J.D. VANCE, DAVID BROOKS, WALTER ISAACSON, AMONG WRITERS PARTICIPATING IN 6TH ANNUAL SUMMER LITERARY FESTIVAL

May 31 - June 2, 2019, St. Francisville, La

"To become aware of the possibility of the search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be in despair," wrote acclaimed author Walker Percy. With David Brooks, J.D. Vance, and Walter Isaacson among presenters attending the 2019 Walker Percy Weekend, NOT getting tickets early will be grounds for despair, because the sixth annual festival looks sure to be the biggest, and most exciting, yet.

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2019 Presenters

• DAVID BROOKS is a columnist for The New York Times and author of many bestselling books. His next book, The Second Mountain: The Quest For A Moral Life, will be published in April 2019.

• J.D. VANCE is author of Hillbilly Elegy, a bestselling 2016 memoir about growing up poor in Appalachia. The book is soon to become a major motion picture directed by Ron Howard.

• WALTER ISAACSON is a journalist and author who has written biographies of Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein and Henry Kissinger. Mr. Isaacson will talk about Walker Percy's "Theory of Hurricanes and Everyday Life."

• JESSICA HOOTEN WILSON teaches literature and humanities at John Brown University. Over the years she has emerged as one of the most popular presenters at Walker Percy Weekend.

• TOM KEY is an Atlanta theatre director and playwright who adapted Walker Percy's The Moviegoer and Lost In The Cosmos for the stage. He will speak on the meaning of Lost In The Cosmos for contemporary American culture, and the role of art -- particularly theatre -- in building community in a fragmenting society.

• ROD DREHER is a West Feliciana native and author of two New York Times bestsellers, including The Benedict Option (2017) and his memoir about growing up in West Feliciana, and "The Little Way of Ruthie Leming" (2013).

Schedule Highlights

• A Friday evening "Lost Under the Oaks Gala" reception and cocktail party staged under majestic oaks.

• A Saturday series of Lectures and Panel Discussions on themes explored in Percy's books ,

• A Saturday-afternoon Progressive Front-Porch Tour and Bourbon Tasting inspired by Percy's essay on drinking Bourbon, Neat. Must be 21 or over to attend.

• Saturday evening Crawfish Boil: Back by popular demand: The authentic Louisiana crawfish boil including cash bar with selection of local craft beers.

Registration & Tickets

Access All Areas: An all-inclusive ticket is available for $ 225.00.

Social Tickets: A ticket providing access to all social events—the Friday night cocktail party and dinner, and Saturday's Bourbon Tour and Crawfish Boil. No panels included. $ 160.00

Individual Tickets: Tickets to attend individual events including lectures and panel discussions, the Lost Under the Oaks cocktail party, Bourbon Tour, and Crawfish and Craft Beer events will be available May 1 if space remains. In the past, tickets sold out weeks in advance.

Cancellations & Refunds

* There will be a $25 (per order) cancellation fee charged on refunds issued between April 1 and May 19, 2019. No refunds after May 19th, 2019.

Information

To learn more and for accommodation information, visit www.walkerpercyweekend.org or email info@walkerpercyweekend.org.

Full schedule at www.walkerpercyweekend.org

Walker Percy (1916—1990) wrote novels that explored the “dislocation of man in the modern age.” Most of his work was set in New Orleans and around South Louisiana, including the semi-fictitious Feliciana, which the author based upon West Feliciana and the other Florida parishes. Percy’s debut novel, THE MOVIEGOER, won the National Book Award for Fiction, and was included on Time magazine’s list of the 100 Best English language novels from 1923—2005. In later works, including LOVE IN THE RUINS, THE LAST GENTLEMAN, and THE THANATOS SYNDROME, Percy continued exploring the search for meaning in an increasingly materialistic society via masterfully wrought tales delivered with a poetic Southern sensibility and informed by the author’s deep Catholic faith.

Festival proceeds support the JULIUS FREYHAN FOUNDATION—dedicated to restoring the historic Freyhan School building to serve as a community and cultural center for West Feliciana Parish.

Thanks to our Sponsors!