Iowa City: UNESCO City of Literature

Posted on Nov 26th, 2008 by Marmalade

UNESCO has given my hometown of Iowa City the grand title of City of Literature.  Its UNESCO’s third Literary City in the world (following Edinburgh and Melbourne), and the first Literary City in the US.  Quite an achievement for a small midwestern town.  Sadly, at the same time, Live from Prairie Lights will no longer be broadcast by NPR.  Prairie Lights is an independent bookstore that has hosted the readings of many famous writers for almost two decades.

The main reason that Iowa City was chosen is because of the local Writer’s Workshop.  It began in 1936 and I’ve heard its the oldest in the world.  Many well known writers have lived here, and the town is filled with aspiring writers of course.

After a year of multiple tragedies, this is a nice positive to end the year with.

Access: Public 4 Comments Print Post this!views (124)  

Tagged with: Iowa City, Iowa, UNESCO, City of Literature, Writer’s Workshop, Prairie Lights

print | permalink | delete

about 5 hours later

Nicole said

 

congratulations. that’s something to celebrate.

print | permalink | delete

about 9 hours later

Marmalade said

 

Thanks, NIcole!  I find it exciting.  Its probably because I grew up here that the ambition of being a writer rubbed off on me.

If you had to pick Canada’s City of Literature, what would it be?

print | permalink | delete

2 days later

Nicole said

 

Tough call as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are all very strong in this area…

print | permalink | delete

2 days later

Marmalade said

 

When I think of Canadian fiction, I think of Charle de Lint’s fictional city Newford.  However, de Lint said something interesting about Newford.  He said that Americans tend to think its a Canadian city and Canadians tend to think its an American city.  Apparently, he purposely used some characteristics of both Canadian and American cities.

So, I guess Newford can’t be Canada’s city of literature.  Too bad! 

About these ads