Montana author Doig guest for talk, dinner

The Idaho Humanities Council will bring Montana author Ivan Doig to Coeur d’Alene Sept. 15 for the second annual North Idaho Distinguished Humanities Lecture and Dinner.

The event last year was so well attended that the council, which has offered the lecture series in Boise for eight years, decided to return to Coeur d’Alene. The council has scheduled its Boise lecture for Oct. 20. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley is the guest speaker.

Doig was born in Montana and incorporates the landscape into his writing. In his books, he explores average Western ranchers, rangers, cowboys, cooks, shepherds and truck drivers. His books include “This House of Sky,” the story of Doig’s family of Montana sheep ranchers in the 1940s and 1950s. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award. The Western Literature Association honored Doig with its Distinguished Achievement award.

Doig will speak at 7:30 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. General tickets cost $40 and include dinner. Benefactor tickets cost $100 and include a reception with the author prior to dinner. For tickets, call (888) 345-5346 or go to www.idahohumanities.org.