Library to host talk by author Colm Toibin

SALISBURY » White Hart Author Series: Bestselling, award-winning author Colm Tóibín will discuss his spectacularly audacious, violent, vengeful, lustful, and instantly compelling new novel “House of Names” a retelling of the story of Clytemnestra and her children, June 27 at 6 p.m. at the White Hart.

The event is a collaboration with the White Hart, Oblong Books & Music and the Scoville Memorial Library.

Tóibín visits the recurrent subject of the mother in his novels in this reimagining of the Ancient Greek tragedy of the House of Atreus told in four parts. The mother here is the despised and cursed Clytemnestra, whose damning historical reputation he counters by making her more human and understandable. This is a story that dwells on the themes of betrayal, loss, grief, corruption, power, failure, loneliness and repression. It is told through the perspective of Clytemnestra, her son and daughter, Orestes and Electra, and the ghost of Clytemnestra.

Agamemnon betrays and sacrifices his daughter, Iphigenia, on her wedding day to win the Trojan war. Clytemnestra is grief stricken and seeks to assuage her desperate loss by dreaming of and planning the murder of Agamemnon.

Where Tobin excels is in his depiction of the character of Clytemnestra who comes alive effortlessly through his prose. The language he deploys is often sublime, expressive, and vivid. He creates a doom laden picture of palace intrigue and an unsettling atmosphere. It is a timeless tale whose echoes can be heard throughout our human history.

Colm Tóibín is the author of seven novels, including The Master, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; Brooklyn, winner of the Costa Book Award; The Testament of Mary, and Nora Webster, as well as two story collections. Three times shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, Tóibín lives in Dublin and New York.

To register go to http:// www.oblongbooks.com/ event/white-hart-speaker-series-colm-t%F3ib%EDn.

Church to hold tag sale

TORRINGTON » The First Congregational Church of Torrington (corner of Route 4 and Riverside Avenue) will hold its spring tag sale on Saturday, June 10, 0 a.m.-2 p.m., with opportunities to “donate your own price” for items.

There will also be other vendors and that means a wide variety of items will be available.

Tables are available to rent for individuals or vendors.

If interested, call 860-6893017.

Italian classes begin in June

TORRINGTON » The Sullivan Senior Center, 88 E. Albert St., Torrington, is offering summer Italian classes this summer

Intermediate Italian will meet on Tuesdays, 2:30--4:30 p.m., 12 sessions, from June 6 to Aug. 29, with no class on July 4. The class will include grammar, conversation, culture, and reading. The required text is Italian Two and Three Years Workbook, second edition, by Tursi and Cincinnato, available online, as well a reader. The fee is $85 seniors/ $100 others.

Basic Italian, a beginner class, will meet on Thursdays, 9:15--11:30 a.m., 9 sessions, from June 29 to Aug. 24. The class will include grammar, converation, and culture. The required text is Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way, by Marcel Danesi, available at Barnes and Noble or online. The fee is $85 seniors/$100 others.

Conversational Italian will meet on Fridays, 9:15--11:15 a.m., 9 sessions, from June 16-Aug. 11. This is not a beginner class. It is designed for those who have a good vocabulary and basic grammar skills. The required text is Leggere con Piacere, by Aristide B. Masella, 1976 ed., available online. The fee is $85 seniors/ $100 others.

For more information or to preregister, call 860-4968041. The instructor is Dona Frauenhofer.