Event: Philip Gourevitch, staff writer at the New Yorker, will discuss his recent book “The Ballad of Abu Ghraib,” at an event hosted by the Plan II Honors Program at The University of Texas at Austin.
When: Feb. 11, 7 p.m.
Where: The University of Texas at Austin, Joynes Reading Room in the Carothers Residence Hall at 2501 Whitis Ave.
Background: In 2004, photographs surfaced showing American soldiers abusing and humiliating Iraqis being held at a prison near Baghdad. After the U.S. Army investigated and issued a scathing report, many soldiers in Iraq were charged with mistreating Iraqi prisoners and were removed from duty.
Gourevitch’s book “The Ballad of Abu Ghraib” details what happened at the Abu Ghraib prison, based on hundreds of hours of exclusive interviews with the Americans involved. He will discuss his interviews with U.S. Army Private Lynndie England and other research that contributed to the book.
Gourevitch’s book “Standard Operating Procedure” was adapted into a documentary by Academy Award-winning director Errol Morris. Gourevitch is also the editor of The Paris Review, a renowned literary magazine.
