“Jim McAllister’s Celebrating 400”
A Series of Monthly Lectures by Jim McAllister
At the historic Hawthorne Hotel in Salem`
Wednesday, August 26
11 a.m. repeated at 7 p.m. 

“Beyond Hawthorne: Literary Salem Over the Centuries”

This amazing literary cornucopia highlights works of historical fiction that made use of Salem sites and events, biographies (and autobiographies) of famous Salemites, and Salem memoirs that capture the flavor of the community at different times in its long history. The lecture will also include important books – fiction and non fiction- penned by Salem natives.

Jim will shine a spotlight on the famed writer of medical thrillers, Robin Cook (Coma); the award – winning children’s history author, Jean Fritz; and historical fiction specialist Esther Forbes (Johnny Tremain; Paul Revere and the World He Lived In) all of whom chose to set works in Salem.

Biographer and Gloucester native James Mellow (author of Gertrude Stein Charmed Circle) wrote a (award-winning) biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne. So did Henry James. And the prolific writer of biographies, Louise Hall Tharp,  trained her scholarly eye on Salem’s famed Peabody Sisters. Among the numerous local contributors to American literature to be covered are Sarah Savage, writer of 19th century morality tales, the Colonial Revivalist Mary Northend, and former Derby-Street resident Fr. Edward Murphy who wrote was probably the first Catholic best-seller.

To reserve or for more information contact Jim at culturecorner@gmail.com. Please include the lecture time (11 a.m. or 7 p.m.) you prefer.

Admission $20. Lecture attendees who choose to dine at the hotel receive 20 % discount on meals (excluding alcoholic drinks).