[Publib] Author Tobias Wolff to Appear at Highland Park Public Library, IL

[Katy Maziarz]

Thought this might be of some interest to local Illinois members of the 
list! We're lucky enough to have author Tobias Wolff visiting our 
library and giving a reading and discussion related to our One Book, One 
Community pick, Wolff's award-winning novella "The Barracks Thief."

Official press release and details below:


Award-winning author Tobias Wolff, whose book “The Barracks Thief” has 
been selected as the One Book, One Highland Park featured title, will 
appear at the Highland Park Public Library on Tuesday, July 15, at 7 
p.m. Mr. Wolff will read from “The Barracks Thief” and discuss his 
writing. A question and answer session and book signing will follow the 
program.

Wolff’s “The Barracks Thief,” the summer title for the One Book One 
Highland Park community-wide read program, is a brief yet powerful tale 
of three young paratroopers waiting to be shipped out to Vietnam. The 
award-winning novella tells the story of the three young men who share 
an experience that affects each of them in profoundly different ways and 
is an insightful examination of compassion, perspective and tolerance. 
Discussions of the “Barracks Thief” are scheduled at the Highland Park 
Public Library and Borders during the month of July. And, to enhance the 
experience of reading the “Barracks Thief,” Mr. Wolff will speak about 
the book.

“The Barracks Thief” is the second title of the One Book, One Highland 
Park community-wide read program, a joint project with The City of 
Highland Park, the Highland Park Public Library and Highland Park 
Borders Books & Music. The program was initiated this spring to broaden 
and deepen an appreciation of reading and compel friends, family and 
neighbors to share their experience while reading the same book. The 
project seeks to engage the community in dialogue and bring them 
together by promoting tolerance and understanding about different points 
of view. The initial One Book, One Highland Park title for the 
community-wide read was “Maus: A Survivor’s Tale,” by Art Spiegelman.

In addition to “The Barracks Thief,” Wolff’s books include the memoirs 
“This Boy’s Life” and “In Pharaoh’s Army: Memories of the Lost War;” the 
novel “Old School;” and four collections of short stories, “In the 
Garden of the North American Martyrs,” Back in the World,” “The Night in 
Question,” and most recently, “Our Story Begins: New and Selected 
Stories.” He has also edited several anthologies. Wolff’s work has been 
translated widely and has received numerous awards including the 
PEN/Faulkner Award, The Los Angeles Times Book Prize, both the 
PEN/Malamud and the Rea Award for Excellence in the Short Story, and the 
Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and 
Letters. Wolff is the Ward W. and Priscilla B. Woods Professor of 
English at Stanford.

“An Evening with Tobias Wolff” at the Highland Park Public Library is 
free and open to the public, but reservations are requested. The program 
begins at 7 p.m. and will conclude with a book signing of Mr. Wolff’s 
work. The program is also presented by the City of Highland Park and the 
Highland Park Borders Books & Music. To reserve a seat, call (847) 
432-1573, ext. 124.

The Highland Park Public Library strives to provide the highest quality 
Library services to community members for life-long learning, cultural 
enrichment, and enjoyment. The Highland Park Public Library is located 
at 494 Laurel Avenue, Highland Park. For more information, please call 
(847) 432-0216.

-- 
Katy Maziarz
Readers' Advisor
Highland Park Public Library
494 Laurel Avenue
Highland Park, IL 60035
www.hplibrary.org