RITA DOVE WRAPS UP LITERARY FESTIVAL FRIDAY

The 1999 Old Dominion University Literary Festival, titled "The Spirit of the Word," concludes Friday with an appearance by former U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Rita Dove.

Dove, who will speak at 8 p.m. in the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center's Chandler Recital Hall, is commonwealth Professor of English at the University of Virginia. From 1993 to 1995, she served as Poet Laureate of the United States and was the first African-American to be named so.

Other Friday readings include: 11 a.m., Rilla Askew; 2 p.m., Fred Viebahn;
4 p.m., Tim Seibles. All readings are in the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center's Chandler Recital Hall.

The Washington Post said Dove's work is significant in "in terms of the message it sends about the diversity of our culture and our literature." She won the Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry in 1987.

The Norfolk Commission on the Arts and Humanities sponsors the events.

Call 683-3991 for locations and information.