Bestselling Author Augusten Burroughs to Visit Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Mass. – Bestselling author Augusten Burroughs will give a talk, titled “Dry: Living Life Without Booze,” on Wednesday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Hogan Campus Center Ballroom at Holy Cross. Burroughs will be available to sign copies of his books after the lecture, which is free and open to the public.

Massachusetts native Augusten Burroughs is the bestselling author of the novel Sellvision and the memoirs Running With Scissors and Dry: A Memoir. Released in 2003, Dry tells the personal story of Burroughs’ difficult emergence into adulthood, out of the closet, and through drug and alcohol rehab programs. During his talk, Burroughs will share with the audience the reality of alcohol dependence — blackouts, broken friendships and an apartment filled with nothing but empty bottles.

People Magazine describes Dry as “more than a heartbreaking tale; it's a heroic one. As with its predecessor, we finish the book amazed not only that Burroughs can write so brilliantly, but that he's even alive.”

Janet Maslin of The New York Times describes the autobiography as “a bawdy, outrageous, often hilarious account…In keeping with this book’s dauntless comic timing, this guy doesn’t miss a beat.”

Burroughs’ first memoir, Running With Scissors, recounts his unusual childhood after his eccentric mother left him in the care of her psychiatrist. It is currently in production to be released as a feature film starring Julianne Moore.

This event is sponsored by The Office of the President; Dean of the College; Student Affairs; Athletics; First-Year Program; the Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture; English department; Psychology department; and Wellness Programming.