Reed, Troupe at Book Fair

Two of the leading figures in the American Black Arts movement  will read and discuss their poetry at Saturday's Buffalo Book Fair. 

Both Buffalo native Ishmael Reed and former California poet laureate Quincy Troupe are prolific authors probably best known for their prose: Reed for his satirical novels (Mumbo Jumbo, Flight to Canada) and controversial essays and Troupe as a biographer (Miles Davis, James Baldwin), memoirist, and the co-author (with Chris Gardner) of the book version of last year's Will Smith film The Pursuit of Happyness.

Both began their careers as poets and have continued to write and publish poetry with such regularity that one could argue that it forms the baseline from which the rest of their work stems.  Reed, for instance, returns home to Buffalo as co-chairman of the book fair and in support of his recently released New and Collected Poems, 1996-2006, published in March by Carroll & Graf.

He will be interviewed and engage in an open discussion with Lorna C. Hill, founder and executive director of Ujima Theater Company, about the new book and his five-decade-long career as a writer.  "A Conversation with Ishmael Reed" will take place from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. in the downtown library's "Ring of Knowledge" area.  This is a "can't miss" event for anyone interested in great literary talk between two strong personalities.

In that same area from noon to 1 p.m., Troupe will be interviewed by Les Trent, the former Channel 4 News reporter/anchor who is now a senior correspondent for television's Inside Edition. Troupe's most recent collection of poems, Architecture of Language, was published in October by Coffee House Press.

Troupe will read from his jazz-influenced performance poetry from 3 to 3:45 p.m. in the "Literary Cafe'" area.  Reed will read from his New and Collected Poems at 5:30 p.m. in the "Uncrowned Queens" pavilion.