Description

Ayad Akhtar is a novelist, screenwriter, playwright, winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Disgraced, and the president of PEN America. It is no surprise, then, that his most recent novel is an exploration of form. Homeland Elegies is part family drama, part social essay, and part picaresque novel, blending fact and fiction to tell a deeply personal story about identity and belonging in America. This intimate setting gives you the chance to be in conversation with Ayad Akhtar about his uniquely stunning book that chronicles a nation coming apart at the seams. Limited to 30 tickets, our Salon series goes beyond the page and offers you the opportunity to be in the virtual room for a one-of-a-kind in-depth discussion.

One of the New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year

"A beautiful novel about an American son and his immigrant father that has echoes of The Great Gatsby and that circles, with pointed intellect, the possibilities and limitations of American life...." —Dwight Garner, The New York Times

Homeland Elegies is available in paperback on May 25. Pick up a copy from your local indie or from Bookshop.com!

This is a live virtual event. Ticket holders will receive an e-mail with information on how to access the event close to its start time. You must tune in at the set start time and date to view this show.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I buy a ticket?
Click the “BUY TICKETS” button above for a full list of ticket options. Once you have purchased your ticket(s), we will send you a confirmation e-mail. You will receive log-in details prior to the show in a separate e-mail (you will not receive event access information with your ticket receipt).

How do I watch a virtual show?
Prior to the event’s scheduled start time, you will receive an e-mail with information on how to log in and watch the event from your digital device. This is a live event. You must tune in at the set time and date to view this show. If you need assistance accessing the event on your digital device, please e-mail [email protected].

Can I watch this show with the Symphony Space 20/21 Season Pass?
No, unfortunately we cannot include this event in our Season Pass due to rights issues.

What if I have an issue trying to access a virtual show?
If you do not receive your log-in e-mail with directions on how to access the virtual show by the day of the event, please check your spam folder before contacting us. If you need assistance accessing the event on your digital device, please e-mail [email protected]. Information about events will be posted on our website.

Learn more about Ayad Akhtar.

Among many other prestigious accolades, Ayad Akhtar has won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is the author of American Dervish, published in more than twenty languages and named a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2012. As a playwright, he has written Junk (Lincoln Center, Broadway; Kennedy Prize for American Drama, Tony nomination), Disgraced (Lincoln Center, Broadway; Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Tony nomination), The Who & The What (Lincoln Center), and The Invisible Hand (NYTW; Obie Award, Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award, Olivier, and Evening Standard nominations). As a screenwriter, Akhtar was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay for The War Within. He is the recipient of the Steinberg Playwriting Award, the Nestroy Award, and the Erwin Piscator Award, as well as fellowships from the American Academy in Rome, MacDowell, the Sundance Institute, and Yaddo, where he serves as a Board Director. Akhtar is also a Board Trustee at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and New York Theatre Workshop.

Expected Run Time is 60 minutes