University of Richmond professors aren’t just accomplished in their research and teaching: They’re wildly prolific. In the last two years, Arts & Sciences faculty have authored or otherwise contributed to an impressive number of books — at last count 55 — covering history, music, philosophy, the arts, mathematics, religion, and a range of other topics. Below, read about a selection of artistic page turners from UR faculty.

The Book of Bodies 

English and creative writing professor Brian Henry translated this collection of 50 poems from Eastern European writer Aleš Šteger, one of eight books he's translated from Slovenian. The book’s poetry touches on human history, personal experience, and the natural world. Half of the book is prose; the other half is stanza-less poems focused on a single word. Henry is an accomplished poet himself, whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, the New York Times, The New Republic, American Poetry Review, and elsewhere. He is the author of 11 books. 

Magician of Sound: Ravel and the Aesthetics of Illusion

Musicology professor Jessie Fillerup’s book uses music theory, psychology, philosophy, and the history of magic to interpret the 20th century French composer Maurice Ravel’s most popular works, such as Boléro, in a way that draws a link between magic and music. “Fillerup develops an approach to musical illusion," the book's publisher writes, "that newly illuminates Ravel's fascination with machines and creates compelling links between his music and other forms of aesthetic illusion."

Moments of Happiness

Yvonne Howell, professor of Russian and global studies, edited, translated, and wrote the introduction and notes for this collection of stories from a popular Russian radio host, Alex Dubas, who asked listeners to describe a moment of happiness. “This book is those moments,” according to the publisher, “in the voices of Dubas' fellow countrymen from the breadth and depth of today's Russia.” Howell frequently writes about Soviet science fiction, sociobiology, yoga, and happiness.

On Sunday Afternoons

On Sunday Afternoons is a book of lyric and narrative poetry from music professor Richard Becker, many of which are a response to people, events, and places from his youth, like the poem “Prospect Park,” a frequent destination near his childhood home in Brooklyn. The book is described by noted Irish Poet Eamon Grennan as “a collection of vividly stimulating surprises — whether of natural description, emotional understanding, or bristling with tactful literary reference. That Becker is also a musician-composer enriches his poetic brew.”

The Anatomy of a Good Pot

Chemistry professor Ryan Coppage explores how to manifest an artist’s voice in clay. In The Anatomy of a Good Pot Coppage approaches the secret to good pottery as a scientist might, looking at five components — openings, contour, elevation, visual cues, and balance — to assist those who want to create artful ceramics, with detailed photography to help guide them. “In each chapter,” the publisher writes, “Coppage goes through individual aesthetics building up to a full visual analysis of various works and voices in clay.”