Postponed: History Book Festival program with author Erik Larson

Editor’s note: Lewes History Book Festival officials have announced that An Evening with Erik Larson, slated for Tuesday, March 17, has been postponed. In addition to discussion with city and state officials they talked with Larson’s publisher, and have agreed to reschedule his visit to Lewes, once they know it is safe to gather again. All those who purchased tickets for this March 17 event will receive advance notice and first dibs on tickets for that event.

For more rescheduled events, go to www.capegazette.com/article/events-canceled-rescheduled-coronavirus-conc....

The annual History Book Festival’s growing popularity has prompted creation of a new midseason ticketed event featuring New York Times bestselling author Erik Larson.

Larson will discuss his latest book, “The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz,” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, during a special program at the Cape Henlopen High School Theatre. There will be time for questions, and Larson will sign copies of his book.

Larson’s appearance is presented by the History Book Festival and the Lewes Public Library; it is sponsored by the Lee Ann Wilkinson Group of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gallo Realty, with book sales by Browseabout Books.

”The Splendid and the Vile” offers a fresh, compelling portrait of Winston Churchill and London during the Blitz of World War II. Drawing on diaries, original archival documents and once-secret intelligence reports – some only recently released – Larson sheds new light on London’s darkest year through the day-to-day experiences of Churchill and his family. The book highlights Churchill’s eloquence, courage and perseverance in the face of unrelenting horror, binding together both his family and an entire nation.

Individual tickets for the March 17 program are $37; couples’ tickets are $42.

Larson is the author of eight books, five of which became New York Times bestsellers. His saga of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, “The Devil in the White City,” was a finalist for the National Book Award and won an Edgar Award for fact-crime writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, Larson was a staff writer for the Wall Street Journal and later a contributing writer for Time magazine. He has written for the New Yorker, the Atlantic Monthly and Harper’s, among other publications.

All tickets include a signed hardcover copy of the book. Additional copies will be available for purchase at the event. Following the book’s Feb. 25 publication, copies will be available for purchase at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, the official bookseller of the History Book Festival.

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.historybookfestival.org.

Although the History Book Festival and its partners have hosted other author events outside the annual three-day festival held each September, Larson’s program is only the second ticketed event.

“Audience feedback from previous festivals has indicated a desire for additional programming featuring top-flight authors of historical nonfiction and fiction,” said Jen Mason, festival co-chair. “We are delighted to welcome an author of Erik Larson’s stature for this midseason ticketed event, which demonstrates the History Book Festival’s growing popularity.”

The Fourth Annual History Book Festival will be held at venues throughout Lewes from Friday to Sunday, Sept. 25 to 27. Speakers and presenting authors will be announced at a later date.