This year’s Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction, Adam Johnson, will talk with students in Dr. Jennifer Orth-Veillon’s English class over Skype about his book The Orphan Master’s Son on April 23  in  Georgia Tech’s Hall Building Room 102 from 7-8pm.  Set in North Korea, the book explores the depths of this totalitarian state in which being human is a citizen’s biggest challenge. In a place where even emotions are dictated by the oppressive national narrative, Johnson takes the reader into the intimate space of a man who dangerously transcends this country’s psychological and physical boundaries.

Dr. Orth-Veillon’s class, entitled “Fiction, Human Rights, and Social Responsibility,” studies the unique problems facing fiction writers who choose to craft novels about real human rights catastrophes. Via video, Johnson will answer student questions about his research, writing process, travel to North Korea, and public reception of the book.  Space is limited for guests who are not enrolled in Dr. Orth-Veillon’s class. Please contact her at jennifer.orth-veillon@lmc.gatech.edu if you wish to attend. The event will be filmed for those interested in viewing it at a later date.