A Date With History Lecture with Prof. Michael Olmert

A Date with History Lecture Series
“Ink, Paint, Bricks: Intention & Ambiguity in the Arts”
Thursday, August 24th , 2023 at 1pm
See below for reservation details 

    The Talbot Historical Society lecture for Thurs., Aug. 24, 2023 at 1:00, will be presented by Michael Olmert, based on his forthcoming book:  Ink, Paint, Bricks: Intention & Ambiguity in the Arts. This illustrated talk will cover two short poems, one painting, and one architectural building shape, the octagon. The poetry will be by W.H Auden: Musee des Beaux Arts (1938) and If I Could Tell You, I Would Let You Know (1940). The picture will be Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s genre painting, The Fall of Icarus (1560); and the architectural part will cover the all-important symbolism of the Octagon in architecture, religion, and literature.
Overall, the book is to do with intention, interpretation, and meaning in writing, painting, and buildings. The book will have ten chapters, each covering one building, one novel, play, or poem, and one painting.|
Prof. Olmert has been teaching Shakespeare and drama at the University of Maryland English Department for 37 years. This is his second Talbot Historical Society (THS) lecture based on the new book. He’s also spoken at the THS on “The Invention of Colonial Williamsburg.” He’s written The Smithsonian Book of Books (1992), Milton’s Teeth & Ovid’s Umbrella (1996), and Kitchens, Smokehouses, & Privies (2009). His television writing has won three Primetime Emmys. He’s written 80 TV docs, as well as 5 books, 7 plays, 3 feature films, an IMAX film, and over 200 articles, essays, and reviews. In 2005, he was inducted into the University of Maryland Alumni Hall of Fame.

Date: Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 1pm
Location: 25 S. Washington Street, Easton, Maryland
Reservations are required and the cost is
FREE for THS members and $5 for non-members.
If you have any questions or wish to sign-up,
please contact the Talbot Historical Society at
410-822-0773 or email