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Health & Fitness

Author Michael Korda to Speak at $25-Per-Person Buffet Dinner Program in Hastings-on-Hudson

Michael Korda, one of the literary world's most illustrious figures, will read from his bibliography Ulysses S. Grant: The Unlikely Hero at DeLauné Michel's Spoken Interludes on Wednesday, October 23 at RiverView in Hastings-on-Hudson. 

Two rising authors, Jamie Brenner and Jayne Anne Phillips, will also participate and quote from newly published novels. The cost to attend this event including a buffet Indian dinner is only $25 per person.

To readers, Michael Korda is well remembered for his novel Queenie, his memoir Charmed Lives and many bibliographies. His more recent non-fiction work includes Ike: An American Hero; With Wings Like Eagles: A History of the Battle of Britain; and Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia. 

He is a member of a famous and colorful film-world family. His father Vincent won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction for The Thief of Bagdad in 1940. Vincent was the younger brother of Sir Alexander Korda and Zoltan Korda, both considered ground-breaking movie producers and directors. 

Queenie, although a novel, is based on the life of actress Merle Oberon (Michael's aunt) who was married to Michael's uncle Alexander. The book inspired the making of an ABC television miniseries in 1987. Charmed Lives recalls Michael's experiences with his father Vincent and his uncle Alexander.

For Korda, who turned 80 on October 8, writing was one part of an extraordinary publishing career. As the editor-in-chief at book publisher Simon & Schuster, he grew the company by bringing in many news makers, luminaries and other distinguished figures as authors. Born in London, he lives in Dutchess County.

Also speaking in the program

Also during the evening, Jamie Brenner will read from her novel, The Gin Lovers, described by the San Francisco Book Review as "brimming with love, lust, family drama, class issues, social taboos, and a hefty sense of the strict Victorian era clashing with the freedom of the twenties."

Jayne Anne Phillips will read from her new novel, Quiet Dell. Stephen King's take on this book: “in a brilliant fusion of fact and fiction, Jayne Anne Phillips has written the novel of the year. It’s the story of a serial killer’s crimes and capture, yes, but it's also a compulsively readable story of how one brave woman faces up to acts of terrible violence in order to create something good and strong in the aftermath." 

Buffet dinner service begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m. when the first author is introduced by DeLauné Michel. Dinner is catered by Chutney Masala of Irvington Chef Navjot Arora.

Book signings take place from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Books can be purchased from on-site representatives of The Village Book Store of Pleasantville, NY.

Spoken Interludes conducts a number of meet-the-author gatherings annually where writers read passages, answers questions and autograph their latest books. To make a reservation send an e-mail to rsvp@spokeninterludes.com.

The RiverView is located at 1 Warburton Ave., Hastings-on-Hudson, 914-965-7220, www.riverviewcaterers.com.

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