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August 11, 1999
Contact: Audrey Fischer (202) 707-0022

Author of For the Love of Books to Speak at the Library on September 29

"What books have left the greatest impression on you, and why?" More than 100 distinguished writers, including John Barth, Ann Beatty, Nadine Gordimer, Joyce Carol Oates, and Carol Shields responded to this question, which was posed by Boston trial lawyer Ronald B. Shwartz. The results are in Mr. Shwartz's well-received volume For the Love of Books: 115 Celebrated Writers on the Books They Love Most (Grosset/Putnam, 1999).

Mr. Shwartz will discuss his book at the Library on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at noon in the West Dining Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E. Part of the Center for the Book's "Books & Beyond" author series, the program is free and open to the public.

"We are fortunate to be able to host Ron Shwartz's first Washington appearance," said Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole. "Many of the writers included in his book have strong connections to the Library of Congress, including Rita Dove, Doris Grumbach, Anthony Hecht, Maxine Kumin, W.S. Merwin, Mark Strand, William Styron, Richard Wilbur, and Herman Wouk."

In his description of how and why he undertook the project, the author estimates that the development of The Love of Books required approximately 3,600 letters, faxes, and e-mails between himself and various writers. A former editor of The University of Chicago Law Review, Mr. Shwartz has edited three books of quotations and has written essays and reviews for The Wall Street Journal, The Nation, and the Los Angeles Times. He is currently at work on a book tentatively titled "The Games That Team Players Play."

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 activities, visit its Web site at www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook.

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PR 99-122
8/11/99
ISSN 0731-3527