The Friends of the Woodbridge Library are pleased to welcome Craig Hotchkiss for his timely presentation about Mark Twain's classic, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," and its place in the larger history of race relations in America.

He will discuss the historical context of the book, Twain's intent, and how the book's message became a catalyst for social change at that time. Regarding the recent controversial revisions to the book, Hotchkiss writes: "Once again the trendy 'feel good' sentiments of modern political correctness have foisted on the public another redaction of great American Literature that purges from the original version the ugly truth revealed in the vicious language of racism that Mark Twain sought to expose during the Jim Crow era of the late nineteenth century."

"Hotchkiss has been the education program manager at the Mark Twain House and Museum for four years, prior to which he taught high school history for 32 years." He holds three advanced degrees, in educational psychology, world history, and American Studies.

The meeting will take place in the Woodbridge Library Meeting Room. It  is free and open to the public - all are welcome to join us! For more information, please call 203.389.3433.

The Friends' support of the library covers activities for all ages, from pre-school story times to Cancer Project cooking classes to statewide museum passes.  Annual contributions from the Friends provide for books, audio books, programs, and equipment that would otherwise not be funded.  Their used bookstore is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and they offer a fall Purves Memorial Lecture, as well as their April Annual Meeting.  Membership in the Friends of the Woodbridge Library is open to all interested people, organizations, and businesses.

Editor's Note: All information in this post was contributed.