– Blue Hill Public Library and the Blue Hill Historical Society will co-sponsor a lecture about Maine author Katharine Butler Hathaway (1890-1942) on Tuesday, July 23rd at 7:00 PM. Cultural Historian Abby Clouse-Radigan, who is writing a biography of Hathaway, will present her insights into the author’s life and work. In addition, Hathaway’s nephew, Blue Hill resident Chris Austin, will speak from the family’s perspective, including about letters and personal effects in his possession.
The Little Locksmith, Katharine Butler Hathaway’s luminous memoir of disability, faith, and transformation, is a critically acclaimed literary classic. The memoir charts Katharine’s struggle to transcend physical limitations due to tuberculosis and dwarfism caused by Pott’s Disease, and embrace her life, her body and herself in the face of debilitating bouts of frustration and shame. Her spirit and courage prevail, and she succeeds in expanding her world far beyond the boundaries prescribed by her family and society.
Abby Clouse-Radigan, PhD, is an independent researcher, editor, and writer with a background in cultural studies. She has contributed to publications of the White House Historical Association and the Smithsonian Institution and was an Andrew Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at Wesleyan University. Chris Austin is a Blue Hill resident and the grand-nephew of Hathaway.
This event is free and everyone is welcome. For more information call the library at 374-5515.
