What: The Watkinson Library presents a lecture by Dr. Christoph Irmscher, Professor of English at Indiana University, on John James Audubon’s, “Birds of America.” Trinity owns an original copy of “Birds of America,” one of the rarest books in the world. (read more: http://goo.gl/bPLz5) The event is free and open to the public. www.trincoll.edu.

When: Thursday, November 3 ~ 5:00 p.m.

Where: The Joslin Family 1823 Room (Library, Level 2) on the campus of Trinity College

300 Summit Street, Hartford, Conn., 06106

Background:

Irmscher, Professor of English at Indiana University, edited the Library of America edition of Audubon's works, and writes on nineteenth-century American and Canadian literature, early American nature writing, and ecocriticism.

Birds of America is considered one of the rarest books in the world, with less than 120 copies in existence today. Published between 1836 and 1839, it includes 435 engravings that were hand colored and bound in four volumes. It is often referred to as the “Elephant Folio,” because of its remarkable size – over three feet tall and two feet wide – due to Audubon’s preference for illustrating each specimen to scale.

The Cromwell Historical Society

Presents

Sound Rising:

The Long Island Sound at the Forefront of

America's Struggle for Independence

By Richard Radune

Richard A. Radune will be discussing the themes of his book, SOUND RISING, which explores the extraordinary maritime significance of Long Island Sound between 1750 and 1820. Its multitude of small ports, coves and navigable rivers provided a distinct advantage by thwarting British efforts to enforce trade restrictions and collect taxes. Long Island Sound played a crucial role in America’s Revolutionary War victory when its naval vessels, privateers and whaleboat raiders swarmed out of these same ports to interdict British supplies and force major changes in the enemy’s strategic war plans. This groundbreaking, true story relates the Sound’s involvement in the capture of Fort Louisbourg, rampant smuggling, the Revolutionary War, the Undeclared War with France and the War of 1812.

Monday, October 24, 2011 at 7:00

Stevens-Frisbie House 395 Main Street in Cromwell

Refreshments to follow

Free Admission—Donations welcomed

Fro details on this program or the Cromwell Historical Society in general, please visit www.cromwelhistory.org or call (860)635-0501.

A book discussion group will meet from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Deep River Public Library. For more information, call (860) 526-6039.

The Durham Public Library Mystery Book Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, to discuss “Secret Ingredient Murders” by Nancy Pickard.
The book follows cook/sleuth Eugenia Potter on her adventures.

“Leonard Cohen: The Songwriter As Poet” will be the topic of a discussion at the East Hampton Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 13, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Explore Cohen’s lyrics and poems, sample sound recordings and discuss his role as a distinctive storyteller. Call (860) 267-6621 for more information or to register

The Levi E. Coe Library, 414 Main St., Middlefield, has announced it has the following new books:
“1225 Christmas Tree Lane” by Debbie Macomber, “Angel for Christmas” by Heather Graham, “Ballad of Tom Dooley” by Sharyn McCrumb, “The Dog Who Knew Too Much: A Chet and Bernie Mystery” by Spencer Quinn, “Fodor’s 2012 Boston,” “Fodor’s 2012 New York City,” “Fodor’s 2012 Walt Disney World,” “Fodor’s See It Mexico,” “Frommer’s Canada,” “Goddess of Vengeance” by Jackie Collins, “Hand Me Down World” by Lloyd Jones, “Heat Rises” by Richard Castle, “Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, “Mortal Terror: A Billy Boyle World War II Mystery” by James Benn, “Naked Heat” by Richard Castle, “New York to Dallas” by J. D. Robb, “Nightwoods” by Charles Frazier, “Pirate King” by Laurie R. King, “Plugged” by Eoin Colfer, “Rin Tin Tin: The Life and Legend by Susan Orlean,” “Robert B. Parker’s Killing the Blues” by Michael Brandman, “Schoolmaster’s Daughter” by John Smolens, Son of Stone by Stuart Woods, “Tag Man” by Archer Mayor, “Vault” by Ruth Rendell, “Velva Jean Learns to Fly” by Jennifer Niven, “Victory and Honor” by W.E.B. Griffin, “Where the God of Love Hangs Out” by Amy Bloom and “Wonderland Creek” by Lynn Austin.