The Purdue University Press celebrates Purdue’s Sesquicentennial with two new books, garners New York Times coverage, and will hold a special sale Founder’s Day — May 6, 2019.
by Bryan Shaffer, Sales and Marketing Manager, Purdue University Press
The Purdue University Press is enjoying a busy spring with a new biography getting noticed in the national media and two new Purdue history books that will be on the gift list for every Boilermaker across the globe.
“The Notorious Ben Hecht: Iconoclastic Writer and Militant Zionist” by Julien Gorbach has received reviews in Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal, and most recently a favorable comparison of the Purdue UP book and a Yale University Press book on the same subject in The New York Times. Gorbach’s biography on the great 20th-century writer and activist, who was also called “the Shakespeare of Hollywood,” is a deeply researched and detailed story of Hecht’s admiration as a humanitarian and vilification as an extremist. Excerpts from two reviews follow:
“This thoughtful and thorough study of a largely forgotten writer will interest literary and film buffs and anyone curious about the debates going on in the Zionist community in the 1930s–40s.” — Library Journal
“This meticulously researched biography . . . focuses on two aspects of writer Ben Hecht (1894–1964): his remarkable versatility—he produced journalism, novels, criticism, screenplays, plays, and memoirs—and his vocal support, prior to Israel’s founding, for a Jewish homeland. . . . Suggesting that Hecht’s self-conscious persona as a “tough Jew” equally shaped his literary output and political ideology, Gorbach leaves readers with a richly provocative and original take on an influential writer.” — Publishers Weekly
May 6, 2019, marks the official sesquicentennial anniversary of Purdue University, and on that day, two new history books will be officially published. “Ever True: 150 Years of Giant Leaps at Purdue University” by John Norberg is an extensive history of Indiana’s Land Grant University, which takes the readers beyond the redbrick walls of the West Lafayette campus to delve into the stories of faculty, alumni, and leaders who make up the remarkable institution’s distinguished history.
“Purdue at 150: A Visual History of Student Life” is a scrapbook-like experience curated and written by David M. Hovde, Adriana Harmeyer, Neal Harmeyer, and Sammie L. Morris. With more than 650 rare photographs, documents, and artifacts from the Purdue University Libraries Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections, alongside critical contextual information organized by decades, this beautiful book will adorn coffee tables and bookcases of Boilermakers near and far. Many of the images and artifacts included have never been published, presenting a unique history of Purdue University from the student perspective.
Purdue Alumni Drew and Brittany Brees composed the foreword and said: “Purdue at 150 is the definitive visual history of student life at our beloved alma mater, recalling stories through rare images and artifacts, as well as words. Whether you are a long-time alum or a recent graduate, we know you will enjoy the trip down memory lane.”
All books mentioned above are linked to their respective pages on the Press’ website, where you will find additional information, reviews, preview pages, and the ability to place an order. When ordering directly from the Purdue Press, feel free to use the discount code PURDUE30 to receive a 30 percent discount off all books. Remember to sign-up for our newsletter and follow us on social media (Facebook and Twitter), as we will have a special sale on May 6, Purdue University Founder’s Day.