W&L Launches New Faculty Lecture Series
Washington and Lee University will launch a new faculty lecture series, “Beyond the Page: Milestone Works by Faculty,” at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, in the Lemon Room located in Tucker Hall. The series celebrates significant scholarly and creative achievements by faculty members across disciplines.
Genelle Gertz, associate dean of strategic initiatives and Thomas H. Broadus Professor of English, will introduce Domnica Radulescu, Edwin A. Morris Professor of Comparative Literatures, as the series’ first lecturer. Radulescu will discuss her new novel, “My Father’s Orchards,” which officially hits bookshelves Oct. 7. Her discussion will be followed by a reception and book exhibit organized by the W&L University Store, whereby attendees can purchase copies of the book.
Published by Histria Books, Radulescu’s novel sheds light on a previously untold story of a Romanian family caught in the crossfire between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia during World War II and what they faced through post-war Communist dictatorships. It blends a realistic narrative with otherworldly elements to create a unique storytelling experience.
The story centers on twin sisters Zoe and Carolina who seek refuge from the Nazis in their father’s house. The novel explores themes of political oppression, violence and displacement that resonate deeply with contemporary issues of immigration and totalitarianism. However, it maintains the premise of hope, love and the transformative power of remembrance that ultimately brings the characters solace and closure amidst the brutal realities of their war-torn world.
“I consider ‘My Father’s Orchards’ my greatest novelistic accomplishment to date,” said Radulescu. “It has taken me 10 years of research and writing from the day I discovered my father’s house in Northern Romania in 2015 through the novel’s publication in 2025. The novel is partly inspired by family stories and, in particular, my father’s stories of living through and surviving World War II and the post-war communist dictatorships, so it demanded to be written and processed into my fiction. I was supported by a Fulbright fellowship to perform a significant part of the archival research in Romania.”
In addition to the “Beyond the Page” book discussion, Radulescu will also hold a book launch and signing event at Downtown Books in Lexington at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
A member of W&L’s faculty since 1992, Radulescu is the author, editor or co-editor of 17 scholarly books, three volumes of original plays and four critically acclaimed novels, as well as book chapters and articles.
