Turning the Page: Four American Women Poets
“Turning the Page” features four award-winning poets: Ada Limon, Cathy Song, Patrica Smith, and Natasha Tretheway. These poets each create a conversation between personal experience and national history, between family and racial legacies. Their poems open intimate worlds for us to know loss, courage, compassion and desire. Each week we’ll focus on a handful of poems by each poet for our careful attention and discussion.
Faculty Bio
Susan Van Dyne earned her PhD from Harvard and taught for four decades at Smith College. An enduring interest has been teaching American women poets from Emily Dickinson to Rita Dove. Her book, Revising Life, examines the drafts of Sylvia Plath’s most famous poems. Her most recent publications analyze Alison Bechdel’s queer graphic memoir, Fun Home.
This is an In-Person-Only Course
- Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 365, at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
- You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.
Schedule Highlights
- Course starts on Monday, April 1, and ends on Monday, April 22
- Classes meet for 4 weeks, 2 hours per session (1–3 PM)
- All course materials will remain available to view and enjoy through May 31
Member Praise for Susan Van Dyne
Susan Van Dyne is extraordinary. She is one of the best instructors that I have ever had. She is worthy of accolades. Sign her up for more classes and soon!
Susan got me to write once again. Her suggestions and prompts worked well for me. Our readings and video added greatly to my knowledge. Thank you to Susan Van Dyne and OLLI for an exceptional class!
Faculty Q&A
- Read an interview with Susan Van Dyne from our archive.