Once again we are proud to welcome back our dear friend, Dr. Elliot Engel, as a guest of the Trumbull Town Hall Celebrity Series. He is a scholar and performer whose infectious enthusiasm and radiant wit create an imaginative and delightful presentation.
Today Dr. Engel recounts the life of L. Frank Baum and the reasons for the enduring fame of his classic American Fairy Tale, “The Wizard of Oz.”
With 260 lectures a year covering over 50 literary topics, Dr. Engel speaks to a wide variety of audiences ranging from 1200 people at a Town Hall to a classroom of 10 eager elementary students. Past audiences have included the Michigan State University Alumni Group, the International Conference of C.E.O.s in Scotland, Princeton Friends of the Library, and the Orthopedic Surgeons Association in Boston.
In addition to his busy schedule, Elliot Engel has published seven books both in England and the United States. His articles have appeared in national magazines, including the “My Turn” column in Newsweek.
Professor Engel has written three plays. PBS television stations around the country aired Dr. Engel’s mini-lecture series on his favorite author and literary hero, Charles Dickens.
Since 1982, Professor Engle has led more than l000 travel enthusiasts to over 20 countries to enjoy learning vacations. His favorite pastime is fishing and his other passions include walking, hiking, three extraordinary godsons and his two yellow labs, Kit and Kaboodle.
Dr. Engel hopes that with new insights into the background and artistry of the masters of American and English literature, his listeners will blow the dust off the classic volumes in the library and reread them with new understanding.
