Calvin Lecturer 2008-2009: Dr. Otto Selles

Dear Colleagues:

It is with a sense of deep anticipation that I forward to you the following information on our Calvin Lecturer for next year, Otto Selles.

Otto hails from Canada and teaches in Calvin's French department.  He is currently doing research on Voltaire, but is well-versed on all things French.  You'll see from his proposed lectures that he is going to focus his tour on the topic of "tolerance", which is not a bad choice for our university climate today.  He has one lecture that is general, one that is more specific and academic, and one that is fun and amenable to a Christian audience.

I should add that Otto has also published some poetry and I bet you could get him to squeeze in a poetry reading, too.

To see the quality of Otto's writing, check out the dazzling comprehensive survey of literature on the culture of France in “Francophiles and Francophobes: In Search of the Real France,” Books and Culture (May/June, 2007, p. 13-15, 39-43).

The article is available at http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2007/003/2.13.html

If you want to see his faculty profile, check out http://www.calvin.edu/academic/french/faculty/

For more information: http://www.calvin.edu/admin/provost/scholars/lectureship/

Remember, if you host such a visit, no honorarium is necessary; all that we ask from the local sponsors is that you promote the events and take care of local travel and hospitality expenses.

Peace

Peter