By TED CONOVER
In seventh grade English class, I read a poem in an anthology that felt custom-written for me. “It’s Raining in Love” captured almost perfectly an anxiety that I, at 13 years, felt practically every day: how to talk to a girl. The first lines are all about the speaker, worrying about the right things to say, but then it shifts to the girl’s perspective and finally this ending:
You’ve heard the good news — The Common is celebrating 15 years in 2025. Now here’s the best part: we’re throwing a party in New York, and you’re invited! Join us for an evening of refreshments, conversation, and mingling in honor of our 15th year in print.
With guest talks from physician Dr. Anthony Fauci and actor Jeffrey Wright, student and alumni readings, and a birthday party for The Common, this year’s 10th-anniversary LitFest was a celebratory occasion. From February 28 to March 2, 2025, attendees flocked to sold-out events in Amherst College’s Johnson Chapel, went behind the scenes with award-winning writers like Percival Everett, read poetry in the shadow of Emily Dickinson’s house, and celebrated the life and legacy of Amherst’s literary community.
Read on for a gallery of selected images and videos from LitFest 2025, and view all the event recordings here.
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