March 6, 2002 100 One-Night Reads to Be Featured at Library of Congress "Books & Beyond" Presentation on Wednesday, April 17

Press Contact: Craig D'Ooge (202) 707-9189
Public Contact: (202) 707-5221

David C. Major and John S. Major, authors of 100 One-Night Reads: A Book Lover's Guide (Ballantine Books, 2001), will discuss their book at the Library of Congress at 6:45 p.m.,Wednesday, April 17, in the Mumford Room, sixth floor, James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E.

Part of the Center for the Book's Book & Beyond author series, the program is co-sponsored with the Washington chapter of the Women's National Book Association. It is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.

100 One-Night Reads highlights 100 books "that can be read with great enjoyment in the course of a single evening." For each of their recommended one-night reads, the authors provide a concise essay about the book and its author that emphasizes "what we think is truly special about the book - why it is a book that you particularly will want to read."

Written by celebrated authors and gifted unknowns, the 100 books include fantasy and saga; fiction; history, public affairs and the environment; humor; memoirs; mystery and suspense; science; and travel. Authors include Russell Baker (Growing Up), Raymond Chandler (The Big Sleep), Helene Hanff (84, Charing Cross Road), Shirley Jackson (The Haunting of Hill House), Walter Mosely (Devil in a Blue Dress), Eric Newby (A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush), Patrick O'Brian (The Unknown Shore), Barbara Pym (Excellent Women), Vikram Seth (The Golden Gate), Wallace Stegner (Remembering Laughter), Dava Sobel (Longitude), and Ann Wroe (A Fool and His Money).

David C. Major and John S. Major are brothers. Each is the author of many books: David mainly in natural resources and the environment, John mainly on East Asian history and culture. John also is co-editor of two poetry anthologies and co-author, with Clifton Fadiman, of The New Lifetime Reading Plan (Fourth Edition, 1997). The Majors currently are collaborating on works of history and biography and on a guide to creating a satisfying lifestyle in New York City. They both live in Manhattan with their families.

The Women's National Book Association, a national organization of women and men who work with and value books, was established in 1917. For further information about the Washington chapter, which was created in 1978, see its Web site: www.wnba-books.org/wash.

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress was established in 1977 to use the resources and prestige of the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books, reading, and libraries. For information about its program and the activities of its affiliates and national reading promotion partners, see its Web site: www.loc.gov/cfbook.

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PR 02-027
2002-03-07
ISSN 0731-3527