(Belfast, ME) Left Bank Books launches its fifth annual "Winter Lyceum," a series of informal Sunday afternoon talks, with "The Book of Job: Annotated and Explained," a talk by Oxford University Press Bibles Editor Donald Kraus, on Sunday, February 17 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm. The programs are a revival of the historic "lyceum" tradition that was popular in Belfast and other parts of the country throughout the 1800s. Five different programs will be held at the bookshop located at 109 Church Street in downtown Belfast, from February through April. All talks are free and open to the public.

According to Belfast Historical Society President Megan Pinette, the lyceum program of 19th-century Belfast had as its goal "the diffusion of useful knowledge" and featured such local and nationally-known speakers as Joshua Chamberlain talking about the Battle of Gettysburg and Frederick Douglass speaking about his "Reminiscences of Slavery."

The first talk in the series will focus on the power and problems of the Book of Job, a classic of world literature and one of the glories of the Bible, but a deeply puzzling and difficult work as well. "It was written in a world very different from our own," says Kraus, "yet the questions it raises are ones we still grapple with today: Does life have a meaning beyond itself? Is it worthwhile to act for the best? Why do the righteous suffer and the guilty prosper?" Kraus, who has had a distinguished career editing Catholic study bibles, Jewish study bibles, and annotated editions of the New and Old testaments, will base his talk on his own new translation of the Book of Job (Skylights Paths, $16.99), just published this past November. The new edition has already won praise as a "wonder of beauty," "wise and insightful," and an "accessible guide to a spiritual masterpiece." Copies will be available for sale on Sunday, and may also be reserved in advance.

Other dates and speakers in the Lyceum series are:

Sunday, March 3: "How to Feed Yourself in the Antarctic," with Jason Anthony, author of "Hoosh: Roast Penguin, Scurvy Day and Other Stories of Antarctic Cuisine;"
Sunday, March 17: "Stories of Ireland and America," with novelist Peter Behrens, author of "The O'Briens" and "The Law of Dreams;"
Sunday, April 7: "Amazing Polyglots!" with Michael Erard, author of "Babel No More: The Search for the World's Most Extraordinary Language Learners;" and
Sunday, April 21: "My Ghana Adventure (on Bad Roads with a Very Weird Business Plan!)" with Max Alexander, author of "Bright Lights, No City" and "Man Bites Log"

All of the talks will be informal with ample time for questions and discussion at the end, as well as some warming refreshments. There is no charge for the series and the entire community is invited to attend all of the programs or just a few.

Please also hold two dates for spring book launches at the shop:

Saturday, March 31 at 7:00 pm: The celebration of David Loxterkamp, MD's new book, "What Matters in Medicine: Lessons from a Life in Primary Care”
Saturday, April 27 at 7 pm: The celebration of Martha White's new book, "E. B. White on Dogs!"

For more information on any of these events, to reserve a seat for Sunday's Lyceum, or to have a book held or sent to you, please call Left Bank Books at 207-338-9009. The shop is open daily.

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