The University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, in partnership with the The Georgia Review, is pleased to present a reading by award-winning novelist Hanna Pylväinen on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in Ramsey Concert Hall (230 River Road, Athens). Admission is free and no tickets are required.
Pylväinen will read from her latest novel, The End of Drum-Time, a sweeping historical narrative set amidst the Sámi reindeer herding culture of mid-19th century Scandinavia. The reading will be followed by a book sale, signing, and reception. This event is part of the UGA Presents Dialogues series and ties into its “Nordic Dream: Voices from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden” programming this season. It is also among the UGA Signature Lectures, which feature speakers noted for their broad, multidisciplinary appeal and compelling bodies of work.
ABOUT HANNA PYLVÄINEN
Hanna Pylväinen is the author of two acclaimed novels: We Sinners and The End of Drum-Time. We Sinners earned the Whiting Award and the Balcones Fiction Prize, and her latest novel was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Award in Fiction.
She graduated summa cum laude from Mount Holyoke College and holds an MFA from the University of Michigan. Her short-form work has appeared in Harper’s Magazine, The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, and The Wall Street Journal.
A recipient of numerous fellowships and residencies — including at the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the Lásságámmi Foundation — Pylväinen has also taught at the University of Michigan, Princeton University, and Virginia Commonwealth University; she currently teaches in the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College.
ABOUT THE READING
In The End of Drum-Time, Pylväinen offers a richly textured exploration of faith, identity, colonialism, and change. Set in the Scandinavian Arctic in 1851, the story follows a Lutheran minister attempting to convert indigenous Sámi reindeer herders, and the unexpected consequences of cultural collision.
This presentation offers attendees a rare chance to hear directly from Pylväinen about her research, the craft of historical fiction, and her engagement with the themes of tradition, faith, and transformation. The event brings to Athens a distinguished voice in contemporary American fiction. Pylväinen’s unique blending of historical depth, cultural inquiry, and literary craft makes this reading a noteworthy moment for students, faculty, community members, and readers alike.
The conversation around The End of Drum-Time — with its focus on how mission, identity, place, and power intersect — invites reflection on how cultures meet and change, how belief shapes human experience, and how we tell stories of the past that speak to the present.
NORDIC DREAM
Further events in the UGA Presents Nordic Dream series include a recital by Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes (Jan. 21, 2026), a concert by Finnish folk band Frigg (Jan. 24), and an appearance by Norwegian jazz pianist Tord Gustavsen’s trio (Mar. 27)
Securing tickets for these UGA Presents performances couldn’t be easier. There are three ways to choose from:
- Purchase tickets online 24/7 here.
- Call the Performing Arts Center Box Office at (706) 542-4400, Mon.-Fri., 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Visit the UGA Performing Arts Center Box Office, Mon.-Fri., 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (5 minute parking is available in the drop off circle at the Performing Arts Center for purchasing or picking up tickets.)
You may also create your own series of three or more performances (10% off). UGA Presents single tickets start at just $30 with promo code PAC30 and UGA student tickets are $15. Information about accessibility and venue amenities is available on the PAC website. Parking is free.
