At the New York Public Library Lions Gala on Monday night, a Who’s Who of writers --and readers—gathered to celebrate five Tom Brokaw, Michael Chabon, Carla Hayden, Colson Whitehead, and Robert Wilson. The gorgeously refurbished readers’ room on the library’s third floor was transformed into a book-lined palace dining hall, for Norm Lewis performing Cole Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” followed by a red ribbon ceremony, “medalling” the literary “lions.” Unlike most events of this nature, few speeches got in the way of the fine dinner and din of lively conversation.
Except for Brokaw, the honorees stuck around to sign books for the 500 guests on the library’s first floor. Desserts and after dinner cordials were served as fans queued up. Among those who attended were Chuck Schumer, David Remnick, Zadie Smith, Gay Talese, Amanda Foreman, Lynn Nesbit, and Billy Collinssporting his medal and red ribbon, a lion some years before. Another prior lionSalman Rushdie held court at the library as well; he was reminded of a time decades ago when he was in hiding, under a “fatwa” for writing The Satanic Verses, and was here in plain sight, feted by hundreds of insiders, acknowledging that sometimes being a writer can be life threatening. “This is better,” he said wryly in the warmth of this special night.
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