Saturday at the Wisconsin Book Festival

Saturday is a book day. A trip to the Friends of the Monona Public Library Used Book sale in the morning. And then off to the book festival. These are the sessions I'd like to see - this will probably turn out like planning for a family vacation - too much stuff and too little time. And there's plenty of other interesting sesions besides these.

These summaries are taken from the Wisconsin Book Festival web page.


Beowulf: A Dramatic Excerpt from the new Audiobook
Saturday, October 21 11:00 - 11:45 AM
Venue: Promenade Hall/Overture
Presenter(s): Dick Ringler, Norman Gilliland
The tattered and charred manuscript of the poem known as Beowulf no doubt survived perils rivaling those faced by its celebrated hero. The poem, which is the oldest extant narrative in English, was written down by two scribes about a thousand years ago, and is set circa 500 A.D. It tells a simple and straightforward story in a complex and many-layered way. In the foreground stands Beowulf, a young hero who combines physical strength and prowess with great strength of mind and character. He fights Grendel, a man-eating monster, faces Grendel's formidable mother, and, fifty years later, comes to grips with the ultimate challenge in the form of a flying, fire- breathing dragon. The story is set against a colorful background of historical and legendary events and reveals much about the rich culture of pre-Viking Age Scandinavia and Anglo-Saxon England at a time of transition from oral to written poetry. Based on Dick Ringler's bold new translation of the original Old English story, Beowulf: The Complete Story -- A Drama is perhaps the first dramatization of the complete story, with music consistent with the time of the poem and actors portraying each of the eleven characters in the timeless classic. Bookseller: University Book Store Category(s): Fiction, History


WPR Live: Onstage Interviews for To The Best of Our Knowledge
Saturday, October 21 12:30 - 4:00 PM
Venue: Memorial Union Theater
Presenter(s): Ted Kooser, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Andrew Sullivan, Brian Mann, Marjane Satrapi, Chris Ware
Join Jim Fleming, Steve Paulson, and Anne Strainchamps of Wisconsin Public Radio's Peabody Award-winning national program To the Best of Our Knowledge for a special on-stage multi-interview event. The first of three compelling segments will feature former US Poet Laureate Ted Kooser and "alternative poet laureate" Linton Kwesi Johnson; the second pairs conservative pundit Andrew Sullivan with NPR commentator Brian Mann in a discussion of the American political landscape; and the third showcases master graphic novelists (and old friends) Marjane Satrapi and Chris Ware. Sean Michael Dargan and his band will provide live musical interludes, and the show will be recorded for future broadcast on To the Best of Our Knowledge. Bookseller: Borders Category(s): Art/Visual, Discussion, Fiction, Memoir/Biography, Poetry, Politics, Wisconsin Ties

James Yee: For God and Country & A More Perfect Union
Saturday, October 21 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Venue: Promenade Hall/Overture
Presenter(s): James Yee
On September 11, 2001, James Yee was one of a very few Muslim Chaplains in the U.S. Army. As the nation sought to understand the 9/11 terrorist attacks, his superiors asked Yee to serve as a spokesperson for Islam to his fellow servicemen and the media. After the military established a prison for detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Yee was assigned to serve its Muslim residents -- both prisoners and U.S. military personnel. While he returned home on leave, the military arrested Chaplain Yee and held him for seventy-six days in solitary confinement. No official charges were brought against him, but accusations of spying and aiding the enemy were leaked to the press. Chaplain James Yee will read from this A More Perfect Union: To Establish Justice discussion series selection, take questions from the audience, and be available after the event for book signing. The event will be introduced and moderated by Dr. Charles Cohen, professor of history and director of the Lubar Institute for the Study of the Abrahamic Religions at the UW-Madison. Bookseller: University Book Store Category(s): A More Perfect Union, History, Law, Politics


Madison Women Remember: Growing Up in Wisconsin's Capital
Saturday, October 21 3:30 - 5:00 PM
Venue: A Room of One's Own Feminist Bookstore
Presenter(s): Sarah White
In Madison Women Remember, her collection of interviews revealing the changing nature of Madison over time, Sarah White leads readers on an exploration of the city through oral histories and vintage photographs. Celebrate Madison's sesquicentennial by viewing Madison through the eyes of twelve women who grew up here from the early 1920s to the mid-70s. This discussion addresses women's experiences from early childhood through leaving home, because, White says, "coming of age at a particular place and time leaves such an indelible mark on us." White encourages everyone to use oral history techniques to preserve the stories of their lives as a legacy for those to come. Aspects of publishing and the writer's life may be discussed as well. Bookseller: A Room of One's Own Category(s): History, Memoir/Biography, Nonfiction, Wisconsin Ties

9XM: A WHA History
Saturday, October 21 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Venue: Wisconsin Historical Museum-Capitol Square
Presenter(s): Randall Davidson Author Randall Davidson discusses the early development of radio at the University of Wisconsin, including the most-beloved programs, the development of the stations that became the Wisconsin Public Radio network of today, and the fascinating story of the "other" station, affiliate WLBL in Stevens Point. He'll also weigh in on the claim that WHA Radio has to the title "oldest station in the nation." Category(s): History, Nonfiction, Wisconsin Ties

Progressive Politics in Wisconsin
Saturday, October 21 7:00 - 7:50 PM
Venue: Wisconsin Historical Society-Library Mall Hosted by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press
Presenter(s): Jonathan Kasparek
As the second son of the most famous Wisconsin progressive, Phil La Follette's own political journey was incontrovertibly marked by his father's legacy. Growing up in the shadow of a major political figure like "Fighting Bob" La Follette made for a politically charged childhood, which laid the groundwork for Phil to make his own mark in Wisconsin politics. In this new book, Fighting Son: A Biography of Philip F. La Follette, author Jonathan Kasparek examines La Follette's path from political origins through public office, active duty in the Pacific, return to law practice, and the end of the Progressive era. His treatment of this Fighting Son is a monument not only to La Follette but to progressive politics in Wisconsin. Come learn more about the life of the three-term Wisconsin governor and founder of the National Progressives of America, whose loyalty to a political ethos went far beyond love of country. Bookseller: Wisconsin Historical Society Category(s): History, Memoir/Biography, Nonfiction, Politics, Wisconsin Ties