Skip Navigation Links The Library of Congress >> Especially for Researchers >> Research Centers
European Reading Room: European Division, Area Studies
  Home >> Calendar of Events
disclaimer symbol

Calendar of Events

Thursday, November 13, 2008

David Vaughan will discuss his recently published book
Battle for the Airwaves: Radio and the 1938 Munich Crisis.

Seventy years from the fateful events of 1938, when the Anglo-French policy of appeasement led to the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia and the onset of World War II, Battle for the Airwaves looks at the Munich crisis as it was played out on the radio stations of Czechoslovakia, Germany, Britain, and the United States. Drawing on the extensive and long-forgotten archives of Czech Radio as well as archives in Germany, Britain, and the US, Vaughan reveals radio's key role in the run-up to the Munich Agreement and beyond.

David Vaughan is an award-winning English broadcaster and journalist who lives in the Czech Republic. For eight years he was editor-in-chief of Radio Prague, the international service of Czech Radio, and prior to that he was a correspondent for the BBC. He is the author of numerous radio documentaries for Czech Radio and the BBC. He has also worked for television, as an author and a co-director, and has written articles for several British newspapers, as well as for numerous Czech newspapers and periodicals. For several years he sat on the steering committee of the International Broadcasting Group in the European Broadcasting Union.

The event, sponsored by the European Division and the Embassy of the Czech Republic, is free and open to the public; no reservations are required.

Where:  Woodrow Wilson Collections Room, LJ-113 (1st Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building)
When:   12:00 noon



Image of cover of the book Battle for the Airwaves
Image of case for Howling with the Angels

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Howling With the Angels
with director Jean Bodon
(The 46-minute film is in English.)

In March 1939, Hitler's army marched into Prague, Czechoslovakia. Jan Bodon, a young, blond, blue-eyed captain in the Czech Army, was recruited to join the Nazis. He promptly fled and joined the resistance movement instead, and was later selected to help in the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, the notorious "Butcher of Prague."

In this powerful documentary, director Jean Bodon -- Jan's son -- uncovers the truth not only about Jan's wartime experiences, but also the fact that his father was secretly a Jew in a country which underwent one of the largest extermination campaigns of the war.

"Howling with Angels" is not only about Jean's advertures in retracing his father's lineage and his forgotten past. The film also explores the difficulties facing Jewish identity in the 20th century and the necessity of reclaiming and appreciating Jewish roots.

The event, sponsored by the Library's European Division, the Motion Picture, Broadcasting & Recorded Sound Division, and the Hebrew Language Table, is free and open to the public; no reservations are required.

Where: Pickford Theater (3rd Floor, James Madison Building)
When:   12:00 noon



artwork Friday, May 30, 2008

The Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine

Opening remarks by the Ambassador of Ukraine Oleh Shamshur and by Dr. Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs begin at 11:30.

The lecture by Professor Stanislav Kulchytsky begins at 12:00.

An exhibit of books and posters will be on view May 29 and 30,
8:30 am - 5:00 pm in the European Division.

Sponsored by the European Division, the LCPA Ukrainian Language Table, and the Embassy of Ukraine.

Where:  European Reading Room, LJ-250 (2nd Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building).
When:  11:30 am


Cover of From Solidarity to Martial Law.  The Polish Crisis of 1980-1981

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Malcolm Byrne, Deputy Director and Director of Research, National Security Archive, George Washington University, will discuss the book From Solidarity to Martial Law. The Polish Crisis of 1980-1981. A Documentary History, which he co-edited.

The event, sponsored by the Library's European Division and the Polish Language Table, is free and open to the public; no reservations are required.

Where:  European Division Conference Room, LJ-250
(2nd Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building).
When:  12:00 noon


Cover of Václav Havel's new book To the Castle and Back

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Paul Wilson will discuss his English translation of former Czech Republic President Václav Havel's recently published book To the Castle and Back.

Wilson is a freelance writer, translator, editor and radio producer who spent 10 years in Czechoslovakia (1967-1977), where he taught English and learned Czech. He was eventually expelled by the communist government for his association with the dissident movement, particularly for his involvement with the underground music scene as a member of the legendary rock band Plastic People of the Universe.

The event, sponsored by the Library's John W. Kluge Center and the Embassy of the Czech Republic, is free and open to the public; no reservations are required.

Where:  Room 119, 1st Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building.
When:   12:00 noon


Tuesday, December 12, 2006

The European Division presents William S. Shepard, former Consul and Political Officer at the United States Embassy, Budapest, who will discuss and sign his book Murder on the Danube, A Robbie Cutler Diplomatic Mystery (Writers Club Press, 2001).

Where:   Pickford Theater, 3rd Floor, James Madison Building.
When:     12:00 noon




Tuesday, November 7, 2006

The European Division, the African & Middle Eastern Division, and the Alliance Française present a lecture about Léopold Sédar Senghor, by Souleymane Bachir Diagne, Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Northwestern University, Chicago. Senegalese poet and statesman, Senghor was a member of the French National Assembly (1946-1980) and an originator of the concept of Négritude. He was the first African elected to the Académie Française (1983).

Where:  African & Middle Eastern Division, LJ-220 (2nd Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building).
When:  12:00 noon




Thursday, September 14, 2006

The European Division and the Hispanic Division present a reading of poems in Dutch, Spanish, and English from Anton van Wilderode's book, The Butterfly Tree, and a musical performance "Deux Mille Regretz," with music by Roland Coryn and lyrics by Anton van Wilderode. Followed by a "vin d'honneur." Sponsored by the Embassy of Belgium, Flemish Representation; the Embassy of Spain, and the International Circle of Friends of Anton van Wilderode. R.S.V.P.: Flemish Representation: (202) 625-5850.

Where:  West Dining Room (6th Floor, James Madison Building).
When:  6:30 pm


Wednesday, March 15, 2006

The Romanian Language Table, Library of Congress, invites you to a lecture in English by Annabelle Townson, who will discuss her new book, We Wait for You: Unheard Voices from Post-Communist Romania. Ms. Townson's talk will focus on the residual impact of the Communist years on daily life in today's Romania. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in Romania for 27 months during 2001-2003, and she currently specializes in Romanian, Ukrainian and Moldovan affairs at the Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Where:  European Division Conference Room, LJ-250 (2nd Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building).
When:  12:00 noon


Wednesday, February 22, 2006

The Romanian Language Table, Library of Congress, invites you to a lecture in English by Professor Andrei Pippidi, on How the Ideas of the French Enlightenment Circulated in the Romanian Principalities.

Since 1995 Professor Pippidi has taught at the University of Bucharest, and he is also Senior Research-Fellow at the Institute for South-East European Studies in Bucharest. He has authored and edited numerous historical works on post-Byzantine Southeastern Europe.

Where:  European Division Conference Room, LJ-250 (2nd Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building).
When:  12:00 noon


Tuesday, February 14, 2006

The John W. Kluge Center presents the lecture Croatia: Partnerships, Priorities, and Progress, by Ms. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Republic of Croatia. No tickets or reservations are required.

Where:  Room 119, Thomas Jefferson Building (1st Floor).
When:  10:00am


Monday, January 23, 2006

cartoon

Jean Plantu, France's leading political cartoonist, will discuss and demonstrate editorial cartooning and talk about its significance in today's media. The event, titled The Editorial in Cartoons, is sponsored by two divisions in the Library of Congress, the European and Prints and Photographs, and by the Alliance Française de Washington. It is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required.

Where:   Room 119, Jefferson Building (1st Floor).
When:    12:00 noon




Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Photograph of Eric Maurice

French journalist Eric Maurice will give the lecture Media and Chauvinism: Government and the Press in the Post-9/11 World. The event, cosponsored by the European Division and the Alliance Française de Washington, is free and open to the public.

A journalist for the French international weekly, Le Courrier International, Maurice follows the international politics of France, Europe and North America. Maurice argues that in the post-9/11 world the media has abandoned its independent mission by aligning itself with government interests. He examines how, in his view, the media in the United States, France and in all other western democracies do not simply report the news, but manipulate public opinion on international issues in line with government views.

Where: Mumford Room (6th floor, James Madison Memorial Building)
When:   12:00 noon





Friday, September 16, 2005

The European Division and the Slovak American Society of Washington will present Janosik as a Symbol of Freedom in Socialist Slovakia-Almost, a lecture by Professor Patricia Krafcik, Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. The talk is free and open to the public.

Where:   European Division Conference Room, LJ-250.
When:   12:00 noon




Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Abraham Rosenberg, director of Ets Haim (tree of life) Library and Museum in Amsterdam, will deliver a lecture titled Ets Haim Livraria Montezinos (1616): An Old Library Bearing New Fruits. The event, which is sponsored jointly by the European Division and the Hebrew Language Table, is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required.

Founded in 1616, Ets Haim is the oldest functioning Jewish library in the world. Since 1675 it has been housed in the Esnoga complex of the Portuguese-Jewish community of Amsterdam. Its 30,000 printed works and 500 manuscripts encompass all aspects of Jewish scholarship and many aspects of literature, history and the natural sciences. The library's collections provide a detailed picture of Sephardic culture as it emerged from its roots in the Iberian Peninsula. In 1998 the Dutch Department of Culture placed the library's holdings on the list of protected Dutch National Cultural Heritage. In October 2003 UNESCO recognized the collections' universal importance by including Ets Haim on the Memory of the World Register.

Abraham Rosenberg was born in 1943 and lived in hiding with a Dutch family during World War II. His family perished at the hands of the Nazis. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Amsterdam and a master's degree in library science from Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He began his career as a classification librarian in the Jewish National and University Library in Jerusalem and subsequently became the institution's curator of Western early and rare printed books. He later worked in the Department of Rare and Early Printed Books in the Birmingham University Library in the United Kingdomand in the Goldsmith Library at London University. He was appointed to his current position as director of Ets Haim in 1993.

Where:   Pickford Theater, James Madison Building (3rd Floor).
When:    12:00 noon


Photograph of Jacek Niecko

Thurday, November 4, 2004

Jacek Niećko, editor and translator, will give a lecture entitled Czesław Miłosz: An Afterword. Mr. Niećko was formerly (1969-94) on the publications and academic programs staff of the United States Information Agency.

Where:   European Division Conference Room, LJ-250.
When:   12:00 noon



Photograph of Blandine Kriegel

Monday, October 18, 2004

Blandine Kriegel, Advisor to President Jacques Chirac, will give a lecture, in English, entitled Religion and Politics in Modern Europe. A university professor of philosophy and political history, Ms. Kriegel is active in politics and has been appointed to national commissions dealing with penal reform, reform of the justice system, ethics, and culture. She has directed presidential initiatives on the modernization of the state and violence on television. Today she is the president of the High Council on Integration which focuses on human rights and issues of integration of immigrants into French society. This lecture is sponsored by the European Division, the Kluge Center, with the Alliance Française and the Department of French and Italian, University of Maryland.

Where:   James Madison Building, West Dining Room (6th Floor).
When:    2:30pm


Photograph of Jean-Michel Frodon

Thursday, October 7, 2004

Jean-Michel Frodon, Editor of Les Cahiers du Cinéma, will give a lecture, in English, entitled Film at a Crossroads: Cinematography's Place in the Virtual, Globalized World. This lecture is sponsored by the European Division, the Kluge Center, and the Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division of the Library of Congress with the Alliance Française and the Department of Languages and Foreign Studies, American University.



Where:   Thomas Jefferson Building, Room LJ-119.
When:    2:30pm


Darcy Calamatta.  Photograph by K. Nyirady, September 2004

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Narcy Calamatta will give an illustrated lecture entitled The Beheading of St John, by Caravaggio: an Ibsenian Tragedy. The influential and revolutionary Italian painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio created this masterpiece while in exile in Malta in the early 1600s.

Mr. Calamatta is a leading cultural figure in Malta, where he has worked for decades as an actor, scriptwriter, designer, director, and producer in the theater, radio, television, and cinema. He is also the cultural critic for the born-digital gazette, Maltastar.com. Versed in many art forms, Mr. Calamatta sees similarities in the styles used by the painter Caravaggio and the groundbreaking Norwegian dramatist of the nineteenth century, Henrik Ibsen.

Where:   European Division Conference Room, LJ-250.
When:   12:00 noon



Koloman Kertesz Bagala. Photograph by K. Nyirady, June 2004Thursday, June 17, 2004

The European Division of the Library of Congress, the Friends of Slovakia, and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic present Publishing in Slovakia: Challenges for Today, a talk by Koloman Kertesz Bagala, the CEO of the L.C.A. Literarna a kulturna agentura publishing house. The talk is free and open to the public.

Where:   European Division Conference Room, LJ-250
When:  12:00 noon




George Gomori.  Photograph by K. Nyirady, May 2004

Thursday, May 13, 2004

Translating Hungarian Poetry is the title of a presentation to be given by poet and translator George (György) Gömöri, Lecturer in Polish and Hungarian at the University of Cambridge from 1969 to 2001. Mr. Gömöri will illustrate his talk with citations from the five works he has coauthored with English poet Clive Wilmer, including their recently published translation of the poetry of Miklós Radnóti, Forced March, Selected Poems (2003), the first edition (1979) of which won the Hungarian Artisjus Prize. Mr. Gömöri has published nine books of his own poetry in Hungarian and one in English, as well as works about Hungarian and Polish literature.



Where: European Division Conference Room, LJ-250.
When: 12:00 noon



Tuesday, October 28, 2003

The European Division of the Library of Congress and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany cordially invite you to The Glory of Baroque Dresden: The Dresden State Art Collections Come to the United States. Dr. Martin Roth, General Director of the State Art Collections in Dresden, will give an illustrated presentation on the exhibition The Glory of Baroque Dresden. The exhibition, organized in association with the Mississippi Committee for International Cultural Exchange, showcases over 400 works of art and historic treasures from the Dresden Collections and takes place at the Mississippi Arts Pavilion, in Jackson, from March 1 to September 6, 2004. It is the first major exhibition from Dresden in North America since the Library's own exhibition from the Saxon State Library in 1996.

Where: Madison Hall (Madison Gallery), (1st floor, James Madison Building).
When: 6:00pm


Wednesday, October 15, 2003

The folk ensemble Otets Paissii performed traditional Bulgarian folk dances and songs. Classical musicians of international renown will perform masterpieces from Bulgarian and American composers. Reception to follow.

Where: Mumford Room, (6th floor, James Madison Building).
When: 6:30pm


Tuesday, September 23, 2003

On September 23, Professor Herbert R. Reginbogin will give a lecture based on his book, coauthored with Walther Hofer, Hitler, der Westen und die Schweiz 1936-1945, 3d ed. (Zürich, 2003). Professor Reginbogin is a former professor of West Coast University, Los Angeles, and head of international research programs on 20th century financial/business history at different universities in Europe and the United States. Based on his book, Professor Reginbogin will discuss the business linkages among Britain, America, Germany and Switzerland in the period 1938-1945.

Where: Room 113, Thomas Jefferson Building
When: 12:00 noon


Wednesday, July 9, 2003

The European Division presents Olga Gyarfasova, a Senior Research Fellow and Program Director at the Institute for Public Affairs, Bratislava, Slovakia, and a Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow, National Endowment for Democracy, speaking on EU Referenda in the Visegrad Countries: the Outcome and the Road Ahead. Her talk is free and open to the public.

Where: European Division Conference Room, Room LJ-250
When: 12:00 noon


Friday, June 6, 2003

The European Division and The Washington Branch of the Association of Russian-American Scholars in the USA present St. Petersburg--300. A Tribute to the 300th Anniversary of St. Petersburg.

Where: Mary Pickford Theater, (3rd floor, James Madison Memorial Building)
When: 10:00am--3:30pm


Friday, March 14, 2003

The European Division of the Library of Congress and the Foundation for Hellenic Culture, New York branch, will present Dino Siotis, author, poet and literary critic, as the keynote speaker at a celebration of the life and work on C.P. Cavafy. The presentation will include a slide show as well as readings of Cavafy's poems in Greek and English by Ioanna Gavakou and Robert McNamara. The lecture is free and open to the public.

C.P. Cavafy is one of the greatest poets of the 20th century and Greece's foremost modern poet. The year 2003 marks the 140th anniversary of his birth and the 70th anniversary of his death.

Where: Mumford Room (6rd floor, James Madison Memorial Building)
When: 6:30pm


Tuesday, October 22, 2002

The European Division of the Library of Congress and the Royal Norwegian Embassy will present Professor Finn Benestad discussing Johan Svendsen: Norway's Great Symphonist. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Johan Svendsen, a close friend and colleague of Edvard Grieg, is regarded to this day as Norway's greatest symphonic composer. Professor Benestad, together with Dag Schjelderup-Ebb, wrote a biography of Grieg and the two have now collaborated on a biography of Svendsen entitled Johan Svendsen: the Man, the Maestro, the Music. Professor Benestad's lecture at the Library of Congress will present highlights from this book and will include recorded examples of some of Svendsen's best music. Attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the book signed by the authors.

Where: Mary Pickford Theater (3rd floor, James Madison Memorial Building)
When: 12:00-1:30pm


Friday, September 27, 2002

The European Division and the Prints and Photographs Division present Prof. Birgitta Ingemanson of Washington State University speaking about An American in Vladivostok: Mrs. Pray's Letters and Photo Albums, 1894-1930. The letters and photo albums of New England-born Eleanor Lord Pray open a window onto the merchant life of Vladivostok, a vibrant and intriguing Russian city, developed commercially by merchants from Russia, northern Europe, and the United States, and enjoying a diverse culture in Asia near China and Japan.

Where: Mary Pickford Theater (3rd floor, James Madison Memorial Building)
When: 12:00 noon


Monday, September 23, 2002

The European Division presents Gabrielle Alioth, a Swiss-German writer. Ms. Alioth is a native of Basel and has lived in Ireland since 1984. Her first novel, Der Narr (The Fool), was published in 1990. Her most recent novel, Die Stumme Reiterin (The Silent Rider), appeared in 1998. After reading from her works in German, Ms. Alioth will be available for a discussion in German and English of her work and of the Swiss literary scene in general.

For more information call David B. Morris, German Area Specialist in the European Division, at (202) 707-8491.

Where: European Division Conference Room, Room LJ-250
When: 2:00-4:00pm


Monday, December 3, 2001

The European Division and the Royal Norwegian Embassy present acclaimed Norwegian jazz pianist, composer, and author Ketil Bjornstad, speaking about his book, The Story of Edvard Munch. Munch once said that "every motive is first described with words before it becomes a painting," and Bjornstad's book focuses on Munch as a writer.

Where: Mumford Room   (6th floor, James Madison Memorial Building)
When:6:30pm


Tuesday, November 13, 2001

Eric Hollas, O.S.B. , Executive Director of the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library at Saint John's University in Collegeville, MN speaks about the Archives of the Knights of Malta located in the the National Library of Malta. He discusses also his library's project of microfilming these archives that contain sources dating back to the early twelfth century. Other Maltese libraries also have supplied material for the project and to date 14,000 reels of microfilm have been compiled. The appearance of Dr. Hollas at the Library is sponsored by the Embassy of Malta. A reception will follow.

Where: Mumford Room   (6th floor, James Madison Memorial Building)
When:6:30pm


Wednesday, October 31, 2001

"Women in Slovakia and the Czech Republic: New Opportunities and Old Problems," a discussion by Dr. Zora Butorova (Senior Researcher at the Institute for Public Affairs in Bratislava, Slovakia) and Dr. Sharon Wolchik (Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University). Drs. Butorova and Wolchik will discuss the roles of women under communism in the former Czechoslovakia and their roles in today's Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Where: Mary Pickford Theater   (3rd floor, James Madison Memorial Building)
When:12:00pm (noon)


Wednesday, May 23, 2001

The European Division of the Library of Congress and the Royal Norwegian Embassy will present Professors Finn Benestad and William H. Halverson discussing their joint work Edvard Grieg: Diaries, Articles, Speeches. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Edvard Grieg: Diaries, Articles, Speeches, the latest result of the collaboration between Professors Benestad and Halverson, is the companion volume to Edvard Grieg: Letters to Colleagues and Friends, introduced at the Library of Congress in 2000.

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) was a composer whose work brought worldwide recognition to the music of Norway. His Peer Gynt Suites (1876) are the most familiar of his compositions.

Professor Finn Benestad served as professor of musicology from 1965 to 1998 at the University of Oslo, and is the preeminent expert on the life and music of Edvard Grieg. Professor William H. Halverson, retired from Ohio State University, is America's leading translator of books on Norwegian music. Both Professor Benestad and Professor Halverson have been knighted by King Harald of Norway.

Where: Mumford Room   (6th floor, James Madison Memorial Building)
When: 6:30pm


April 11, 2001

The European Division of the Library of Congress, together with the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and with the assistance of the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia, will hold a symposium on the life and work of the Croatian writer Marko Marulic' (1450-1524). Participants in the symposium on this great Croatian classic writer and humanist will include prominent scholars and specialists from Croatia, Canada, France, Hungary, and the U.S. At the same time, the Rare Book and Special Collections Division will exhibit original 16th century works by Marulic'. The Embassy of the Republic of Croatia will host a reception afterward. RSVP: (202) 707-8488.

Where: Mary Pickford Theatre   (3rd floor, James Madison Memorial Building)
When: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm


March 9, 2001

Photo of Yuri AndrukhovychYuri Andrukhovych, a Ukrainian poet and writer, will read from his works. Mr. Andrukhovych, currently a Fulbright scholar in residence in the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages at Penn State University, is a leading member of Ukraine's new generation of intellectuals and writers. An English translation of his novel Rekreatsii (Recreations) was published in 1998, and an English translation of his postmodern philosophical novel Perverziia (Perversion) is forthcoming. Translations of Andrukhovych's poetry and prose have appeared in the literary journals Agni, Salt Hill, Exquisite Corpse and others. His works also have been translated into German, Finnish, Russian, and French. The reading will be in both Ukrainian and English.

Where: Mary Pickford Theatre (3rd floor, James Madison Memorial Building)
When: 2:30 pm



September 27, 2000

Bernard Werber, French author of eight books, including Empire of the Ants (1998) (Les Fourmis, 1991), Les Thanatonautes (1994), and current bestseller Empire des anges. Werber will read from and discuss his fiction, which combines science and history with mystery and suspense. In French and in English.

Sponsored by the European Division; Science, Technology and Business Division; La Table Française, L'Alliance Française de Washington, D.C. , LCPA, and the What IF...Science Fiction and Fantasy Forum.

Where: Mary Pickford Theatre
When: Noon


June 28-29, 2000

Cold War Archives in the Decade of Openness, a conference co-sponsored with the Department of Defense. Read a description of the conference from the Library of Congress Information Bulletin. You may also view the conference program.

Where: James Madison Memorial Building, 6th Floor, Dining Room A
When: June 28--1:30-4:30pm and 5:00-7:00pm keynote address; June 29--9:30-3:30pm


June 15, 2000

Count Maurice Benyowsky: An 18th-Century World-Traveler from Slovakia is a seminar presented in cooperation with the Embassy of the Slovak Republic. The speakers will be: H.E. Dr. Géza Jeszenszky, Dr. Viera Vilhanová, Robert S. Cox, Dariusz Wisniewski, Paul Benyovszky, Matilda Pibernik-Benyovszky Novkovic, and Dr. Miroslav Musil.

Where: James Madison Memorial Building, 6th Floor, West Dining Room
When: Thursday, June 15, 2-6:00pm


June 14, 2000

From Gutenberg to E-Novels: Coping with Revolutions That Change the Course of Knowledge, will feature Mark Dimunation (Head of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division) and Rudolf Nink (University of Mannheim, Germany) in a program co-sponsored with the Goethe-Institut.

Where: Thomas Jefferson Building, Room 119
When: Wednesday, June 14, 6:30pm


May 24-25, 2000

Saga Literature and the Shaping of Icelandic Culture, an international symposium open to the public, will include sessions on: "Sagas and the Icelandic Manuscript Tradition," "Sagas and Daily Life in the Icelandic Commonwealth," "Voyages and Travel in Medieval Europe as Depicted in Saga Literature," "Influence of the Sagas on Modern Nordic Literature," and "Saga Literature and its Relation to Modern Visual Arts and Music."

Where: Mumford Room, 6th floor, Madison Building
When: 1:20-5:00 p.m. on May 24; 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on May 25

May 24-July 15, 2000

In connection with the symposium, the exhibition Living and Reliving the Icelandic Sagas will be on view in the Jefferson Building. On display will be Icelandic family sagas, texts on the arrival of Christianity in Iceland, sagas that describe the Norse encounter with North America, and early Icelandic printed books. The materials in this unprecedented gathering of historic Icelandic manuscripts and books come from the National and University Library of Iceland, the Árni Magnússon Institute in Iceland, the Fiske Icelandic Collection of the Cornell University Library, the Icelandic Collection at the University of Manitoba Library, and the Library of Congress.

Where: Great Hall North
When: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday


April 11, 2000

The Letters of Edvard Grieg in English Translation

A European Division Lecture at the Mary Pickford Theater

Professors Finn Benestad and William H. Halverson will be discussing their joint work Edvard Grieg: Letters to Colleagues and Friends, the American edition of a large collection of Grieg's letters previously available only in the original Norwegian and German. Professor Benestad (University of Oslo) is a distinguished musicologist and Grieg scholar. Professor Halverson (Ohio State University) is a prize-winning translator and has written extensively about Grieg.

Where: Room 301, Third Floor, Library of Congress Madison Building
When: 12:00-1:00 pm


January 19, 2000

Sona Simková, Academy of Music and the Dramatic Arts, Bratislava, will speak on "The Theater in Modern
Slovak Culture."

Where: European Division Conference Room, LJ-250.
When: 12:00 Noon.


November 10, 1999

The European Division and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic present The Voice of Central Europe: Books and Publishing in Slovakia Today. Martin Bútora, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic will make introductory remarks; László Szigeti, the director of Kalligram publishing house, will speak on The History of Kalligram, a Multilingual Publishing House ; Rudolf Chmel, a literary critic, will speak on Central European Similarities and Differences ; and Lajos Grendel, the president of the Slovak PEN-Club, will read from his works.

Where: Dining Room A, James Madison Building
When: 6:30pm


November 8, 1999

The European Division and the Royal Netherlands Embassy present A Reading by Edith Velmans, author of Edith s Story.

Where: Southeast Pavilion, Thomas Jefferson Building
When: 6:30pm


October 29, 1999

The European Division and the Royal Norwegian Embassy present A Reading by Per Petterson, With an Introduction and Commentary by Kristin Brudevoll, Director of Norwegian Literature Abroad, with a book signing to follow.

Where: Mumford Room, James Madison Building
When: 6:30pm


October 22, 1999

The European Division, the Embassy of Italy, and the Italian Cultural Institute present An Encounter With Claudio Magris: A Reading from His Book Microcosms.

Where: Mumford Room, James Madison Building
When: 6:30pm


June 23, 1999

The European Division Library of Congress in cooperation with the Embassy of Slovenia present: "The Throne of Poetry" which has the title of Handel's aria "Eternal Source of Light Divine," sung by soprano Ana Pusar Jeric. The performance provides the opportunity tomerge four artistic activities: literature, opera, theater, and musis. Meta Kusar's poetry dealing with the state of the Slovenian nation is accompanied by Slovenian artists and musicians -- Stanko Arnold, Boris Sinigoj, Vladimir Jurc, Alojz Svete, Maks Strmcnik and the Ljublana String Quartet.

Where: Montpelier Room, James Madison Building
When: 6:00-8:00pm


May 7, 1999

The European Division and the African and Middle Eastern Divisions present Elias V. Messinas, AssocAIA, who will discuss the Conservation Program of the Synagogue of Veroia, Greece.

Where: Dining Room A, Madison Building
When: 1:00 pm


March 2, 1999

Jaroslava Moserová, member of the Senate of the Czech Republic, will read her radio script: "Letter to Wollongong."
Ms. Moserová, former Czechoslovak Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, is the author of many literary texts and translator of about 35 English-language books.

Where: Pickford Theater
When: Noon


February 5, 1999

The Library of Congress and the Embassy of the Republic of Germany present an evening with Uwe Timm, Encounters with the Most Acclaimed European Writers Series. Timm is a winner of the Literature Prize of the City of Bremen and the Munich Literature Award.

Where: Southeast Pavilion, Thomas Jefferson Building.
When: 6:45 pm, reception to follow.
RSVP: 202-298-4388


December 10, 1998

The European Division and the Ukrainian Table present: Crisis and Reform: The Kyivan Metropolinate, the Patriarch of Constantinople, and the Genesis of the Union of Brest by Borys Gudziak, Director of the Institute of Church History (Lviv) and Vice-Rector, Lviv Theological Academy.

Where: Woodrow Wilson Room, LJ-113, 1st floor, off the Great Hall, Jefferson Building
When: 11-12 noon


December 3, 1998

The Library of Congress Office of Scholarly Programs will present a Mellon Foreign Area Fellows Program Research Seminar. Dr. Kelly E. Smith, of the Department of Government, Hamilton College will present "Russian Patriotism and Soviet Trophy Art: What to do with the Spoils of World War II."

Where: Dining Room A (LM 620), Madison Building
When: 12:15 pm


November 16, 1998

An evening with Enzo Siciliano, Italian writer and journalist.

Where: Mumford Room, James Madison Building
When: 6:45 pm, reception afterwards
RSVP: 202-387-5161, Ext. 3
This event is presented in cooperation with the Embassy of Italy.
Parking available in Madison Building Garage -- Enter on Second St., S.E.


November 6, 1998

Dzevad Karahasan, writer and scholar from Bosnia, will speak on "Machine as Destiny."

Where: Mary Pickford Theater
When: 12-1pm
This event is presented in cooperation with the Embassy of Austria.


October 28, 1998

Carla Boogaards, Anna Enquist, and Elly DeWaard: "An Evening With Carla Boogaards, Anna Enquist, and Elly DeWaard" Encounters with the Most Acclaimed European Writers Series (in cooperation with the Library of Congress Office of Scholarly Programs, the member states of the European Union, and the European Commission)

Where: Mumford Room, Madison Building, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
When: 6:45 pm


October 8, 1998

"The Birth of Czechoslovakia: October 1918," Seminar organized in cooperation with the Embassy of the Czech Republic.

Where: Thomas Jefferson Building, Room 113 (Woodrow Wilson Collection)
When: 8:45 am
Reception: 7:30 pm (Embassy of the Czech Republic)


September 24, 1998

Hans J. Rosjorde, Vice President, Norwegian parliament: "Recent Trends in Norwegian Politics"

Where: European Division Conference Room, LJ-250
When: 12:00-1:00 pm


September 18, 1998

Stefan Hertmans, Professor, Academy of Fine Arts, Ghent, Belgium: "An Evening with Stefan Hertmans."
Encounters with the Most Acclaimed European Writers Series (in cooperation with the Library of Congress Office of Scholarly Programs, the member states of the European Union, and the European Commission)

Where: Montpelier Room, Madison Building, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
When: 6:45 pm


September 16, 1998

Stephen Burant, U.S. Department of State: "Ukraine and Central Europe"

Where: LJ-113, Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, 10 E. First St., S.E.
When: 12:00-1:00 pm


September 1, 1998

William C. Brumfield, Professor, Tulane University: "Architecture of the Russian North: Vologda and Arkhangel'sk Provinces. Threatened Historic Churches and Dwellings of the Russian North"

Where: Pickford Theater, Madison Building, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
When: 3:00-5:00 pm

  Top of Page Top of Page
  Home >> Calendar of Events
  The Library of Congress >> Especially for Researchers >> Research Centers
  December 12, 2008
Contact Us:  
Ask a Librarian