ABOUT THE EVENT
Phoenixville Public Library will host author M. Earl Smith, as he discusses his new book, Philadelphia Big 5, on Monday March 4 at 7:00 PM. In the “City of Brotherly Love,” there are few things taken as seriously as local bragging rights. In a city that lives and dies with its sports heroes, basketball is no exception. M. Earl’s book traces the lore and history behind Philadelphia’s Big 5, an informal basketball league that features five of the area’s most prestigious colleges: LaSalle University, Temple University, Saint Joseph’s University, Villanova University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Formed in 1955, the Big 5 pulls teams from the Ivy League, the Big East, the American Athletic Conference, and, in the case of both LaSalle and Saint Joseph’s, the Atlantic 10. With a round-robin format, each team plays the other once and best record takes home the trophy. In a sport that has become a nationwide sensation, the spirit of Philadelphia lives on, led by the most loyal and passionate fans in the world.
M. Earl Smith is a writer that seeks to stretch the boundaries of genre and style. A native of Southeast Tennessee, M. Earl moved to Ohio at nineteen and, with success, reinvented himself as a writer at the age of 30. After graduating from Chatfield College (with highest honors) in 2015, M. Earl became the first student from Chatfield to matriculate at an Ivy League institution when he enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. The proud father of two wonderful children (Nicholas and Leah), M. Earl studied creative writing and history at UPenn, graduating with an MA in English in 2017. He is currently enrolled in the Solstice MFA program at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, MA. When he’s not studying, M. Earl splits time between Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Boston, with road trips to New York City, Wichita, Kansas, and Mystic, Connecticut in between.
This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required on the Adult Events Calendar at www.phoenixvillelibrary.org or by calling 610-933-3013 x132.
610-933-3013 x132
