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Such Splendid Prisons: Diplomatic Detainment in America During World War II
2/27/2020
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Event Description
Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt wanted the Axis diplomats in Washington, D.C. out of their embassies, and tasked the State Department with making suitable arrangements. Eventually more than a thousand diplomats and dependents from the U.S. as well as Central and South American countries were interned at remote luxury hotels until their repatriation in exchange for U.S. diplomats trapped abroad. Such Splendid Prisons (Potomac Books, 2020) tells this forgotten story: a vivid wartime tale of deluxe detention, public outrage, hidden agendas, political calculations and diplomatic machinations.

Harvey Solomon is a freelance writer based in Takoma Park. He has written speeches, video scripts, and online and print materials for trade associations, corporate and nonprofit clients. His journalistic credits include hundreds of articles for publications including Adweek, The Los Angeles Times and Variety. He has also written for Law & Order. Harvey holds a B.A. from Clark University and an M.B.A. from Boston University.

His recent book talk at Politics & Prose is available online on C-SPAN, and upcoming events include the Library of Congress, the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., and Smithsonian Associates. Such Splendid Prisons is his first, and hopefully not his last book about World War II — especially since his shelves at home are groaning under the weight of an ever-expanding collection of war-related books and clippings.

The event will be followed by Members' Lunch ($30/person) - attendees are invited to stay for lunch and to speak further with the author.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase.