Writer Denis Johnson to speak at UM in April

Poet, novelist, playwright and National Book Award-winner Denis Johnson will speak at the University of Minnesota in April.

Johnson's works include the short story collection "Jesus' Son," which was made into a film by the same name (which was then named one of the top ten films of 1999); "Tree of Smoke," for which he won the National Book Award in 2007; and "Train Dreams," published last year (and to be published this summer in paperback), named a notable book by the New York Times.

Called the "dark poet of drugs, drink and alienation" by New York Magazine, Johnson keeps his appearances rare. (The magazine also called him reclusive, and a spiritual heir to William Burroughs and Charles Bukowski.)

He'll read from his work and answer questions at 7:30 p.m. April 11 at Coffman Union Theater. The event is free and open to the public. His appearance is made possible by the University of Minnesota Department of English and the Esther Freier Endowment.