“I took one crown jewel from my Jesuit immersion at Gonzaga High School. When the scholarly, charismatic Joseph Monte walked into [our classroom] that first day, he radiated an owl-like authority and a passion for literature I’d never come across…. He brought his love of books and words and fine writing to us every day of that year, and he thunderstruck me with the mesmerizing power of his teaching…. The great teachers of the world fill you up with hope and shower you with a thousand reasons to embrace all aspects of life. I wanted to follow Mr. Monte around for the rest of my life, learning everything he wished to share or impart.”—Pat Conroy, My Losing Season

Conroy biographer Catherine Seltzer will interview retired teacher and guidance counselor Joseph Monte, who was Pat’s sophomore year English teacher at Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C., the school year before the Conroy family moved to Beaufort, South Carolina in 1961. Perhaps Monte will even reveal some or all of his storied recommended list of 100 books for high school students to read before college (which Pat said he had read in full before his first day at the Citadel.)

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This session is also included in the festival’s Weekend Pass and Saturday Pass.(Multi-session passes include free and ticketed events excluding workshops, cooking demonstrations, and tours).

For more information about the multi-session passes, please click here…