Well-known author to offer presentation and book signing at SUNY New Paltz

NEW PALTZ — The Friends of the Sojourner Truth Library will host a public lecture and book signing at the State University of New York at New Paltz with Russell Shorto at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26, in Lecture Center 102.

In his presentation, titled after his book “The Island at the Center of the World,” Shorto will discuss the story of the Dutch colony that predated the Pilgrims and established ideals of tolerance and individual rights that shaped American history. The presentation will be followed by a book signing and reception at 6 p.m. The presentation and reception are free and open to the public.

“Based on the Dutch archives housed in the New York State Library, Shorto has created a fascinating story about the contributions of Dutch settlers to the cultural, economic and political landscapes of America during the colonial period,” said Chui-chun Lee, director of the Sojourner Truth Library. “We are elated that he is coming to New Paltz to talk about his remarkable work.”

Shorto is perhaps best known for books on historical and scientific accounts of religion, including his books, “Saints and Madmen: Breaking Down the Boundaries Between Psychiatry and Spirituality” and “Gospel Truth: The New Image of Jesus Emerging from Science and History and Why It Matters.” He has also written for The New York Times Magazine and GQ.

A prolific writer, Shorto has also produced several short, popular biographies of various American cultural figures, including Jane Fonda, Jackie Robinson, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, David Farragut, Tecumseh, Geronimo and Edgar Allen Poe. He has also written several children’s books in the “Where Does This Come From?” series, including “Ice Cream,” “Baseball Bat,” “Crayon” and “Penny.”

This talk is organized and sponsored by the Friends of the Sojourner Truth Library, with the generous funding of Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS), the SUNY New Paltz Honors Center and the Huguenot Historical Society.

The Friends of the Sojourner Truth Library is an association of faculty, students, parents, alumni, and community and business members dedicated to promoting and enhancing the SUNY New Paltz Library as a shared resource of scholarship and learning.

Anyone who would like to join the Friends of the Library may purchase a membership at the door. A membership may be purchased for as little as $30 and entitles the member to a library card and to invitations to all Friends events.

Since 1997, resources provided by the Friends have raised over $150,000 for the purchase of books, reference materials, musical scores and electronic information media for the Sojourner Truth Library. For additional information about the Friends of the Sojourner Truth Library, or if you wish to join, please call (845) 257-3240 or go online at http://lib.newpaltz.edu/friends/member.html.

Anyone needing an interpreter for the hearing impaired should contact Chui-chun Lee (845) 257-3719 by Friday, April 22.

Note to editors: Members of the media are invited to attend the presentation and reception. During the reception, reporters will be allotted time to speak to, and to photograph, Shorto.

For additional information, contact Chui-chun Lee, director, Sojourner Truth Library, at (845) 257-3719 or at leec@newpaltz.edu; or Eugene Heath, member of the Steering Committee of the Friends of the Library, at (845) 257-2981 or at heathe@newpaltz.edu.

For electronic transmission of photographs of Shorto or for more information, contact Kate Runde, publicity manager, Vintage Books and Anchor Books: (212) 572-2428 or krunde@randomhouse.com.