Lewis Lapham to Speak at The Dallas Institute on "History, Politics and Culture"

Feb. 25, 2013 - PRLog -- Lewis Lapham, legendary editor of Harper’s Magazine and creator of Lapham’s Quarterly, returns to the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture on Monday, February 25, 6:30-8:00 p.m., for an evening of rich discussion on “History, Politics and Culture.”  Lapham is the author of numerous books, including “Money and Class in America,” “Theater of War,” “Gag Rule,” and, most recently, “Pretensions to Empire.” The New York Times has likened Lapham to H. L. Mencken; Vanity Fair has suggested a strong resemblance to Mark Twain; and Tom Wolfe has compared him to Montaigne.          

Lapham’s Quarterly, described as “a magazine of history and ideas,” is founded on the belief that history is the root of all education, scientific and literary as well as political and economic. In every issue, Lapham addresses a topic of current interest with profound insight and advice from the past with writings of the world’s great thinkers.

As editor of Harper’s Magazine from 1976 to 1981, and again from 1983 to 2006, Lapham led the redesign of the oldest general-interest monthly in America and now provides in his new publication a unique perspective on society, the environment, culture and politics.

“We are looking forward to having Lewis Lapham return to the Dallas Institute,” said Dr. Larry Allums, director of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture. “An evening with a distinguished man of letters who maintains that ‘the hope of social or political change stems from language that induces a change of heart’ is certain to be thought-provoking and stimulating.”

In the Fall 2012 issue of Lapham's Quarterly, titled Politics, Lewis Lapham writes of "the mongrel splendors of democracy" and quotes Socrates on the democratic city: "Like a coat embroidered with every kind of ornament, this city, embroidered with every kind of character, would seem to be the most beautiful."

In such fashion, says Allums, the legendary former editor of Harper’s speaks in the present while retrieving the wisdom of the past for an age more concerned with the shallows than the depths of thought and discourse.

Admission for the program is $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers, and $10 for member teachers. A reception will take place at 6 p.m. before the program begins. To register, visit www.dallasinstitute.org, or call (214) 871-2440.  

ABOUT THE DALLAS INSTITUTE OF HUMANITIES AND CULTURE
The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture is a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization with a 20-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders.  Created in 1980, The Dallas Institute is a center for creative and intellectual exchange, providing enriching programs for the public that are grounded in the wisdom of the humanities, laying the foundation for Dallas to realize its full potential for cultural excellence.   The Dallas Institute is located at 2719 Routh St., Dallas, Texas 75201.  For information, call (214) 871-2440, or visit www.DallasInstitute.org