PBS Books welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning author Barbara Kingsolver for an exclusive live discussion about her brand-new novel Partita -- a book she says she has been waiting whole life to write.
During this live virtual event moderated by PBS Books hosts Lauren Smith and Fred Nahhat, we'll explore the origins of Kingsolver's new novel, reflect on her remarkable career as an author, and revisit highlights from some of her bestselling works. Audience members will also have the opportunity to interact in a lively book club chat and submit their own questions for Barbara Kingsolver.
About the book: Partita
Livia Cable has made her peace with her marriage and modest livelihood in the farm country where she grew up, until a shocking phone call from an old lover shakes her to the core. Decades earlier, this man knew her as Livia Bohsz a music conservatory student estranged from her home and family, uncertain of anything except her passion for music and her promise as an extraordinary pianist. His request, now, to see her again stirs up ghosts she has kept at bay for a lifetime.
Shifting between past and present, Livia's decision to meet or reject the reunion means confronting - in memories framed as musical dances - the experiences of childhood loss, abandonment, self-immolating passion, and perilous attachment to a man who broke her belief in love and ruptured the course of her life.
With razor-sharp acuity, Kingsolver's new novel Partita reflects on class barriers, the risk of ambition, and the timeless life-changing power of art. Told in movements that mirror a Bach partita, the novel unfolds with the precision and emotional power of music itself: each section building on the last, each theme returning transformed.
Thursday, November 5, 2026 from 8-9pm
Tickets are a $150 donation and include:
Shipping Details:
How it works:
This virtual event will take place via a platform called Streamyard. In order to access the webinar you will have to use the unique access code sent to your email within a week of registration. Occasionally these emails may end up in the spam folder so please be on the look out for emails from Streamyard.
This virtual event is in partnership with CDP, and PBS Books our event organizers and hosts. Your donation for this event will benefit Maryland Public Television and the MPT Foundation, Inc.
Important Note: Tickets purchased after October 20 will still include a copy of Partita and the PBS Books Readers Club mug. While we'll do our best to get these items to you, delivery by the event on November 5 cannot be guaranteed.
If you have any questions regarding the event, please reach out to [email protected].
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The MPT Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3). Your contribution supports MPT's service to Marylanders and beyond. Thank you for your additional support.
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