.589.2884
Fax 502.589.4334
email KYFORUM@aol.com