Christopher Buckley, novelist, political satirist and editor will present “Thank You for Smoking: A Conversation with Chris Buckley,” the ArtSci Council/Neureuther Library Lecture for the Assembly Series at 11 a.m., Wednesday, February 21 in Graham Chapel.
Buckley, who was awarded the distinguished Thurber Prize for American Humor in 2004 for his novel “No Way to Treat a First Lady,” is the author of eleven books. His acclaimed novel, “Thank You for Smoking,” was made into a film of the same name in 2006. Its protagonist is a lobbyist for the tobacco industry. Buckley’s 1999 book, “Little Green Men,” about a government agency investigating UFO sightings, will also be made into a film with a 2008 release. In his soon to be released novel, “Boomsday,” he explores the plight of baby boomers and generational warfare.
Widely known for his wit and wry humor, Buckley was a speechwriter for Vice-President George H.W. Bush. After graduating with honors from Yale University, and a stint with the Merchant Marines, Buckley became managing editor of Esquire Magazine at the age of 24. He published his first best seller, a travelogue, “Steaming to Bamboola: The World of a Tramp Freighter” five years later.
In 1989, the late Malcom Forbes hired Buckley to start a new magazine, Forbes FYI, now known as ForbesLife. It is published bi-monthly and is an irreverent lifestyle magazine chronicling “The Good Life™.”
Besides his satirical novels, travelogues, and short stories, Buckley has written for most national newspapers and magazines and has published over 50 comic essays in The New Yorker. Christopher Buckley comes by it naturally; he is the only son of William F. Buckley Jr., renowned novelist, journalist and commentator.
The event is free and open to the public. Graham Chapel is located north of Mallinckrodt Center, 6445 Forsyth Blvd., on the Washington University Danforth campus.
For more information, call (314) 935-4620 or visit the Assembly Series Web page (http://assemblyseries.wustl.edu).