BISHOP HILL, Ill. — The Bishop Hill Heritage Association will host a free book talk and signing featuring authors Adam Kaul and Margaret Farrar on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 2:30 p.m. at the Steeple Building Museum in Bishop Hill. The event will introduce their new book, Becoming Utopia, which explores the history of the Henry County village and its development over more than a century.
The book was written over a 15 year period by Kaul, an anthropologist, and Farrar, a political scientist. It examines Bishop Hill through a broad historical perspective, tracing the community from its founding by Swedish settlers to its transformation into a heritage tourism destination during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The authors also explore modern challenges facing rural communities, including how places like Bishop Hill balance preserving their history while adapting to changing economic conditions and the growth of green energy. The book looks at how those issues affect the long term sustainability of small Midwestern communities.
Kaul is chair of the Sociology and Anthropology Department at Augustana College in Rock Island. His research focuses on the cultural and economic effects of tourism, with fieldwork conducted in Ireland, Sweden and the American Midwest. Farrar is a professor of political science at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. She has published extensively on democratic theory, gender politics and contemporary political issues.
The presentation will be held at the Steeple Building Museum, 103 N. Bishop Hill St. Following the discussion, attendees will have an opportunity to meet the authors and have copies of Becoming Utopia signed. The event is free and open to the public.