The Friends of the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library will launch the September Table Talk series on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at noon in the library meeting room, 314 7th St. N., with a presentation on Tennessee Williams” Family in Columbus.
Steve Pieschel, emeritus assistant professor of English at Mississippi University for Woman, will take a look at Columbus at the beginning of the 20th century, creating a social and historical context for early influences on the Columbus-born playwright. He will cover how Williams came to be born in Columbus and the influence his beloved grandfather, Episcopal minister the Rev. Walter Dakin, had on Williams” work.
“We are excited by this opportunity to blend our programming with the September 6-11 Tennessee Williams Tribute and Tour of Victorian Homes,” said Friends board member Jo Shumake. “Williams” grandfather is the model for one of the key characters in this year”s Tribute production, ”The Night of the Iguana,” so this Table Talk program will offer added insight to the play.”
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for those wishing to bring their lunch and socialize before the program begins at noon. The Friends will serve iced tea.
September talks
Each Wednesday in September, the Friends will host a “casual visit with books” open to the general public.
“We”ve centered most of this month”s programs on Southern authors, and we hope that the lunch time format will enable more people to break away from their routines and enjoy both food and food for thought,” added board member Beth Imes.
In addition to Pieschel”s talk Wednesday, other September programs include:
n Sept. 14 — “The Sisters,” a local book discussion group, will examine Kathryn Stockett”s “The Help” and offer their insights into this best-selling novel.
n Sept. 21 — Dr. Kendall Dunkelberg, MUW professor of English, will preview the Oct. 20-22 Eudora Welty Writers” Symposium at MUW. Symposium speaker Dr. Michael Smith will read from his 2011 release “The Hands of Strangers.”
n Sept. 28 — Curtis Wilkie, journalist, author, and University of Mississippi professor, will discuss his latest work, “The Fall of the House of Zeus,” which looks at the career of Mississippi lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs.
For more information on this month”s Table Talk series, contact the Friends at [email protected]
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