Spinner Celebrates: Author Talk with Ben Shattuck

Ben will talk about the journey that led him to write his latest book, The History of Sound: Stories, and explore its complex themes, including the deep connections between love, loss, and history. This engaging and informative talk will include a Q&A session with the audience. Copies of The History of Sound: Stories and Ben’s first book, Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau, will be available for purchase and signing. You can also pick up a copy any time at Davoll's General Store (1228 Russells Mills Road, Dartmouth).
Enjoy a relaxed cocktail-party ambiance where, during the meet-and-greet, you can savor delicious hors d’ouvres, cheese and fruti plates, fresh vegetable crudités, and a convenient cash bar. Built as the home of James and Sarah Arnold in 1821, the Wamsutta Club’s historic architecture provides a welcoming atmosphere; ample parking is available onsite. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased by calling the Spinner office at 508-994-4564 or through PayPal https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/YQA4Q5FWRFWUG
On Thursday, August 6th, at 6pm, Zeiterion Theatre is hosting a special screening of The History of Sound, the feature film written by Ben Shattuck, followed by a discussion with WGBH’s Jared Bowen. For event tickets, visit the Zeiterion Theatre website at https://www.zeiterion.org/events/the-history-of-sound-2026.
Spinner Publications is a nonprofit publishing house in New Bedford dedicated to recording and promoting the history, stories, and culture of the cities and towns in southeastern New England. Spinner’s Author Talk Series are interactive and informative fundraising events that support Spinner’s mission to preserve local history and culture through storytelling, documentary, and photograph preservation.
The History of Sound: Stories is a beautiful collection of twelve interconnected stories in New England, spanning three centuries. Each story adds layers, revealing new secrets and twists, creating an immersive experience. Praised for its lyrical prose, format, and sense of place, the title story was adapted into a film starring Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor, premiering at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. The book received the 2025 Mark Twain Award and the Story Prize Spotlight, and was shortlisted for the PEN/Faulkner and Carnegie Medals.
Ben’s first book, Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau (Tin House), was a New Yorker Best Book of 2022, a New York Times Best Book of Summer, a New England Bestseller, and was nominated for the Massachusetts Book Award. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Ben Shattuck is a recipient of the PEN Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers and a Pushcart Prize. He is a native of South Dartmouth and spends time between Brooklyn and coastal Massachusetts.