A sweeping saga told in the voice of an unforgettable heroine, "The Belle of Two Arbors" brings two places vividly to life: a growing “downstate” town driven by a public university striving for greatness, and a small “up north” community seeking prosperity while preserving its natural heritage. Spanning the first half of the twentieth century, Belle’s remarkable story is interweaved with accounts of historical events as well as memorable appearances by some of our favorite poets, including Emily Dickinson, W. H. Auden, and Robert Frost.

Paul Dimond will talk about his experience conducting research for his first novel at the Ann Arbor District Library, the Bentley Historical Library, and the Special Collections Library in the University of Michigan’s University Library. He will be accompanied by Martha (Marty) Buhr Grimes, who wrote the poems that are Belle’s in the novel.

Paul and Marty are lifelong Ann Arbor residents who share a passion for poetry, their hometown, and Lake Michigan.