December 5, 2019
Brett Walker, an author residing in Bozeman, Mont., will share readings from his published works at Dances with Words on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in The Cup on the Montana Western campus, including his recent historical memoir titled, “A Family History of Illness.”
Walker is Regents Professor of History at Montana State University, Bozeman. He studies environmental history, the history of human health, the history of science, and military history. His research area is early modern and modern Japanese history, as well as comparative world history, including World War II.
According to the author’s website, “A Family History of Illness” is a gritty memoir that examines the body’s immune system and microbial composition as well as the biological and cultural origins of memory and history, offering a startling, fresh way to view the role of history in understanding our physical selves. In his own search, Walker soon realizes that this broader scope is more valuable than a strictly medical family history. He finds that family legacies shape us both physically and symbolically, forming the root of our identity and values, and he urges us to renew our interest in the past or risk misunderstanding ourselves and the world around us.”
“Dances with Words” is produced by English Professor Alan Weltzien. The series, free and open to the public, provides the community with a unique opportunity to listen to writers reading their own works, including Montana Western student writers.
For more information, please contact Alan Weltzien by email at [email protected] or call 406-683-7431.
