The following upcoming events will be held at the Noah Webster Library, 20 South Main St., West Hartford, CT.

Noah Webster Library. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Submitted by West Hartford Public Library

DOWNTON ABBEY: Fashion and Social Change with Susan J. Jerome

Nov. 1, 2015 at 2 p.m.

This program explores the many changes that occurred throughout the time period depicted in Downton Abbey and how these changes influenced fashion. The social, technological, and political changes of the early twentieth century were reflected in the notable evolution of women’s and men’s clothing.

This presentation will look back at what was fashionable – real or otherwise. We will look at some of the influential designers and other persons involved in the years of the first five seasons.

Susan J. Jerome is the Collections Manager at the University of Rhode Island Historic Textile and Costume Collection. She earned her MS degree from the University of Rhode Island, Department of Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design.

Seating is limited, attendees are encouraged to register in advance by calling 860-561-6962.

AUTHOR TALK: Vanessa Blakeslee/”Juventud: A Novel”

Nov. 5, 2015 at 7 p.m.

Vanessa Blakeslee’s “Juventud” explores the idealism of youth, the complexities of a ravaged country, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.

“Vanessa Blakeslee’s remarkable debut novel takes us inside Colombia through the eyes of Mercedes, a privileged half-Colombian girl who leaves the safety of Papi’s hacienda to embark on a life touched by disappointment and splendid achievement. Her story echoes the conflicts of our twenty-first century’s transnational, uneasy global culture.” —Xu Xi, author of “Habit of a Foreign Sky”

About Vanessa Blakeslee:

Vanessa Blakeslee’s debut story collection, “Train Shots,” won the 2014 IPPY Gold Medal in Short Fiction and was long-listed for the 2014 Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award. Vanessa’s writing has appeared in the Southern Review, the Paris Review Daily, the Globe and Mail, Kenyon Review Online, and Bustle.

Books will be available for purchase, and autographing by the author. Parking available in the nearby Isham Garage; bring your parking ticket to the program for validation.

AUTHOR TALK: “The Rising: Murder, Heartbreak, and the Power of Human Resilience in an American Town”

Dec. 1, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.

Author Talk and Book Signing with Ryan D’Agostino, “The Rising: Murder, Heartbreak, and the Power of Human Resilience in an American Town”

On July 23, 2007, Dr. William Petit‘s wife and two daughters were senselessly murdered when two armed strangers broke into their home in Cheshire, Conn. Brutally beaten and tied to a metal pole in the basement, Dr. Petit was helpless as his family was sexually assaulted and senselessly murdered. Amazingly, he managed to escape and alert a neighbor to call 911, but by then it was too late.

“D’Agostino’s tender approach to his subject and story is impressive as he artfully charts Petit’s emotional thawing without resorting to cloying prose or melodrama. D’Agostino’s three-dimensional portrait of Dr. Petit and the family members he lost gives the book an additional emotional punch. Though a horrific crime provides the backdrop, this book is a remarkable account of hope, fellowship, and love in the face of tragedy.” [Publishers Weekly]

Ryan D’Agostino is the editor-in-chief of Popular Mechanics magazine. Previously, he was an articles editor at Esquire, and he has written for The New Yorker, Ski, and other publications.