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Image for event: An Evening with Dick Lehr

An Evening with Dick Lehr

Community Event with Book Sale and Signing

2023-04-18 18:00:00 2023-04-18 19:00:00 America/Chicago An Evening with Dick Lehr Dick Lehr will discuss his book, Dead Reckoning. Bentonville Public Library - Walmart Community Room

Tuesday, April 18
6:00pm - 7:00pm

Add to Calendar 2023-04-18 18:00:00 2023-04-18 19:00:00 America/Chicago An Evening with Dick Lehr Dick Lehr will discuss his book, Dead Reckoning. Bentonville Public Library - Walmart Community Room

Bentonville Public Library

Walmart Community Room

Dick Lehr will discuss his book, Dead Reckoning.

Dick Lehr will present a book talk to community attendees followed by a brief Q&A. Books will be available for purchase, and Lehr will sit down for a book signing. A portion of book sale proceeds benefits BPL. BPL’s program is supported by the Friends of the Bentonville Library. 

Dead Reckoning: The Story of How Johnny Mitchell and His Fighter Pilots Took on Admiral Yamamoto and Avenged Pearl Harbor

 “AIR RAID, PEARL HARBOR. THIS IS NO DRILL.” At 7:58 a.m. on December 7, 1941, an officer at the Ford Island Command Center typed what would become one of the most famous radio dispatches in history, as the Japanese navy launched a surprise aerial assault on U.S. bases on Hawaii. In a little over two hours, more than 2,400 Americans were dead, propelling the U.S.’s entry into World War II.

Dead Reckoning is the epic true story of the high-stakes operation undertaken sixteen months later to avenge that deadly strike – a longshot mission hatched hastily at the U.S. base on Guadalcanal. Expertly crafting this "hunt for Bin Laden"-style WWII story, New York Times bestselling author Dick Lehr recreates the tension-filled events leading up to the climactic clash in the South Pacific skies – frontline moments loaded with xenophobia, spycraft, sacrifice and broken hearts.

Lehr goes behind the scenes at Station Hypo on Hawaii, where U.S. Navy code breakers first discovered exactly where and when to find Admiral Yamamoto, on April 18, 1943, and then chronicles in dramatic detail the nerve-wracking mission to kill him. He focuses on Army Air Force Major John W. Mitchell, the ace fighter pilot from the tiny hamlet of Enid, Mississippi who was tasked with conceiving a flight route, literally to the second, for the only U.S. fighter plane on Guadalcanal capable of reaching Yamamoto hundreds of miles away – the new twin-engine P-38 Lightning with its fabled “cone of fire.”

Given unprecedented access to Mitchell’s personal papers and hundreds of private letters, Lehr reveals for the first time the full story of Mitchell’s wartime exploits up to the face-off with Yamamoto, along with those of key American pilots Mitchell chose for the momentous mission: Rex Barber, Thomas Lanphier Jr., Besby Holmes, and Ray Hine. The spotlight also shines on their enemy target –Admiral Yamamoto, the enigmatic, charismatic commander in chief of Japan’s Combined Fleet, whose complicated feelings about the U.S.—he studied at Harvard—add rich complexity. In this way Dead Reckoning offers at once a fast-paced recounting of a crucial turning point in the Pacific war and keenly drawn portraits of its two main protagonists: Isoroku Yamamoto, the architect of Pearl Harbor, and John Mitchell, the architect of the Yamamoto’s demise.

About Dick

Dick Lehr is a professor of journalism at Boston University. From 1985 to 2003, he was a reporter at the Boston Globe, where he was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in investigative reporting and won numerous regional and national journalism awards. He served as the Globe's legal affairs reporter, magazine and feature writer, and as a longtime member of the newspaper's investigative reporting unit, the Spotlight Team. Before that, Lehr, who is also an attorney, was a reporter at The Hartford Courant.

Lehr is the author of The Fence: A Police Cover-up Along Boston's Racial Divide, a non-fiction narrative about the worst known case of police brutality in Boston, which was an Edgar Award finalist for best non-fiction. He is coauthor of the New York Times bestseller and Edgar Award winner Black Mass: Whitey Bulger, the FBI and a Devil's Deal, and its sequel, Whitey: The Life of America's Most Notorious Mob Boss.

Lehr was a John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University in 1991-1992. He lives outside Boston with his wife and four children.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Speaker Series |

TAGS: | |

Bentonville Public Library

Phone: 479-271-3192

Hours

Today's hours

We're open 9:00AM to 8:00PM

Mon, Mar 18 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Mar 19 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Mar 20 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Mar 21 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Mar 22 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Mar 23 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Mar 24 Closed

About the branch

Bentonville Public Library is located just 3 blocks south of the Downtown Square, at 405 S. Main Street in Bentonville, Arkansas. Facility amenities include an engaging adult collection with private study rooms, vibrant children's and teen spaces, community meeting rooms, genealogy research center and café. 

Upcoming events

Tue, Mar 19, All day
The library is taking a one-week storytime break. Storytime will resume the week of March 25th.

Canceled
Tue, Mar 19, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Join Ms. Christina each month for a story and related art project! Check back for project information. For kids in K - 6th grade.

Wed, Mar 20, All day
The library is taking a one-week storytime break. Storytime will resume the week of March 25th.

Wed, Mar 20, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Teen Zone
Teens, join us for Petite Patisserie - Presented by the Scott Family Amazeum!

Thu, Mar 21, All day
The library is taking a one-week storytime break. Storytime will resume the week of March 25th.

Thu, Mar 21, 5:00pm - 7:30pm
Walmart Community Room
Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale!

Fri, Mar 22, 9:00am - 4:30pm
Walmart Community Room
Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale!

Fri, Mar 22, 10:30am - 11:00am
Books, songs, movement activities, and more - with a wetlands twist! All ages welcome.

Sat, Mar 23, All day
The library is taking a one-week storytime break. Storytime will resume the week of March 25th.

Sat, Mar 23, 9:00am - 4:30pm
Walmart Community Room
Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale!

Mon, Mar 25, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Teen Zone
Students are invited to learn about research, constructing arguments, and public speaking.Register

Mon, Mar 25, 6:00pm - 7:45pm
Walmart Community Room
Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society Monthly Meeting

Canceled
Tue, Mar 26, All day
The library is taking a one week storytime break. Storytime will resume the week of April 1st.

Tue, Mar 26, 9:30am - 9:50am
Children's Area
Books, songs, movement, and LOTS of fun! Best for ages 18-36 months and their caregiver.

Tue, Mar 26, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Engaging stories, silly rhymes, interactive music and movement activities, and more! Best for ages 3-6 and their caregiver.

Tue, Mar 26, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Walmart Community Room
Build a LEGO® model based on the monthly challenge. For kids in K - 6th grade.

Canceled
Wed, Mar 27, All day
The library is taking a one week storytime break. Storytime will resume the week of April 1st.

Wed, Mar 27, 9:30am - 9:50am
Children's Area
Books, songs, movement, and LOTS of fun! Best for ages 18-36 months and their caregiver.

Wed, Mar 27, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Engaging stories, silly rhymes, interactive music and movement activities, and more! Best for ages 3-6 and their caregiver.

Wed, Mar 27, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Teen Zone
Join us to grow your creative writing skills and meet new friends!

Canceled
Thu, Mar 28, All day
The library is taking a one week storytime break. Storytime will resume the week of April 1st.

Thu, Mar 28, 9:30am - 9:45am
Children's Area
Books, songs, lap bounces, and more! Best for ages 0-18 months and their caregiver.

Thu, Mar 28, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Engaging stories, silly rhymes, interactive music and movement activities, and more! Best for ages 3-6 and their caregiver.

Canceled
Sat, Mar 30, All day
The library is taking a one week storytime break. Storytime will resume the week of April 1st.

Sat, Mar 30, 11:15am - 11:45am
Children's Area
Books, songs, movement activities, and more! All ages welcome.

Mon, Apr 01, 10:00am - 11:00am
McGaugh Family Literacy Area
Friends of the Bentonville Library Monthly Meeting

Tue, Apr 02, 9:30am - 9:50am
Children's Area
Books, songs, movement, and LOTS of fun! Best for ages 18-36 months and their caregiver.

Tue, Apr 02, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Engaging stories, silly rhymes, interactive music and movement activities, and more! Best for ages 3-6 and their caregiver.

Canceled
Tue, Apr 02, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Open play chess for all skill levels. Grades 1 - 6 welcome.

Wed, Apr 03, 9:30am - 9:50am
Children's Area
Books, songs, movement, and LOTS of fun! Best for ages 18-36 months and their caregiver.

Wed, Apr 03, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Engaging stories, silly rhymes, interactive music and movement activities, and more! Best for ages 3-6 and their caregiver.

Wed, Apr 03, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Rotary Conference Room
Library Advisory Board Meeting

Wed, Apr 03, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
McGaugh Family Literacy Area
April Discussion of The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim by E.K. Johnston

Thu, Apr 04, 9:30am - 9:45am
Children's Area
Books, songs, lap bounces, and more! Best for ages 0-18 months and their caregiver.

Thu, Apr 04, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Engaging stories, silly rhymes, interactive music and movement activities, and more! Best for ages 3-6 and their caregiver.

Thu, Apr 04, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Teen Zone
7th - 12th graders are invited to join D&D @BPL!

Thu, Apr 04, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Haney Family Conference Room
Join the NWA food bank to learn about creating a garden. Register

Fri, Apr 05, 10:30am - 11:00am
Books, songs, movement activities, and more! All ages welcome.

Sat, Apr 06, 10:00am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Practice your reading-aloud skills with a non-judgmental audience - a dog! All ages welcome.

Sat, Apr 06, 11:15am - 12:00pm
Children's Area
Books, songs, movement activities, and more! All ages welcome.

Mon, Apr 08, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Children's Area,Teen Zone
Each meeting will focus on a topic related to library and information skills or English Language Arts. For students in kindergarten - 12th grade. Registration requested.

Mon, Apr 08, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Teen Zone
Students are invited to learn about research, constructing arguments, and public speaking.Register

Mon, Apr 08, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
McGaugh Family Literacy Area
Read, think, and share ideas about great books! This month, we're talking about The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt. For children entering 4th - 6th grade.

Tue, Apr 09, 9:30am - 9:50am
Children's Area
Books, songs, movement, and LOTS of fun! Best for ages 18-36 months and their caregiver.

Tue, Apr 09, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Engaging stories, silly rhymes, interactive music and movement activities, and more! Best for ages 3-6 and their caregiver.

Tue, Apr 09, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Children's Area
Practice the art of origami with our volunteer instructors. All skill levels welcome! For kids in 1st - 6th grade.

Tue, Apr 09, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
McGaugh Family Literacy Area
April Discussion of The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Wed, Apr 10, 9:30am - 9:50am
Children's Area
Books, songs, movement, and LOTS of fun! Best for ages 18-36 months and their caregiver.

Wed, Apr 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Engaging stories, silly rhymes, interactive music and movement activities, and more! Best for ages 3-6 and their caregiver.

Wed, Apr 10, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Teen Zone
April Discussion of Five Survive by Holly Jackson

Thu, Apr 11, 9:30am - 9:45am
Children's Area
Books, songs, lap bounces, and more! Best for ages 0-18 months and their caregiver.

Thu, Apr 11, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Engaging stories, silly rhymes, interactive music and movement activities, and more! Best for ages 3-6 and their caregiver.

Thu, Apr 11, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Haney Family Conference Room
Join the NWA food bank to learn about creating a garden. Register

Sat, Apr 13, 10:00am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Practice your reading-aloud skills with a non-judgmental audience - a dog! All ages welcome.

Sat, Apr 13, 11:15am - 12:00pm
Children's Area
Books, songs, movement activities, and more! All ages welcome.

Mon, Apr 15, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
McGaugh Family Literacy Area
April Discussion of Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Tue, Apr 16, 9:30am - 9:50am
Children's Area
Books, songs, movement, and LOTS of fun! Best for ages 18-36 months and their caregiver.

Tue, Apr 16, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Engaging stories, silly rhymes, interactive music and movement activities, and more! Best for ages 3-6 and their caregiver.

Tue, Apr 16, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Children's Area
Join Ms. Christina each month for a story and related art project! Check back for project information. For kids in K - 6th grade.

Wed, Apr 17, 9:30am - 9:50am
Children's Area
Books, songs, movement, and LOTS of fun! Best for ages 18-36 months and their caregiver.

Wed, Apr 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Engaging stories, silly rhymes, interactive music and movement activities, and more! Best for ages 3-6 and their caregiver.

Thu, Apr 18, 9:30am - 9:45am
Children's Area
Books, songs, lap bounces, and more! Best for ages 0-18 months and their caregiver.

Thu, Apr 18, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Area
Engaging stories, silly rhymes, interactive music and movement activities, and more! Best for ages 3-6 and their caregiver.

Thu, Apr 18, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Teen Zone
7th - 12th grade Swifties, join us for this fun event!

Thu, Apr 18, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Haney Family Conference Room
Join the NWA food bank to learn about creating a garden. Register