BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Journalist Jack Hitt, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) John S. Jemison Jr. Visiting Professor, will present a lecture on Thursday, March 4 discussing one of Europe's oldest forms of packaged tours - the pilgrimage from France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Millions of the faithful and the adventurous have walked the 500-mile trek throughout the history of Christendom.
The lecture, sponsored by the UAB Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 4, at the Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Admission is free. For more details, call 205-934-4652.
Hitt is author of the travel memoir Off the Road: A Modern Day Walk Down the Pilgrim's Route Into Spain. In the book, he recounts his attempt to make the ancient pilgrimage from France to Santiago de Compostela and the sites and colorful cast of characters he sees along the way.
The pilgrimage began in the ninth century after rumors spread that the bones of St. James had been discovered at Compostela in the northwest corner of Spain. Since then, millions have made the pilgrimage from the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela.
During his pilgrimage to Spain, Hitt and his companions visited the site associated with the murderous monks known as the Knights Templar. He toured locations that house ancient relics such as a vial rumored to contain the Virgin Mary's milk and a fortress said to hold the real secret Adam learned when he bit into the apple. Hitt said his experiences as a pilgrim gave him new insight into the concept of zealotry and modern belief.
Hitt is a contributing writer for Harper's and GQ magazines. He also writes for New York Times Magazine, Outside and Mother Jones and contributes to public radio's "This American Life."
The John S. Jemison Jr. Visiting Professorship in the Humanities, established in 1986, brings scholars and writers of national prominence to the UAB campus to speak and teach.
About the UAB Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
The UAB Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers a full range of language, culture, literature and civilization courses that are designed to help students to understand the diverse global challenges of today.