Mailer, Wilbur visit Penn to honor retired English prof Lucid

As part of Reading Project, friends of LucidAs part of Reading Project, friends of Lucidspeak on time in Paris after World War II Building on the theme of this year's Penn Reading Project, two veterans of the post-World War II Paris literary scene came together Friday to honor their friend, retired English Professor Robert Lucid. The discussion between authors Norman Mailer and Robert Wilbur, sponsored by the English Department, focused on Ernest Hemingway's A Moveable Feast, this year's Reading Project book. The book focuses on the author's experience in Paris after World War I. Lucid chose the novel before retiring last year. English Department Chairperson Wendy Steiner introduced Lucid and the authors, saying that although teachers often come together to honor artists, it is rare that "famous artists come together to honor a teacher." She then praised Lucid's deep devotion to the University over the past 32 years. Besides his role as an English professor, Lucid was also responsible for creating the Penn Reading Project, among other University initiatives. As part of the project, incoming freshmen are asked to read a specified novel over the summer, which they then discuss during their first few days at Penn. English Department officials said they hoped Friday's symposium would lead to a continuation of the discussion of American writers in Paris that began with the Reading Project. Lucid's questions led Mailer and Wilbur through their experiences in World War II and the time they spent in Paris afterward. Both wrote books which reflected on their time in the military. Mailer wrote a novel, The Naked and the Dead, and Wilbur wrote a collection of poetry, Beautiful Changes. Mailer and Wilbur traveled separately to Paris with their respective wives and met each other there. Mailer traveled to Paris and took French classes there paid for by the G.I. Bill of Rights, while Wilbur traveled on funding from the Society of Scholars at Harvard University, where he was a graduate student. Both writers called their time in Paris a frustrating one, because of alienation due to the language barrier. While Hemingway's novel describes great camaraderie among expatriate authors and centers around Paris's famous cafZs, neither Mailer nor Wilbur shared similar experiences in France. Asked about his impressions of Hemingway and A Moveable Feast, Wilbur said he thought Hemingway was too concerned about everyone knowing that "he was in. That he knew the right people and went to the right places." During a question and answer session, Mailer recalled hearing Lucid speak and thinking he was one of the best lecturers Mailer had ever heard. "Bob is one of my oldest friends," he said. "I've know him for 37 years." Many friends and fans of Lucid and the authors gathered at a reception in Hill College House following the symposium. For years, Lucid served as Hill's faculty master. College senior Elliott Witney took one of Lucid's courses last year, entitled "Literature and the Idea of the University," which was co-taught by former Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson. He also worked closely with Lucid on an independent study on Thomas Jefferson. "I came because Bob Lucid is an inspiration," Witney said of the symposium. The event took place in the University Museum's Rainey Auditorium.