Believe it or not, Santa Claus was real. He lived in Asia Minor in the third century. And even more strangely, several hundred years later, there was a race by two rival Italian gangs to steal his body from its tomb and take it back with them to Italy. It was a strikingly bold heist, the story of which was retold again and again throughout the Middle Ages.
National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson, author of Vermont Book Award Finalist Nicked, will talk about the historical St. Nicholas and the theft of his corpse, pulling from medieval accounts, the modern archaeological evidence from his tomb, and the forensic evidence of his body, which now lies beneath a floor in Apulia. The saint’s strange story is not just an oddity, however: it provides insights into the rise and fall of religions and the way the dead are used by the living for their own surprising ends.
Contact Jacob Pelletier at jpelletier@vermonthumanities.org.
New York Times Bestselling author M. T. Anderson writes books for children, teens, and adults, including The Pox Party, which won the National Book Award; Elf Dog & Owl Head, which won a Newbery Honor Award, and the science fiction satire Feed, which was a Finalist for the National Book Award and which won the L.A. Times Book Prize.
In this presentation geared to readers 8 to 12 years old, author M. T. Anderson will discuss how living alone with a dog in the midst of the Covid shutdown in Vermont led to the writing of his Newbery Honor-winning fantasy Elf Dog & Owl Head.
New York Times bestselling author M. T. Anderson, whose National Book Award-winning novel The Pox Party explored this history, will discuss some of the lost and overlooked stories of that revolution within the Revolution, and why they’re important to remember in this celebratory anniversary year.
National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson, author of Vermont Book Award Finalist Nicked, will talk about the historical St. Nicholas and the theft of his corpse, pulling from medieval accounts, the modern archaeological evidence from his tomb, and the forensic evidence of his body, which now lies beneath a floor in Apulia.
Our seasonal “Words in the Woods” program allows Vermonters and visitors to enjoy our state’s natural beauty while listening to and reading literature in the outdoors.
Humanities Camps are filled with reading and writing projects, field trips, and outdoor activities.
We won a 2020 Schwartz Prize for best public humanities programming in the U.S. for Vermont Reads 2019: “March: Book One.”
We supported the Chandler Center for the Arts’ Global Connections Youth Outreach program, which highlights artists from around the world.
Our free public events help bring the power of the humanities to communities across Vermont.
