Sarah Vowell is a New York Times bestselling author of seven nonfiction books on American history and culture. By examining the connections between the American past and present, she offers personal, often humorous accounts of American history as well as current events and politics. Her book, “Lafayette in the Somewhat United States,” explores both the ideas and the battles of the American Revolution, especially the patriot founders’ alliance with France as personified by the teenage volunteer in George Washington’s army, the Marquis de Lafayette. She will be joined in a delightful and insightful dialogue with author Matthew Klam. Matthew Klam is the author of the novel, “Who Is Rich?”, a New York Times Notable Book, nominated for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize, and “Sam the Cat”, winner of the PEN/Robert Bingham Prize for a Debut Short Story Collection, and a finalist for The Los Angeles Times Book of the Year. His writing has been featured in The New Yorker, Harper’s, GQ, and The New York Times Magazine.