History Book Festival discussion group to meet July 18

The Lewes Public Library will host its monthly History Book Festival discussion from 2 to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 18, in the library’s medium meeting room. Members of the public are invited to attend the free event.

Participants will discuss “Five for Freedom,” by Eugene L. Meyer, an award-winning veteran journalist. This riveting book chronicles the 1859 attempt by John Brown and his band of raiders to incite a slave insurrection. Of the five African-American men among the band, only one survived and later published the lone insider account of the event. “Five for Freedom” is the story of these five brave men, the circumstances in which they were born and raised, how they came together at a fateful time and place, and the legacies they left behind.

The discussion group meets the third Wednesday of each month to discuss books featured at the 2017 History Book Festival and new books that will be featured at this year’s second annual History Book Festival, set for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28 and 29, in Lewes. A library staff member facilitates the discussions.

The History Book Festival stocks a limited number of the books to be discussed; the books are available for checkout at the library’s circulation desk.

Last year’s inaugural History Book Festival, a two-day event in October, attracted more than 1,000 visitors who enjoyed a mix of author presentations, interviews, and panel discussions with more than 25 best-selling authors and notable moderators. The events were held in intimate venues around Lewes. The historical fiction and nonfiction books covered a range of topics, from the gripping story about the hunt for President Lincoln’s assassin to books about pirates, jazz, war, art, race, religion and the law.

This year’s authors’ presentations are designed to bring the past alive, give attendees new perspectives on the past and present, and leave them enriched and inspired.

In coming months, the book discussion groups at the library will provide participants with a sneak peek at the wide range of works to be featured at the festival.

For more information about this book discussion group, the library, or any of its programs, go to www.lewes.lib.de.us. For more information about the History Book Festival, go to www.historybookfestival.org.

The library is located at 111 Adams Ave. in Lewes.