October 19, 2005 Sir Harold Evans to Discuss Lives of American Innovators on Nov. 9

Sir Harold Evans will discuss his new book, “They Made America: Two Centuries of Innovators from the Steam Engine to the Search Engine,” at the Library of Congress at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, in the Pickford Theater on the third floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.

Evans, an internationally recognized journalist and historian, will sign books after his lecture. The event, which is sponsored by the Library’s Science, Technology and Business Division, is free and open to the public.

“They Made America” describes the lives and significance of more than 50 American innovators and inventors, from Robert Fulton, who created steamboat transportation, to Gary Kildall, the true founder of the PC (personal computer) revolution and the father of PC software. Recently, the book was adapted as a four-part PBS television miniseries.

Born in Manchester, England, in 1928, Evans worked as editor of the Sunday Times from 1967 to 1981, where he championed investigative reporting. He became well known for his journalism on landmark cases in the United Kingdom. Throughout his career, he has upheld the ideal of editorial independence for journalists.

He moved to the United States in the 1980s and taught at Duke University. During the next decade, he served as founding editor of Condé Nast Traveler, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic Monthly Press, editorial director of U.S. News and World Report and chairman of the New York Daily News.

In 1998 he published the “American Century,” which documents the political and economic influence of the United States during the 20th century. The book won critical acclaim and was a New York Times best seller. Evans was knighted for services to journalism in 2004.

In July 2005 he began presenting “A Point of View” on BBC Radio 4, which is a well-known United Kingdom station. Since May 2005, he has been a contributing blogger to the Huntington Post. Evans lives in New York City with his wife, Tina Brown, who is a well-known journalist and former magazine editor.