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February 28, 2000
Contact: Guy Lamolinara (202) 707-9217

New Volume of James Madison's Writings To Be Discussed at the Library on Thursday, March 23

Pulitzer-prize winning historian Jack N. Rakove, editor of the Library of America's James Madison, Writings (1999), will discuss Madison, his work, and his influence at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, in Madison Hall on the first floor of the Library's James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E. Part of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress's "Books & Beyond" author series, the program is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required.

"A man of books and probably the most important political thinker in American history, James Madison also was the first sponsor of the idea of a Library of Congress," said John Y. Cole, Director of the Center for the Book. "His proposal came in 1783, 17 years before the Library of Congress was actually established. It is a pleasure to be able to honor Madison here at the Library in the building and hall that serve as his national memorial, in the month of the 249th anniversary of his birth and during the Library's Bicentennial year."

Jack N. Rakove is Coe Professor of History and American Studies at Stanford University. His books include Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1997. He selected the contents and wrote the notes for James Madison, Writings. The volume contains 197 essays, addresses, speeches, private memoranda and letters written by Madison between 1772 and 1836. Included are all 29 of Madison's contributions to The Federalist, as well as letters and speeches that illuminate his key role in the creation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

A 966-page volume, James Madison, Writings includes a chronology of Madison's life, an essay of the texts, explanatory notes and an index. The price is $40. For information about the Library of America and previous volumes in the series, visit its Web site at www.loa.org.

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress was established in 1977 to stimulate public interest in books, reading, and libraries. For information about its program and the activities of its 39 affiliated state centers, visit its Web site at www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook.

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PR 00-023
2/28/00
ISSN 0731-3527