VISITING AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE

OCTOBER 2009

GREETINGS FROM

NOVI SAD/NEUSATZ

Karen Karbiener

Dear Dr. Thornton,

          As a reader of your website and as a Danube-Swabian descendent, I am happy to share the news that I am currently on a U.S. Fulbright grant in Serbia, researching and writing a book about my family's Vojvodina roots.  I write to you from Novi Sad, where I am based at the University here until the end of December 2009.  In February 2007, I gave a lecture on my book project at New York University's Deutsches Haus, and some of your members were kind enough to attend (Edward Grunewald generously gave me a copy of his book).

          I write this to you, to let members know a few significant items: firstly, that both the U.S. and Serbian governments have fully approved of this project; secondly, that I am interested in hearing from your members that are familiar with the Batschka town of Sekitsch (now Lovcenac), or with members of my family (my father Phillipp, grandmother Margaret (born Karbiener) and grandfather Phillipp). 

          Another interesting tidbit: my presence here has encouraged two of my cousins (Lisa Karbiner and Michelle Karbiner-Ball) to begin making plans for a fall visit!  We're looking forward to a reunion in the land of our fathers-- and I believe this will be an overwhelming emotional experience, as my tenure here in Vojvodina proves to be.

          Please let me know if you require any further information.  I am running a blog that documents my experience researching for my book, and teaching a Master Class on the American poet Walt Whitman (I am a professor of literature at New York University, when I'm not in the Balkans!):  http://karbiener.lookingforwhitman.org.

          Many thanks, and warm greetings from Novi Sad/Neusatz!

Karen Karbiener