Susan Orlean’s 'The Library Book'

The most catastrophic library fire in United States history occurred in the spring of 1986 at the Los Angeles Public Library. This fire burned for more than seven hours and destroyed or damaged 1.1 million books. Because of the devastation wrought by the fire, the library closed down for seven years, but the mystery of who or what started the fire went unsolved. In The Library Book, Susan Orlean reopens this case, skillfully painting a portrait of the primary suspect, Harry Peak, a man whose alibi changed, often dramatically, every time he spoke to the police or anyone else about the fire—but who nonetheless may not have been responsible for setting it. The library fire becomes a springboard for Orlean to explore the history of the library, its librarians past and present, the role of libraries in communities, memories of her mother, and what it means to love books. Bibliophiles, in particular, will love this lucid volume.

AUTHOR SUSAN ORLEAN IN CONVERSATION WITH JOHN FREEMAN

When: Thursday, August 13, 2026, 5 p.m. Pacific time.
Format: Freeman will lead a free hour-long conversation with Orlean, which will include a reading by her and questions from the audience. Produced by Alta Journal for streaming on Zoom.