The Franco-American Collection at the University of Southern Maine invites you to a book talk with Ron Currie about his new novel, The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne. Join us at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston campus, 51 Westminster St. in Lewiston, room 170, on September 15, 2025 at 6 pm for the event. There is no fee for our programs, which are made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Québec Delegation in Boston and TV5MONDE.

Ron Currie is the author of four novels and one collection of short stories. He has won the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Award, the Addison M. Metcalf Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Library Association’s Alex Award, and the Pushcart Prize. His books have been translated into fifteen languages, and his short fiction and nonfiction have received recognition in Best American anthologies. As a screenwriter he worked most recently on the Apple TV+ series Extrapolations and has developed projects with AMC Studios, Amblin Television, and ITV America. He lives in Portland, Maine and teaches in the University of Southern Maine Stonecoast MFA program.

His newest book, The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne follows the life of fictional female Franco-American crime boss Babs Dionne in Waterville, ME. According to Library Journal: “Award-winning screenwriter and novelist Currie doesn't pull any punches in this brutal character-driven mystery. Violence, heartbreak, sorrow, and a dash of grim humor are splashed across the pages with abandon as Currie carefully chronicles the fascinating, unforgettable life of a woman who will do anything for her family, her French American heritage, and her town. Fans of Dennis Lehane's Mystic River, as well as readers who appreciate their crime fiction served straight up with no chaser, will be mesmerized.”

Unable to join us in-person? Email Anna Faherty at anna.faherty@maine.edu for the Zoom link.

For more information or to register, contact the FAC archivist, Anna Faherty at anna.faherty@maine.edu or by phone (207) 753-6545. If you have questions about disability access or need to request disability accommodations (e.g. sign language interpreters, materials in electronic format, etc.), please contact Anna. Requests should be made as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for the accommodation process.