Religion and Politics will mix at IFOA with Preston and Simpson on stage

Andrew Preston (l) and Jeffrey Simpson

Attention Political Buffs and Non-Fiction Readers…

 

Charles Taylor Prize winner Andrew Preston and
Globe and Mail columnist Jeffrey Simpson
Discuss timely subject: Religon and America Politics

International Festival of Authors
Saturday, October 26, 2013 8 p.m

 

TORONTO: October 17, 2013…The International Festival of Authors (IFOA) joins forces with The Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction (CTP) for an evening of literary discussion that puts the spotlight on religion and politics. On Saturday, October 26^th author Andrew Preston, winner of the 2013 CTP for Sword of the Spirit, Shield of Faith: Religion in American War and Diplomacy will talk about his book, and later be joined by award winning author and Globe and Mail public affairs columnist Jeffrey Simpson to discuss the book, and its relation to recent American politics. The event begins at 8 p.m. at the Fleck Dance Theatre, Queen’s Quay Terminal Building, Harbourfront, Toronto. 

Charles Taylor Prize founder Noreen Taylor will speak on behalf of Canada’s most prestigious literary prize.  Mrs. Taylor explains that, “In light of current events, Andrew Preston’s well-researched reflections on the religious underpinnings of American Foreign and Domestic Policy offer important insights both into us and our neighbour to the South. As for Jeffrey Simpson, his background in both Canadian and American affairs is justifiably award-winning.  With Jeffrey interviewing Andrew, I think we are all in for a treat.  It will be nothing short of brain candy.”

WHAT:  Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction Spotlight at IFOA

                Religion & Politics with Andrew Preston and Jeffrey Simpson

WHEN:  Saturday, October 26 at 8:00 pm

WHERE: Harbourfront’s Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay West, Toronto

Andrew Preston

WHO:  Andrew Preston (Cambridge, England) is the winner of The 2013 Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction for Sword of the Spirit, Shield of Faith: Religion in American War and Diplomacy, published by Knopf Canada.

Preston teaches American history and international relations history at Cambridge University, where he is a fellow of Clare College. Before Cambridge, he taught history and international studies at Yale University. He has also taught at universities in Canada and Switzerland and has been a fellow at the Cold War Studies Program at the London School of Economics. He was born in Ontario and received his BA from the University of Toronto.

Jeffrey Simpson is the national affairs columnist at The Globe and Mail and the author of eight books, including Chronic Condition: Dragging Canada’s Health-Care System into the 21^st Century, which won the 2013 Donner Prize for the best book on public policy and is currently shortlisted for the City of Ottawa Book Awards. An Officer of the Order of Canada, he is a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

He was a juror for The 2009 Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction and the 2012 Cundill prize in History at McGill, for which Andrew Preston was shortlisted. Jeffrey Simpson lives in Ottawa with his wife Wendy. They have three children.

 

The Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction recognizes excellence in Canadian non-fiction writing and emphasizes the development of the careers of the authors it celebrates. For more information visit: www.thecharlestaylorprize.ca

The International Festival of Authors presents a wide range of readings, round table discussions, on-stage interviews, book signings and a number of special events featuring the most exciting authors in contemporary literature. The 34^th annual IFOA runs from October 24 to November 3, 2013.  For tickets visit: http://ifoa.org/festival or call the Harbourfront Centre Box Office at 416-973-4000.

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Issued by/Media contacts:

To cover this event, request photos or speak with the authors: 

Stephen Weir & Associates
Stephen Weir: 416-489-5868 cell: 416-801-3101 sweir5492@rogers.com 
Linda Crane: 416-727-0112 or cranepr@rogers.com

The event has taken place. The two photographs shown above were taken by Stephen Weir at the Fleck Theatre event. There are more pictures from the event in the Photography Blog.