Barbara Kingsolver

Yesterday, I had the privilege of being invited to attend the presentation of a doctoral thesis on the short stories of Barbara Kingsolver.

Ms. Kingsolver and her husband Steve were in attendance. The presentation covered five hours, and we were given only a ten minute break. Four professors and Ms. Kingsolver commented on the dissertation by my friend's daughter, Benedictine.

Ms. Kingsolver commented on the fact that the dissertation presentation was much more formal in France than it is in the United States. The professors in the U.S. ask questions; the French professors write out their own lengthy analysis of the work, and then ask some questions.

At the end of the presentation and commentary period, the audience was sent to wait in the hallways while the professors and Ms. Kingsolver deliberated on whether to award the doctorate and what level they would award.

A half-hour later, maybe forty-five minutes, we were brought back in the room. Everyone, including the professors, remained standing. The moderator-professor announced that Benedictine was being awarded the highest honor . . . and that after an English translation of her work, it will be published and sold world-wide through the university.

The room broke out in applause and cheers of "bravo," her parents, sister and American boyfriend beamed with pride. My eyes welled up with happy tears, and I didn't even know the young woman before that morning.

Here's an example of Barbara Kingsolver's work where she writes in her book Small Wonders about the tragedy of the disappearance of nature: Excerpt