Poet Martín Espada, an English professor at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, was guest author at the 31st annual Bluffton University English Festival on November 13. 

He also headlined a question-and-answer session and book signing, and gave a  Forum presentation on “The Republic of Poetry” -- also the title of his 2006 book that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. The festival also featured an oral performance of literature, by Bluffton students, workshops led by Bluffton facult, and announcement of the winners of poetry- and prose-writing contests for the high school students.