The event takes place at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 5 at the Texas Union Theatre. Seating is free but limited. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Mamet’s papers are housed at the Ransom Center and will be available for research later this spring. In the meantime, check out this gallery of items from the collection. Or, listen to an audio slideshow from Mamet’s 2008 visit.

The Harry Ransom Lectures honor former University of Texas Chancellor Harry Huntt Ransom and highlight the Ransom Center’s vital role in the university’s intellectual and cultural life. The program brings internationally renowned writers, artists, and scholars to Austin for a public event and conversations with University students. Learn more about other speakers in the series.

The Ransom Center holds the papers of the celebrated writer who won the Booker Prize in 1992 for “Sacred Hunger”, a novel about the 18-century slave trade widely considered his masterpiece.

His other acclaimed works include “Morality Play,” “Pascali’s Island” (which was adapted into a film starring Ben Kingsley and Helen Mirren), “The Ruby in Her Navel,” “The Songs of the Kings,” “After Hannibal” and “Losing Nelson.”

The Harry Ransom Lectures honor former University of Texas Chancellor Harry Huntt Ransom and highlight the Ransom Center’s vital role in the university’s intellectual and cultural life. The program, made possible by support from the University Co-operative Society, brings internationally renowned writers, artists and scholars to Austin for public events and conversations with university students.