Compelling and Impressive, The Witte Speakers

Each year, the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation brings an impressive lineup of authors, journalists and filmmakers for the Witte Lectures at the Central Library to speak about compelling topics and issues.

The high profile series is celebrating its 19th season running from January to April with five renowned speakers who will be speaking about the arts, environment, geopolitics, science, technology, economy and other relevant topics.

The 2016 Witte Speakers lineup:

On Friday, January 22 at 7 p.m.
Jessica Fellowes on “A Year in the Life of Downton Abbey” is already sold out! Fellowes is an author and journalist, best known as the writer of the official companion books to “Downton Abbey.” She’s the niece of Julian Fellowes, creator of “Downton Abbey” and will share her insights into the history of the period and the production of the popular series, from the painstakingly historic accuracy of costumes and customs to the breathtaking location at Highclere Castle.

On Friday, January 29 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, January 30 at 2 p.m.
Roz Chast will make you laugh and cry with “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?” Her book of the same title is a humorous and touching chronicle of her relationship with aging parents as they shift from independence to dependence. Chasts’ cartoons have made an indelible mark on anyone who has read The New Yorker magazine – her trademark illustrations have graced more than 1,000 covers. You can buy tickets here.

On Friday, February 19 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, February 20 at 2 p.m.
Maziar Bahari, Iranian-Canadian journalist and documentary filmmaker, will speak on “Rosewater: An Iranian Odyssey.” The subject of Jon Stewart’s debut film, Bahari was arrested in Tehran while reporting on the 2009 presidential election protests and held in solitary confinement for most of his 118 days in captivity. You can buy tickets here.
 

On Friday, March 11 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 12 at 2 p.m.
Sherman Alexie, a poet, short story writer, novelist and performer provoke, challenge and entertain with “Without Reservations: An Urban Indian's Comic, Poetic & Highly Irreverent Look at the World.” Alexie is the winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the PEN/Malamud Award for Short Fiction, a PEN/Hemingway Citation for Best First Fiction, and the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. You can buy tickets here.

On Friday, April 15 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 16 at 2 p.m.
David Ignatius, bestselling author and Washington Post columnist, will speak about  ISIS and the World on Fire. In its review of his latest New York Times bestseller, “The Director,” Kirkus raved, “As a writer, Ignatius doesn’t know how to tell a bad story. His unparalleled understanding of the intelligence world propels his work so far above others who dabble in the field that there’s little comparison.” Director Ridley Scott adapted his 2007 bestseller, Body of Lies, into a feature film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. You can buy tickets here.

The NBPLF encourages you to reserve your seat or contact events@nbplfoundation.org or 949.548.2411.

1000 Avocado Ave. in Newport Beach.