Calendar of Book Events

Events

♦ Caltech’s Behind the Book series featured “City of Immortals: Conversations with the Scientists in Père-Lachaise Cemetery” with Carolyn Campbell and Jed Buchwald.

Step onto the hallowed grounds of Paris’s Père-Lachaise Cemetery and commune with some of the great scientific minds of the 18th and early 19th centuries buried there.

Author and photographer Carolyn Campbell, whose book, “City of Immortals: Père-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris,” (2019) celebrates the novelty and eccentricity of the famous resting place, engaged Caltech history professor Jed Buchwald in a spirited discussion as he took on the persona of three scientists: astronomer Jérôme Lalande; mathematician, physicist, and historian Joseph Fourier; and decipherer of Egyptian hieroglyphics Jean-François Champollion.

Together, Campbell and Buchwald brought to life these luminaries and uncovered the controversies surrounding their provocative debates about science, politics, and religion; Napoleon’s pivotal role in their cultural and intellectual adventures; and the significance of their discoveries that unfolded against the background of the French Revolution and the Restoration. Q and A session followed. 

WHEN:
November 18, 2021
5pm PDT, 8 pm EST

WHERE: 
Virtual Event FREE on Zoom –  If you were unable to join us that evening, please enjoy this video from the City of Immortals YouTube channel.

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♦ Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz (TRK) hosted a day-long festival, “Stories from Père Lachaise”

Adapted from Carolyn Campbell’s bestselling book, City of Immortals: Père-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, this day-long festival presented by TRK brought to life the cultural icons buried in Père-Lachaise Cemetery. The event included a photography exhibition, original works of theatre and music, a documentary film, a book signing, and conversation with Carolyn Campbell, plus food and wine.

WHEN:
November 6, 2021
3:00pm – 10pm

WHERE: 
10361 W Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
For more information, click on this link.

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♦ Village Well Books & Coffee in Culver City, CA  hosted author Carolyn Campbell

Best-selling author and photographer Carolyn Campbell gave a slide lecture about her debut book, “City of Immortals” featuring the book’s “Conversation” with Jim Morrison of the Doors. July 3 marked the 50th anniversary of his passing in Paris and burial in Père-Lachaise Cemetery. Actor Alex Nee read the part of the rock legend.  A Q&A session followed.

WHEN:
July 1, 2021
5pm PDT, 8 pm EST

WHERE: 
On Zoom – If you were unable to join us that evening, please enjoy this video from the City of Immortals YouTube channel.

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♦ Federation of Alliances Françaises USA hosted a fascinating insight into this important and popular Parisian site.

A conversation with best-selling author and photographer Carolyn Campbell about her debut book, “City of Immortals” was moderated by Charles Coulon, VP of Alliance Française of DuPage County, IL and Federation Board Member. The conversation was followed by a lively question and answer period.

WHEN:
April 22, 2021
4pm PST, 7 pm EST

WHERE:
On Zoom

Signed copies of  Campbell’s debut bestseller, “City of Immortals: Père-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris” were made available for purchase for attendees.

Sorry that you were unable to attend; however, please join us now on YouTube:

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♦ Conversation hosted by the UCLA Art Sci Center with The Leonardo/ISAST LASERs

HOW TO SPEND THE AFTERLIFE
 Authors Carolyn Campbell and Michael Webb discussed the inclusivity of cemeteries in which the tastes of the living are perpetuated for all time. The inevitably of death and environmental concerns contribute to a fascinating spectrum of burial grounds across the world that are pastoral, moving or surreal. Beginning with world-famous Père-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, images from both Campbell and Webb’s personal photography collections illustrated this timely topic. Within this important dialogue we are invited to think critically about how we can simultaneously care for the deceased, the living, and our planet. There was a public Q&A session that followed.  Sorry that you were unable to attend; however, please join us now on YouTube:

WHEN:
November 19, 2020
12:30p.m.-2:00p.m. PST The event was conveniently scheduled so the east and west coasts of the U.S. and Europe could attend.  

WHERE:
Webinar, live streaming (see YouTube above)

Copies of the authors’ books: Campbell’s bestseller, “City of Immortals: Père-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris” and Webb’s travel memoir, “Moving Around: A Lifetime of Wandering” were available for purchase through their publisher, Goff Books offered to all attendees. 

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♦ Slide Lecture hosted by Alliance Française de Washington, D.C.

Free online slide lecture. 

FRANCE FOREVER SERIES: The Alliance Française of Washington, DC welcomed Carolyn Campbell, a published author and exhibited photographer, for an online conversation where she presented her bestselling debut book City of Immortals: Père-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris. 

A lively Q&A followed the talk. Sorry if you were unable to join us; however, please enjoy the event on YouTube here:

WHEN:
November 20, 2020
7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m. EST / 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. PST

WHERE:
On Zoom
Alliance Française—Washington, D.C.
2142 Wyoming Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008

This event was in English. Signed copies of the book were available for purchase through Goff Books with a discount offered to all registered attendees. 

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♦ Slide Lecture Hosted by UCLA Emeriti Association, Los Angeles. CA

The UCLA Emeriti Association welcomed Carolyn Campbell, a published author and exhibited photographer, for an online conversation, where she presented her bestselling debut book, City of Immortals: Père-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris.

Special program feature: Campbell shared her “Conversation with Isadora Duncan” from her book with UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music faculty member, Victoria Kirsch who read the part of Duncan. A resident of Père-Lachaise, Duncan choreographed 53 dances to the compositions of Frederic Chopin among other classical composers. Ms. Kirsch, guest pianist,  also performed two mazurkas by Frederic Chopin who is also a resident of Père-Lachaise Cemetery.

The Zoom presentation was followed by a Q&A. Please watch the full program here on YouTube:

Signed copies were offered to attendees.

https://www.goffbooks.com/product/city-of-immortals/

WHEN:
December 10, 2020
1:30 P.M. PST

WHERE:
On Zoom

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♦ Slide Lecture/Book Signing at Los Feliz Library, Los Angeles, CA

WHEN: POSTPONED TBA
 Slide lecture/Q&A/signing 

WHERE:
1874 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Part of the Library’s Architecture & Beyond Lecture Series

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An archive of past presentations and book signings is provided below.

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Selected Highlights from My Book Launch and West Coast Tour

In October, the City of West Hollywood invited me to participate in their WeHo Reads authors’ series in the wonderful City Council Chambers Auditorium. For those who could not attend, my talk can be seen below (or on the City of Immortals YouTube Channel). The official launch took place on Tuesday, October 29—which, appropriately enough, coincided with the week of All Souls’ Day. A record turnout of over 100 people attended my presentation, where Book Soup sold over 60 copies within 30 minutes! The book is also available online, as well as at many stores in the U.S., U.K., and France (see the full list on this page).

I subsequently embarked on a West Coast book tour, where I enjoyed reading the “Conversation with Colette” from City of Immortals at Books Inc. in Berkeley, California, with my sister Kathleen Campbell (a literata in her own right). Kathleen introduced me to the works of Colette when I was about eleven. Kathy had very sophisticated tastes for a 13-year-old and told me that Colette was the leading literary figure in France and had authored 50-odd novels, some of which were made into movies, including Gigi, directed by Vincent Minnelli and starring Maurice Chevalier and Leslie Caron. It was racy stuff for young girls!

Book Launch Video
Excerpts from the WeHo Reads presentation by author/photographer Carolyn Campbell at the October 29, 2019 launch of her debut book, City of Immortals.

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Archive of Past Events

♦ Book Signing at Book Passage, Corte Madera

WHEN:
Sunday. November 24, 2019, 1:00 P.M.

WHERE:
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd.
Corte Madera, CA 94925

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♦ Book Signing at Alexander Book Company, San Francisco

WHEN:
Thursday, November 21, 2019, from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 P.M.

WHERE:
Alexander Book Company [main store]
50 Second Street (between Market & Mission)
San Francisco, CA 94105

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♦ Book Signing at Books Inc., Berkeley

WHEN:
Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 7:00 P.M.

WHERE:
Books Inc.
1491 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704

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♦ Book Signing at Alliance Française de Pasadena

WHEN:
Friday, November 15, 2019, 7:00 P.M.

WHERE:
Alliance Française de Pasadena
232 N Lake Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101

Books available for sale by Vroman’s.

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♦ Conversation: Terry Wolverton  with Carolyn Campbell

WHEN:
Sunday, November 10, 2019, 3:00 P.M.

WHERE:
Artbook @ Hauser & Wirth
917 E 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

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♦ Slide Show and Talk at Chevalier’s Books

WHEN:
Thursday, November 7, 2019, at 7:00 P.M.

WHERE:
Chevalier’s Books
126 N. Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004

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♦ “Authors on Architecture” Series

WHEN:
Saturday, November 2, 2019, 2:00 P.M.

WHERE:
Brand Library & Art Center
1601 West Mountain Street
Glendale, CA 91201

Sponsored by the Society of Architectural Historians/Southern California Chapter (SAH/SCC).

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♦ WeHo Reads Book Launch & Signing Party

WHEN:
Tuesday, October 29, 2019, 7:00 P.M.

WHERE:
City Council Chambers at
West Hollywood Library
625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069

Just in time for Halloween! The author’s talk will include a slideshow, a Q&A, a raffle of a free book, and giveaway souvenir photos to people who show up in costume dressed as someone buried at the cemetery. A book-signing will follow, with books available for sale by Book Soup. Sponsored by City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division.
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