ITHACA, N.Y. -- Prolific author John Updike, twice honored with the Pulitzer Prize, will read from his works Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. in the Statler Auditorium of Statler Hall on the Cornell University campus. In addition, Updike will lead a colloquium titled "The Craft of Fiction: a Conversation with John Updike" Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m. in Barnes Hall Auditorium. Both the reading and the colloquium are free and open to the public.

Born in Shillington, Pa., in 1932, Updike is a 1954 graduate of Harvard University and the author of more than 50 books that span many literary genres. But he is perhaps best known as a novelist. Updike's first novel, PoorhouseFair , was published in 1959, and his most recent, Seek My Face , in 2002. High points in his novel-writing career include the quartet of Rabbit novels, Rabbit Run (1961), Rabbit Redux (1971), Rabbit is Rich (1981, Pulitzer Prize) and Rabbit at Rest (1990, a second Pulitzer); and the trilogy of Bech books: Bech, A Book (1970), Bech is Back (1982) and Bech at Bay (1998). In addition, Updike has written collections of short stories, poetry, art and literary criticism, memoirs and a play.

Updike's reading is made possible by a grant through the David R. and Patricia D. Atkinson Forum in American Studies at Cornell, a new program that seeks to bring to campus the best that America has to offer in the arts. Updike has been chosen as the first representative of the literary arts. In addition to a public event, guests of the Atkinson Forum also meet with students and faculty. The Atkinson Forum's inaugural event was held last March and featured the legendary Fiske Jubilee Singers.

For more information about the Updike reading, contact Lamar Herrin, professor of English, at (607) 255-9311, or Marianne Marsh at (607) 255-6799 or mrm4@cornell.edu . For more information on the Atkinson Forum, contact Nick Salvatore, professor of American Studies, at (607) 255-2240 or nas4@cornell.edu .