Brookfield grad releases new book
Award-winning writer and Brookfield Central High alumnus Ayad Akhtar has released a new novel, which he describes as a portrait of the state of Wisconsin.
Akhtar is best known as a playwright, where he received the Pullitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play for his debut stage production Disgraced. His new book, Homeland Elegies, is his second novel after American Dervish, released in 2012. Akhtar describes the novel as
Despite having theatrical success in London and New York, Akhtar remains involved with the literary community in the greater Milwaukee area. He attributes his inspiration to Diane Doerfler, a Brookfield Central teacher. He is a board member of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and held a virtual book launch event over Zoom with Theater director Mark Clements. Such promotional events, often advertised through tools like poster printing and bringing together local writers and readers, have increasingly moved online but are still a vital part of the publication process.
Homeland Elegies was officially released on September 15 and is now available for purchase.
Akhtar is best known as a playwright, where he received the Pullitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play for his debut stage production Disgraced. His new book, Homeland Elegies, is his second novel after American Dervish, released in 2012. Akhtar describes the novel as
“A deeply personal work about identity and belonging in a nation coming apart at the seams [...] Part family drama, part social essay, part picaresque novel, at its heart it is the story of a father, a son and the country they both call home.”
Despite having theatrical success in London and New York, Akhtar remains involved with the literary community in the greater Milwaukee area. He attributes his inspiration to Diane Doerfler, a Brookfield Central teacher. He is a board member of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and held a virtual book launch event over Zoom with Theater director Mark Clements. Such promotional events, often advertised through tools like poster printing and bringing together local writers and readers, have increasingly moved online but are still a vital part of the publication process.
Homeland Elegies was officially released on September 15 and is now available for purchase.