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Highlights From The 2024 National Book Festival : 1A Book festivals are special events where authors are celebrities and audiences are bookworms ready to nerd out among their our own.

Every year, more than 100 of these festivals take place nationwide. And one of the largest is in the nation's capital, hosted by the world's biggest library: The Library of Congress.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden joins us to discuss highlights from this year's National Book Festival, in Washington D.C.

We hear from some of the country's most prominent authors on their latest works, and the inspiration behind their craft.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

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Highlights From The 2024 National Book Festival

Highlights From The 2024 National Book Festival

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Antique books line the shelves at Maggs Bros antiquarian booksellers in London. JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Book festivals are special events where authors are celebrities and audiences are bookworms ready to nerd out among their our own.

Every year, more than 100 of these festivals take place nationwide. And one of the largest is in the nation's capital, hosted by the world's biggest library: The Library of Congress.

We take you to the National Book Festival, which happened on Aug. 24 in Washington D.C., and bring you moments from authors such as Erik Larson, Tamron Hall, and Rebecca Yarros.

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.