September 24, 2001 Nicholas Basbanes to Discuss His New Work <em>Book People, Book Places, and Book Culture</em> Nov. 8

Patience & Fortitude: A Roving Chronicle of Book People, Book Places, and Book Culture (HarperCollins, 2001) will be discussed by its author, Nicholas A. Basbanes, at the Library of Congress at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8 in the Montpelier Room, sixth floor, James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. SE. Part of the Center for the Book's "Books & Beyond" author series, the program is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.

"It's a pleasure to welcome Nicholas Basbanes back to the Library of Congress," said Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole. Patience & Fortitude casts a wide net across the community of the book. Based on dozens of interviews, it's filled with wonderful personal stories about the relevance of books and book culture for individuals and nations alike." Basbanes' popular first book, A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books (Henry Holt, 1995) focused on book collecting and collectors. The author discussed A Gentle Madness at the Library of Congress as part of the "Books & Beyond" series in 1996.

Nicholas A. Basbanes is former literary editor of the Worcester Sunday Telegram. A professional journalist for more than 30 years, he has written articles, essays, and reviews for many newspapers and magazines.

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress was established in 1977 to stimulate public interest in books, reading, and libraries. Its program is supported by tax-deductible contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations. For information about its forthcoming events, projects, publications, and the activities of its affiliates in 42 states and the District of Columbia, visit its Web site at www.loc.gov/cfbook.