Talk Story: A Gold Mountain Odyssey

Join us for a community discussion with author Veronica Li and historian Phil Sexton about Chinese American contributions to America.
About this Event

The 1882 Foundation is celebrating America's 250th birthday with a series of events that celebrate Chinese American contributions to the American story. In this Talk Story, we will talk with Veronica Li and Sverrir Sigurdsson, whose historical fiction novel 1882: A Gold Mountain Odyssey dramatizes the Chinese immigrant experience in mid-1800s America. Through the eyes of protagonist Sam Wong, Li and Sigurdsson bring to life the courage, hardship, and resilience of Chinese immigrants who helped build this nation. Sam's journey serves as a humanizing window into a chapter of American history that is both deeply painful and profoundly inspiring.

Joining the conversation is historian Phil Sexton, who will offer additional historical context and insight into this transformative era of Chinese American history.

Event Schedule:

• 5:30 PM — Doors open
• 6:00 PM — Author reading & lecture
• 6:45 PM — Community discussion & Q&A
• 7:30 PM — Book signing

Veronica Li emigrated to the U.S. from Hong Kong as a teenager. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master’s degree in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University. She has worked as a journalist and a World Bank project officer, and is currently a writer. Her three previously published titles are: Nightfall in Mogadishu, Journey across the Four Seas: A Chinese Woman’s Search for Home, and Confucius Says: A Novel. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and coauthor, Sverrir Sigurdsson. Her website is www.veronicali.com. Her book, Journey Across the Four Seas, a memoir of her mother’s life, has been featured on C Span of Book TV.

Phil Sexton is a historian for the 1882 Foundation and lead docent for 1882 Foundation's Heritage Tour. A board member of the Western States Trail Museum in Auburn, California and a former Executive Director of the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society, Phil is a life member of the National Association for Interpretation and is affiliated with the American Association for State and Local History.

Sverrir Sigurdsson grew up in Iceland and graduated from Finland as an architect. He pursued an international career that took him to the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the U.S. His assignments focused on school construction and improving education in developing countries. He has worked for private companies and international organizations, including UNESCO and the World Bank. He is the author of Viking Voyager: An Icelandic Memoir.