Esther, encore, and farewell to the U.S.A.

Yale University Press. 2016

Friends, I know it’s been a quiet month on the blog.  What can I say?  The news moves at the speed of light these days, and it’s difficult for me sometimes to conceptualize anything to add to the frantic online conversations.  I wrote up a short article, “The Captivity of Otto Warmbier:  Outsiders, Insiders, and Mad Kings,” for Public Seminar a few weeks ago, just before his death in Cincinnati was announced.  I try to put his ordeal into context with the long centuries of North American captivities locally and globally.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

Esther Wheelwright, c.1763 (oil on canvas) 55.7×45.5 cm; © Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA, USA

I thought I’d also check in today to let you know that I’ll be in Boston this Wednesday night, June 28, at the Massachusetts Historical Society to talk about my book, The Many Captivities of Esther Wheelwright (Yale University Press, 2016).  I’m really looking forward to my visit to the MHS again, because that’s where the portrait of Esther on the cover of the book now resides.  The talk starts at 6, but come for the reception at 5:30 to say “hi” and have a drink–both the reception and the talk are free for members, and only $10 for non-members.  You can register online here.  I’ve got lots of beautiful, full-color slides of images that I could only reproduce in black and white in the book, so come for the wine, and stay for the polychromy.

My appearance at the MHS will be my last book-related appearance until August, when I’ll be in Maine once again at the Historical Society of Ogunquit and Wells for an evening talk on Saturday, August 12 at 6 p.m.  If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by!  It’s right on the Old Post Road, otherwise known as Route 1.  Maine is full of summer people in August, so whether you’re a real Mainer or “from away” like me, I’d love to see you and meet you there!  I’ve also been invited to speak at a number of universities in the fall–Laurentian University, the University of Buffalo, and Lehigh University.  I’m very much looking forward to my travels to the northeast again.

Believe it or not, my summer 2017 workplace!

I promise to check in more regularly next month, when I’ll be blogging on London time while thinking great thoughts and hanging out with the other distinguished recipients of the Georgian Papers Programme Fellowships at the Royal Archive in Windsor Castle! (Yes, the Windsor Castle.  Amazingly, this SMALL-r republican blog hasn’t prevented me from passing the required security check to work in a royal palace!)

Not yet, anyway.  What most Americans wouldn’t give if we could exchange our Mad King for a doughty, distinguished queen!