Elizabeth Bennett Reading October 7
The annual Elizabeth Bennett Reading on Tuesday, October 7, at 6:00 p.m. in the Cranbrook Library Reading Room. This year’s program will feature Dr. Gania Barlow and Gianfranco Cataldo.
Dr. Barlow, an English teacher, will share the latest story in her two-year project inspired by Marie de France, the 12th-century author of short verse tales about knights, ladies, and adventure. Following her, Gianfranco Cataldo, World Languages teacher and 2025 Bennett Grantee, will present excerpts from his research on how contemporary Venezuelan novels portray dictatorship in the years following Hugo Chávez. Beginning with Patria o muerte (2015) by Alberto Barrera Tyszka, he examines how the novel both elevates and questions the near-religious reverence for authoritarian leaders, linking it to Latin America’s long tradition of “dictatorship novels.”
Dr. Barlow, an English teacher, will share the latest story in her two-year project inspired by Marie de France, the 12th-century author of short verse tales about knights, ladies, and adventure. Following her, Gianfranco Cataldo, World Languages teacher and 2025 Bennett Grantee, will present excerpts from his research on how contemporary Venezuelan novels portray dictatorship in the years following Hugo Chávez. Beginning with Patria o muerte (2015) by Alberto Barrera Tyszka, he examines how the novel both elevates and questions the near-religious reverence for authoritarian leaders, linking it to Latin America’s long tradition of “dictatorship novels.”
Each year, the Bennett Writing Grant supports the professional growth of a Cranbrook Kingswood teacher—selected through an application process—who demonstrates excellence in written expression. This special evening offers the community the chance to hear directly from grant recipients as they share their creative and scholarly work.
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The Bennett Writing Grant supports the professional growth of a Cranbrook Kingswood teacher, from any department, who demonstrates excellence in written expression. Recipients are selected through an application process, and the annual Reading offers the community a chance to experience their work firsthand.
The Fund was established in 1983 by Caroline Cross Chinlund and Annie Sanders, both Class of 1958, in memory of their beloved teacher, Miss Elizabeth Bennett, who taught English at Kingswood from 1936 to 1968. Known for her sharp wit, her devotion to poetry, and her disdain for cliché, she inspired generations of students to approach language with precision and creativity. A master teacher, she had a remarkable ability to instill discipline in written expression while nurturing a true love of words.
Email alumni@cranbrook.edu if you wish to join us on October 7 for this evening of literature, learning, and community in honor of Elizabeth Bennett’s enduring legacy.
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