The Waterford Foundation recently announced the re-launch of its popular author lecture series. Originally named the George Bentley Lecture Series, after the longtime Waterford resident and preservationist who died in 2000, the lectures were suspended following the 2007 fire that destroyed the Old School.

They will begin again May 12th as "Waterford Books & Wine." These informal Saturday afternoon lectures in the beautiful new Waterford Old School Auditorium will be followed by a tasting of wines from prominent local wineries.

"We are honored to have Congressman Wolf as the first speaker in this new series," said Foundation President Bonnie Getty. "Congressman Wolf has been an ardent champion of preserving Waterford during his thirty-one years representing Virginia's 10th District. It's fitting that his new book, 'Prisoner of Conscience,' which explores his longtime championing of human rights causes, will be the first tale told in the new auditorium."

Thirty years ago, Frank Wolf was elected to the U.S. Congress to address local transportation issues. Fueled by a faith that made him believe he could do something about it, the congressman grew to defend human and religious rights around the world-from cracking down on gang-related crimes in the U.S. to relieving suffering from war, AIDS, and famine in places like Darfur, China, and Bosnia.

As the Congressman visited some of the most dangerous places in the world, he saw firsthand the need for members of Congress to speak out for persecuted people around the globe. In 'Prisoner of Conscience: One Man's Crusade for Global Human and Religious Rights,' he shares intimate stories of his adventures from the halls of political power to other dangerous places around the world and what he has learned along the way.

On June 2, author Douglas Rogers, will talk about his new book, "The Last Resort: A Memoir of Zimbabwe," which the New York Times Book Review called "...the best account yet of ordinary life-for blacks and whites-under Mugabe's dictatorship."

Details on additional Autumn lectures will be released shortly.

Since 2001 book and author lectures in Waterford have featured such notable writers as Geraldine Brooks, Tony Horwitz, Diane Rehm, Susan Eisenhower, Kate and Jim Lehrer, Adriana Trigiani, Col. Walter E. Boyne, Tom Mathews, and Alan Geoffrion, as well as filmmaker Ron Maxwell and playwright John Guare.

Tickets are $10 at the door or online before the event. Books and wine by the glass will be available for purchase. For more information, please visit www.waterfordfoundation.org or telephone 540 882 3018.