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.

BRIDGEPORT - A presentation on Mark Twain’s well known book, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" will begin at 3 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Barnum Museum, 820 Main St.


The presentation will be given by Craig Hotchkiss, program manager at the Mark Twain House & Museum, organizers said in a statement.


"The presentation will reaffirm the importance of Mark Twain’s masterpiece by placing it within the context of the larger history of race relations in America from slavery to the modern Civil Rights Movement," the statement said.


:The audience will have the opportunity not only to delve into some of the key turning points in ‘Finn,’ but also to investigate the context of the book as it relates to race relations historically in the United States, particularly during the so-called “Jim Crow” era."


Attendees will gain insight into Mark Twain’s personal motivations for writing the classic novel, the statement said.


Mark Twain lived in Hartford from 1874 to 1891. He wrote his most important works during the years he lived there, including "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", and "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court."


In addition to providing tours of Twain’s restored home, a National Historic Landmark, the institution offers activities and educational programs that illuminate Twain’s literary legacy and provide information about his life and times.


For more information, call 860-247-0998 or visit http://www.marktwainhouse.org/.


The Twain program is free with general admission to the Barnum museum: adults: $8, seniors and college students: $6, Cchildren 4 - 17: $5, no charhe for children younger than 4.

NOTE: At the Barnum Museum, the main historic building and core exhibits are still closed due to extensive damage from the tornado on June 24, but the back gallery is open for programs, including with "a glorious and spirited sculpture exhibition by North Haven's David Millen," officials said in a statement. Admission to the sculpture exhibit is free or with a donation towards restoration of the museum.