On June 17, Allen Shawn of Bennington College will read from his book Wish I Could Be There and his previous work, the biography Arnold Schoenberg's Journey. Allen Shawn is a musician and composer who has taught for many years on the faculty of Bennington College. His musical works have included pieces for orchestra, chamber music, voice, and piano, as well as music for theater, ballet, and film, but he is no stranger to writing.

The son of the famous, longtime New Yorker editor William Shawn, and brother to playwright and actor Wallace Shawn, Allen Shawn grew up in a lively but mysterious world. The separation of a twin sister from the family, a father who led a double life, and family phobias underlie his writing. Shawn examines these influences and his own struggle with agoraphobia with generosity, wit, and insight. He attempts to decipher the psychological and biological puzzles that have plagued him for so long. A droll, inquisitive, and poignant account from a member of one of New York’s premier literary families, Wish I Could Be There has been called "a memoir of enormous bravery". Interwoven with both Freudian psychology and cutting-edge brain research, Shawn has written a profound examination of familial love and the universal struggle to face our demons. His acclaimed biography of Arnold Schoenberg has been called "thorough, caring, readable and witty."

It is free and open to the public. Books for the series are available at the museum's gift shop and at the Bennington Bookshop, and bookstores in Williamstown and Manchester. Watch for information on the remaining presentation which will be held on June 24.