The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The Stark Museum of Art, located at 712 Green Avenue in Orange, Texas, will host a Book Discussion of In Search of Robinson Crusoe by Tim Severin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17. This program, held in relation to the Museum's current exhibition Tales and Travels, offers the public an opportunity to discuss the book and to see the first edition of Daniel Defoe's famous novel Robinson Crusoe along with travel-related paintings, prints, rare books and documents from the collections of the Stark Museum and The W.H. Stark House.

Elena Ivanova, the Museum's Chief Educator, will lead the talk and will provide insights into the book for those not familiar with it.

Author Tim Severin described his travels to locations where English seafarers, who were the likely prototypes for Robinson Crusoe, were stranded.

He also compared their stories to Defoe's novel.

For greater participation, attendees are encouraged to read the book in advance and review discussion questions on the Museum's website.

In Search of Robinson Crusoeis now on sale at the Museum Store.

For a copy of discussion questions, to learn more about Tales and Travels at the Museum or to find a link to the coordinating exhibit Tales and Travels: A Family Scrapbook at The W.H. Stark House, visitwww.starkmuseum.org.

"We are delighted to have an opportunity to host a discussion of Severin's book at the time when the first edition of Robinson Crusoe is on view in the Museum. Defoe's novel was the first bestseller in the history of English literature - by the end of its first year of publication, the book had already run through four editions and its popularity has not diminished since. Today we continue to be fascinated with survival stories. Author Tim Severin brings a fresh perspective to the well-known novel and encourages us to consider the real implications of being left to fend for oneself in an inhospitable environment," commented Ivanova.

Located at 712 Green Avenue in Orange, Texas, Stark Museum of Art is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission is free for STARK Cultural Venues members. Admission fees for the Stark Museum of Art are $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (age 65 and up), students (with ID), and youth (age 10-17); $2.00 for children (age 4-9); and free for toddlers (age 3 and under). Group tours are available by advanced registration.

The Book Discussion program is included with admission to the Museum. For more information, call 409.886.ARTS (2787) or visit www.starkmuseum.org.