Friends of the Knox County Public Library will welcome New York Times bestselling author Erik Larson back to Knoxville to speak about his latest book, The Splendid and The Vile, which delivers a fresh and compelling portrait of Winston Churchill and London during the Blitz. Drawing on diaries, original archival documents and once-secret intelligence reports, Larson provides a fresh lens on London’s darkest year through the day-to-day experiences of Churchill, his family and his inner circle. A book signing will follow the author’s talk.

The $38 ticket price includes a hardcover copy of the book. Tickets will be available Jan. 31. Additional sponsors of this author event include Union Ave Books, the Knox County Public Library and East Tennessee Historical Society.

Larson is the author of five national bestsellers: Dead Wake, In the Garden of Beasts, Thunderstruck, The Devil in the White City and Isaac’s Storm, which have collectively sold more than nine million copies.