Author and former Decorah resident David Johnson to speak Wednesday

Former Decorah resident David Johnson will visit Dragonfly Books at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday to discuss his book, "Shtetls to Shipsides: The Religious Roads of my Mother's People."  Johnson will read excerpts from his book, talk about writing, his family and travels, and sign copies of his book.

David Johnson called Decorah home from 1957 to 1969 while he was a sociology professor at Luther College.  According to Will Bunge's "Transformed by the Journey," Johnson "shaped the program in sociology and initiated a period of phenomenal growth in student interest in that discipline." A graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Iowa, Johnson received an honorary doctorate from Luther College in 1993.

Johnson's book chronicles his travels across Central and Eastern Europe in search of the answers to his family's past.  Johnson's love of family history, love of travel and keen observations as a sociologist combine to give the reader insights into religion, ethnicity, immigration, discrimination and plural identities.

This event is sponsored by Dragonfly Books at 112 W. Water Street, Decorah and is free and open to the public.  A reception with light refreshments will follow.

To learn more about this and other events at Dragonfly Books, please visit www.dragonflybooks.com, or e-mail events@dragonflybooks.com or call 563-382-4275.