The Stratford Library
“Sunday Afternoon Talks”
Sunday, October 17th, 2 p.m.
Presented on the Zoom format, are free and open to the public.
by Tom Holehan
Public Relations & Programming
Note: The talks, presented on the Zoom format by Bill Preinitz, is also a hybrid event that allows visitors to attend and watch in the Library’s Lovell Room.
“Early Anglo-Saxon Britain & Royal Ship Burial at Sutton Hoo” will be the topic for the October 17th Sunday Afternoon Talks. Come hear Bill Preinitz talk about the mystery of Sutton Hoo.
Amateur archaeologist Basil Brown famously made the discovery of a lifetime back in 1939, when he brushed away the Suffolk soil and revealed the richest intact early medieval grave in Europe. More than a grave, it was a spectacular funerary monument on an epic scale: a 27m (88.6 ft) long ship with a burial chamber full of dazzling riches.
As Basil and a team of archaeologists dug deeper, they unearthed fine feasting vessels, deluxe hanging bowls, silverware from distant Byzantium, luxurious textiles, gold dress 17th Century accessories set with Sri Lankan garnets and the iconic helmet with human mask.
The archaeologists and landowner Edith Pretty were dumbfounded. This was clearly the grave of an important person – someone meant to be remembered. But who was it? And what can the Sutton Hoo excavation tell us about Anglo-Saxon society?
Bill Preinitz is a Chicago native currently residing in Weston. He holds a B.A. in Mathematics, a B.S. in Finance, and an M.B.A. from Northern Illinois University. His career began with a brisk and transformative experience in the U.S. Army and has, subsequently, held management roles in consumer banking and publishing in Chicago.
A job relocation to Manhattan led to an over 25-year long investment banking career. After retiring eight years ago, he immediately authored two books and has a special focus on the history of Rome, the American Civil War and World War II. He has also been a guest speaker at Weston Public Library on various international/military/security topics.
Register for Zoom: https://stratfordlibrary.libcal.com/event/7591179
For further information, call the Library at 203.385.4162 or visit: www.stratfordlibrary.org.
