Words, Writers, West Seattle: Lyanda Lynn Haupt

When:
September 8, 2017 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
2017-09-08T17:00:00-07:00
2017-09-08T19:00:00-07:00
Where:
Barnes and Noble/Westwood Village
2600 SW Barton St
Seattle, WA 98126
USA

Acclaimed nature writer Lyanda Haupt tells of an unexpected friendship between one of history’s greatest composers and one of the world’s most disliked birds in her latest book, Mozart’s Starling (Little Brown and Co., April 2017).

In 1784, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart met a flirtatious little starling in a Viennese shop who sang an improvised version of the theme from his Piano Concerto no. 17 in G major. For three years, the starling lived with Mozart, influencing his work and was his companion, distraction, consolation, and muse.

A seasoned birder and naturalist, Lyanda Lynn Haupt is well versed in the difficult and often strained relationships these birds have with other species and the environment and her research involved raising a starling named Carmen, which means “song.” Haupt found herself enchanted by the same intelligence and playful spirit that had so charmed her favorite composer.

This free book-talk of ‘Words, Writers & West Seattle’ of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society takes place at 5 p.m., at at Barnes & Noble/ Westwood Village, on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, delayed one week from the ‘First Friday’ tradition because of the Labor Day weekend.

Using a blend of natural history, biography, and memoir in Mozart’s Starling, Haupt explores the unlikely and remarkable bond between one of history’s most cherished composers and one of earth’s most common birds. The intertwined stories of Mozart’s beloved pet and Haupt’s own starling provide an unexpected window into human-animal friendships, music, the secret world of starlings, and the nature of creative inspiration.

Haupt is a naturalist, eco-philosopher, and speaker whose writing is at the forefront of the movement to connect people with nature in their everyday lives. An early presenter at ‘Words, Writers & West Seattle, Lyanda is the author of several books including The Urban Bestiary; Crow Planet, which won the 2010 Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award; Pilgrim on the Great Bird Continent; and Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds, winner of the Washington State Book Award. Lyanda lives in Seattle with her husband, teenage daughter, cat, four chickens, and Carmen, the starling featured in her Mozart’s Starling.

“Words, Writers & West Seattle’s” next First Friday book-talk is scheduled for October 6th at 5PM at Barnes & Noble/Westwood and will feature Steven Bender, a former presenter, and his new book, How the West Was Juan: Reimagining the U.S./Mexico Border (San Diego State University Press;July 24, 2017).

For videos on these and other authors’ presentations, visit: www.loghousemuseum.info/events/words-writers-and-west-seattle. Additional information on future presentations can be obtained by contacting Dora-Faye Hendricks, Chair, Words, Writers & West Seattle by phone at 206-290-8315 or by e-mail at Dora-Faye@comcast.net.

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