Authors! with Ilyon Woo

ABOUT THE BOOK: 1848 was a year of global democratic revolt. Sicily, Paris, Berlin, Vienna – people across Europe rose up against tyrannical power. Americans received news of these uprisings while the ground beneath their own feet shifted: there were five hundred thousand square miles of new territory to be claimed westward; immigrants from Ireland, Germany, China, and elsewhere were arriving; in New York, the first Women’s Rights Convention was held; and the two-party political system was breaking down as voters became polarized over the issue of slavery.

Against this backdrop, in Macon, Georgia, the enslaved married couple William and Ellen Craft planned their escape from bondage. Their story is one of the boldest feats of self-emancipation in American history. Posing as a master and slave, sustained by their love as husband and wife, they made their escape together across 1,000 miles in broad daylight, riding out in the open on steamboats, carriages, and trains from bondage to the free states of the North.

The world is remembering the heroic couple. In 2023, the year of the 175th anniversary of the Crafts’ escape, MASTER SLAVE HUSBAND WIFE: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon Woo launched a renaissance for the Crafts and their story. The book brings William and Ellen Craft’s cinematic story of daring, determination, and love to life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ilyon Woo is the New York Times best-selling author of Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom and The Great Divorce: A Nineteenth-Century Mother’s Extraordinary Fight Against Her Husband, the Shakers, and Her Times. Her writing has appeared in The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, and The New York Times, and she has received support for her research from the Whiting Foundation, and National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Antiquarian Society, among other institutions. She holds a BA in the Humanities from Yale College and a PhD in English from Columbia University.

About the Presentation: At each program, authors speak for about forty-five minutes, followed by a short question and answer session. A paperback copy of the book is included with the purchase of your ticket.

FAQs:

Can tickets be purchased by phone? No, tickets can be purchased online through Eventbrite only.

What are my parking options at the event? The facility has free parking.

What time do the doors open? General admission seating starts at 6:30 p.m.

Are there assigned seats? No. Seating is general admission, but the purchase of a ticket does guarantee you a seat.

Is handicapped seating available? Handicapped seating is available. For special seating arrangements, please call 419.259.5199 at least one week prior to the event.

Will an American Sign Language Interpreter be provided for the event? We are happy to provide an ASL Interpreter for the event - if you require this service please contact us at 419.259.5199 at least two weeks before the event so arrangements can be made.

What can/can't I bring to the event? Please do not bring outside food / beverages. There is no video recording or flash photography allowed.

Will the author hold a book signing after the talk? After the program, the author will not be available for a book signing or photo opportunities.

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions? Call the Library at 419.259.5200.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? Yes, tickets will be scanned at the door. If you choose to utilize your mobile device, tickets can be scanned via your Eventbrite email receipt. Note: Screen shots/captures of the ticket receipt cannot be scanned. Please have your device with ticket receipt open and available for scanning at entry.

Can I get my book if I don’t attend the event? Books may only be obtained at the event. If you are unable to attend, you may have someone else pick it up at the event, but they must have your ticket in hard copy or on their device.

What is the refund policy? Tickets will be refunded only if the event is cancelled.