‘The Future of the Catholic Literary Imagination’ at USC

“The Future of the Catholic Literary Imagination” — a three-day event featuring Tobias Wolff, Alice McDermott, Ron Hansen, Kevin Starr, Julia Alvarez, Dana Gioia and many more acclaimed writers, critics, scholars, editors and journalists — will take place Feb. 19-21 at the University of Southern California. 

Organized by the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, presenters will focus on the relationship between faith and literature in contemporary American culture “in a dynamic, serious (but never pious) conversation.”

> Tobias Wolff is the author of novels “The Barracks Thief” and “Old School,” the memoirs “This Boy’s Life” and “In Pharaoh’s Army,” and the short story collections “In the Garden of the North American Martyrs,” “Back in the World” and “The Night in Question.” (Friday, Feb. 20 at 1:15 p.m., Doheny Library) 

> Alice McDermott authored “Someone,” “After This,” “Child of My Heart,” “Charming Billy” and “At Weddings and Wakes.” (Saturday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m., Doheny Library)

> Ron Hansen’s works include “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” “Mariette in Ecstasy” and “Atticus.” (Friday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m., Caruso Catholic Center)

> Kevin Starr is an American historian and writer best known for his multi-volume series on the history of California, collectively called “Americans and the California Dream.” (Friday, Feb. 20 at 3:30 p.m., Doheny Library)

“The Future of the Catholic Literacy Imagination” is being presented in partnership with the Caruso Catholic Center, the Doheny Library, Loyola Marymount University, Fordham University, Pepperdine University, Azusa Pacific University and Biola University.

For information and registration, visit cli.ifacs.com or call (213) 740-1864.