An Idle chat with Renaissance author

Stephen Greenblatt is coming to Beverly Hills to discuss his newest book next week—and he’s bringing reinforcements. Comedian Eric Idle will join him for a talk that’s likely to be informative, witty and—for Monty Python fans—something completely different.

Greenblatt’s book, The Swerve: How the World Became Modern, is a bibliophile’s dream. A 15^th-century Italian book collector travels on horseback across Europe in a quest for ancient Roman manuscripts. He discovers a 50 B.C. writing that sets the stage for thinking during the Renaissance and beyond: Lucretius’ “On the Nature of Things.” The shocking ideas of the text bring him face to face with the power of the medieval Catholic Church.

Greenblatt, a Harvard professor, also wrote the bestselling Shakespeare biography Will in the World. Known for including personal stories in his interviews and writing, he has told how he once literally ran into T.S. Eliot (knocking him over), played guitar with Art Garfunkel at a summer camp, and performed with members of the group that became Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

He’ll be chatting about his new book with Idle, whose own expertise on medieval life and religion were famously displayed in the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Idle drew from it more recently to create the popular musical “Spamalot.”

The Tuesday, October 11, conversation is presented by the nonprofit literary group Writer’s Bloc. It takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Emanuel, 300 North Clark Drive in Beverly Hills. Tickets cost $20 and must be paid for in cash or check at the venue. Reserve a seat by emailing [email protected].

Posted 10/6/11