Acclaimed novelist, poet, and essayist Julia Alvarez speaks about her life and work with University of Texas at Austin professor, Dr. Jennifer M. Wilks on Monday, March 31, at 7 p.m. in Jessen Auditorium at Homer Rainey Hall. A book signing and reception to follow at the Harry Ransom Center.

Alvarez was born in New York City but raised in the Dominican Republic until she was 10. In 1960 her family was forced to flee the Dominican Republic when it was discovered that her father was involved in a plot to overthrow dictator Rafael Trujillo. Much of Alvarez’s work is considered semi-autobiographical, drawing on her experiences as an immigrant and her bicultural identity. Alvarez’s unique experiences have shaped and infused her writing—from such award-winning novels as How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Time of the Butterflies to her poetry. Alvarez’s archive resides at the Ransom Center.

Ransom Center members receive complimentary parking and priority entry. Doors open at 6:20 p.m. for members and at 6:30 p.m. for the general public. Presented by the University Co-op, the Harry Ransom Center and the 2013–2014 Texas Institute for Literary and Textual Studies (TILTS) Symposia: Reading Race in Literature and Film.