Author Talk — Alex Krieger: Greenhorn
Alex Krieger presents his memoir *Greenhorn: Episodes in an Immigrant’s Life*, reading from the book and discussing its reflections on displacement, memory, cultural identity, and the lifelong process of making a home in unfamiliar surroundings. Krieger arrived in the United States at age nine with his three parents, all Holocaust survivors, and entered his fourth first-grade classroom while learning his fourth language in four years.
The memoir follows his journey from a displaced childhood through careers as a teacher, architect, and city planner. With a combination of poetic sensitivity and practical precision, Krieger considers the immigrant’s impulse to embrace the values of an adopted country while remaining attentive to its contradictions.
Krieger is Professor Emeritus at Harvard Graduate School of Design, where he taught beginning in 1977. His work has included design and planning projects in cities in the United States and abroad, including the reconstruction of Shanghai’s Bund. He is a former chair of Harvard’s Department of Urban Planning and Design, has served two terms on the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, is an advisor to public and educational institutions, and is a founding board member of the Leventhal Map & Education Center. He also co-authored *Mapping Boston*.
When: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Showtimes: 2:00pm–3:00pm
Run time: 1 hour
Tickets: Price not available
Venue: Jamaica Plain
Location: Community Meeting Room, 30 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Ages: No age restriction is specified.
Accessibility: Disability accommodations and language services may be requested through the listed contact. Requests should be made at least two weeks in advance.
Contact: Kathy at kkeleher@bpl.org or 617-524-2053
Day-of logistics: The location is listed as open from 9:00am to 5:00pm on the event date.