English Professor Makes Way as Esteemed Novelist

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Author Matt Bondurant

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PLATTSBURGH, NY (11/13/2008)(readMedia)-- When an author earns a favorable review in the New York Times, many would say he's made it big. Such is the case of Matt Bondurant, SUNY Plattsburgh assistant professor of English and the author of the newly released novel, "The Wettest County in the World." The book has not only received positive reviews from the Times, it has earned praise from critics at Publisher's Weekly, Booklist and more.

Now, members of the college and community will have a chance to hear Bondurant speak in person about his work as he reads from the novel on Friday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Krinovtiz Recital Hall in Hawkins Hall on the corner of Beekman and Cornelia streets.

Dr. Thomas Morrissey, SUNY distinguished teaching professor and chair of the college's English department had praise for Bondurant and his achievements.

"I think he's wonderful," said Morrissey. "He's more than living up to our expectations."

SUNY Plattsburgh Adjunct Lecturer Michael Carrino concurred.

"I don't think we've had anyone to this date with the kind of national recognition that he is getting for this book," said Carrino. "The book does what any piece of good art should do. It is entertaining and informative and beautiful and creates not just food for thought but questions in a person's mind to think about a way of life and people and how they deal with circumstances."

"The Wettest County in the World" is a fictional account of the "Great Moonshine Conspiracy" of 1935 in Franklin County, Va. In it Bondurant's grandfather Jack and his granduncles Howard and Forrest Bondurant are bootleggers during the Great Depression.

The book continues to receive positive critical reviews. For instance, both the Men's Journal and the Washington City Journal have compared Bondurant's gory, tell-all writing style to that of Cormac McCarthy. The New York Times said that it is "hard for even the most lily-livered to look away" from his writing. Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review, calling it "a gripping relentless tale, delivered in no-nonsense prose." Furthermore, Booklist said, "Novelist Bondurant dramatically projects the poverty and danger at the heart of the old-time bootlegging life," and added that the novel was "descriptively gritty and emotionally resonant."

In addition, his novel is due to be featured soon in Esquire and Rolling Stone's annual "Hot" issue. Bondurant has even sold foreign rights and movie rights to the book.

This is not Bondurant's first book to receive a great deal of acclaim. His first book, "The Third Translation," was an international bestseller and has been translated in 14 languages worldwide.