Admitting that curiosity is the best motive for writing, former editor-in-chief of Simon & Schuster and author of numerous books Michael Korda stated, “I do not start with a full knowledge of the facts; the whole attraction of writing history is to educate myself: It is an exploration into the unknown.” With that attitude and a cache of information, plus a lifelong fascination with T. E. Lawrence, Korda has written a probing new biography, Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia. His uncle, the film producer Sir Alexander Korda, encouraged his adolescent curiosity about the enigmatic Lawrence by giving him copies of Seven Pillars of Wisdom and The Letters of T. E. Lawrence. In writing this book, Korda wanted to uncover how Lawrence stepped from obscurity into worldwide celebrity, becoming perhaps the only hero of World War I whose name is still remembered today: a military genius who invented the methods of insurgency that we are still trying to defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Publishers’ Weekly, Korda writes, “Lawrence is the Moby-Dick of English biographical subjects, mysterious, attractive…his motives and his actions constantly mystifying or surprising those who write about him, and still leaving in his wake, 75 years after his death, controversy, puzzles, missing pieces, an aura of legend that often obscures fact. Yet the facts are there – nobody ever wrote more or longer (or more honest) letters, or a better account of his own war experience – and the challenge is not from any lack of material but to take the vast mass of material and sift through it for a coherent story and a believable portrait.”

Korda’s vivid and quite believable portrait of Lawrence is brilliantly achieved in this biography. He writes, “The novelist wants to know how things will turn out; the historian already knows how things turned out, but wants to know why they turned out the way they did.” Michael Korda will read from and discuss Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia in the Vassar College Bookstore, located downstairs in the College Center of Vassar’s historic Main Building, on Friday, December 3 at 5 p.m. The Vassar College Bookstore Author Series highlights the richness of thought and accomplishment of both faculty and alumni authors. Events are free and open to the public. Korda will also appear at the Merritt Bookstore in Millbrook on Saturday, December 4 at 5 p.m. and at Oblong Books in Rhinebeck on Saturday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m.

At Barnes & Noble in Kingston:

Saturday, December 4 at 1 p.m. – Welcome Jennifer Berne and Keith Bendis, who have collaborated on the delightful new book Calvin Can’t Fly: The Story of a Bookworm Birdie. Fun storytime for the kids!

Thursday, December 9 at 1 p.m. – Meet Robert Toole, author of Landscape Gardens on the Hudson, A History: The Romantic Age, the Great Estates & the Birth of American Landscape Architecture, who will speak on such landscapes as Olana, Lyndhurst, Montgomery Place and more.

At Barnes & Noble in Poughkeepsie:

Friday, December 3 at 6 p.m. – Bring your kids in to hear The Adventures of Super Keith! Author Lorry Macpherson will be on hand to sign books and talk with families.

Sunday, December 5 at 1 p.m. – Teenage as a Second Language: A Parent’s Guide to Becoming Bilingual, written by Barbara Greenberg and Jennifer Powell-Lunder, reveals groundbreaking communication strategies for healthy interactions and strong connections between parents and their teens. Greenberg will be on hand to talk and sign copies.

Sponsored by the Golden Notebook

in Woodstock:

Sunday, December 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Kleinert/James Art Center – Local author Marianne Schnall will read from her new book Daring to be Ourselves, a volume that brings together quotes from her interviews with many of the world’s most interesting and influential women.

 

Sunday, December 5 at 4 p.m. at the Fletcher Gallery – Book-signing party with Shelia Isenberg, author of Muriel’s War: an astonishing story of an American heiress turned resistance hero, who saved countless Jews and anti-fascists, providing shelter and documents ensuring their escape.

Friday, December 10 at 7 p.m. at the Kleinert/James Arts Center – $10 admission. An evening with Tom Davis, original writer for Saturday Night Live and half of the comedy team of Franken and Davis. He will read from his memoir 39 Years of Short-Term Memory Loss and show SNL clips.

Sunday, December 12 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Kleinert/James Arts Center – Join local poets Michael Perkins and Will Nixon at a holiday party celebrating the fifth printing of their best-selling book, Walking Woodstock: Journeys into the Wild Heart of America’s Most Famous Small Town, with music, reading, refreshments and a book-signing. Local rock ‘n’ roll cellist Jane Scarapantoni will be performing.

Saturday, December 18 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Kleinert/James Arts Center – Understanding the Crash starts with a simple question: What has happened to the world economy? Artist Seth Tobocman and Eric Laursen explain how we got into this mess and how we can get out of it.

At Inquiring Minds in Saugerties:

Saturday, December 11 at 6 p.m. – Mariane Schnall shares Daring to Be Ourselves: Influential Women Share Insights on Courage, Happiness and Finding Your Own Voice.

At (or sponsored by) the Merritt

Bookstore in Millbrook:

Thursday, December 2 at 7 p.m. at the Cary Institute – British author and journalist Simon Winchester presents Atlantic, a comprehensively researched “biography of the Atlantic Ocean.” Meet the author and see a slideshow of his work.

Saturday, December 4 at 5 p.m. – Michael Korda (see above).

Saturday, December 18 at 5 p.m. – Mariane Schnall shares Daring to Be Ourselves: Influential Women Share Insights on Courage, Happiness and Finding Your Own Voice.

At the Merritt Bookstore in Red Hook:

Sunday, December 5 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. – Hear all about the magic of nature when Mercedes Cecilia reads from her new children’s book Kusikiy: A Child from Taquile, Peru. Kids can draw their favorite bird and be part of creating a story with the author.

At Oblong Books in Millerton:

Saturday, December 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. – Join a cookie swap and book discussion with Molly O’Neill, former New York Times Food columnist and author of One Big Table. Bring a batch of your favorite homemade cookies to share and go home with a plate of delicious treats. Please RSVP to info@oblongbooks.com.

At Oblong Books in Rhinebeck:

Saturday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. – Michael Korda (see above).

At Friends of Historic Kingston Museum:

Saturday, December 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. – Author Bruce Murkoff, a Stone Ridge resident, will sign copies of his recently published novel Red Rain at the FHK Museum, located on the corner of Wall and Main Streets. City of Kingston historian Edwin M. Ford will also be on hand to sign copies of his popular new book Street Whys: Anecdotes and Lore of Kingston, NY. The book-signing is part of the Friends of Historic Kingston’s annual holiday sale, which features items of local interest and origin. Call (845) 339-0720 and visit www.fohk.org.