AZ Speaks programs are hosted by Arizona Humanities’ Speakers and cultural, educational, and nonprofit organizations. The programs span 60 minutes for virtual events and 60-90 minutes for in-person events. Enjoy interesting and engaging humanities-based programs.

This presentation covers five Arizona novelists: Zane Grey spent his honeymoon at the Grand Canyon and went on to be one of the first and most famous Western writers of all time; Harold Bell Wright came to Tucson with lung problems and became a bestseller from 1900 to 1930. University of Arizona writing professor Richard Summers wrote Dark Madonna in 1937. Capturing Hispanic culture and folklore, Eva Antonia Wilbur Cruz beautifully describes ranch life and the blending of Tohono O’odham, Hispanic and Anglo folkways in Beautiful Cruel Country, and Susan Lowell wrote an award-winning young adult novel of a young Arizona ranch girl, My Name is Lavina Cumming, based closely on the life of her grandmother.