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Ed Simon

“Simon writes with a lively, piquant style that finds sharply observed details in unexpected places. We can say with confidence that An Alternative History of Pittsburgh will be on our ultimate Pittsburgh bookshelf list . . .”

NEXT PITTSBURGH

Ed Simon tells the story of Pittsburgh through this exploration of its hidden histories—the LA Review of Books calls it an “epic, atomic history of the Steel City.”

The land surrounding the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers has supported communities of humans for millennia. Over the past four centuries, it has been transformed countless times by the many people who call it home. In this brief, lyrical, and idiosyncratic collection, Ed Simon, a staff writer at The Millions, follows the story of America’s furnace through a series of interconnected segments, covering all manner of Pittsburgh’s beloved people, places, and things, from “Paleolithic Pittsburgh” to the mythic Joe Magarac.

Accessible and funny, An Alternative History of Pittsburgh is a must-read for anyone curious about this storied city, and for Pittsburghers who think they know it all too well.

Ed Simon is a staff writer for The Millions and a contributing editor for the History News Network. He is the author of several books, most recently Printed in Utopia: The Renaissance’s Radicalism. His essays have appeared in The Atlantic, The Paris Review Daily, The Washington Post, Newsweek, Poetry, McSweeney’s, Aeon, Jacobin, Salon, The New Republic, and The New York Times among dozens of others. A native of Pittsburgh, he currently lives in northern Virginia.

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An Alternative History of Pittsburgh

WHEN

Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 6 p.m.

COVID-19

At this time, all in-person attendees must be fully vaccinated or present a recent negative COVID-19 test. Masks must be worn by everyone for the duration of their visit. You will need to bring proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test, photo ID, and mask. Find detailed entry requirements at pittsburghlectures.org/welcome.

TICKETS

Free, with registration
In person registration includes a link to the livestream
WATCH ONLINE
Registration may also be completed by email at info@pittsburghlectures.org or by phone at 412.622.8866.
Closed captioning will be available for the livestream.

WHERE

Carnegie Library Lecture Hall
4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15213

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