Author Talk: An Unexpected Man: The Life and Times of an Erstwhile Charity Boy (In-Person)

This historical novel is based on the life of George Longford, great-grandfather of the author. Born in 1846, George was abandoned as an infant in an English workhouse, where he grew up among the other paupers. Despite the oppressive conditions, he nonetheless received an education that was denied most children on the outside. He was barely a man when he began a new life in Wales. He met an older woman with three boys, who gave him the family he had always yearned for. They emigrated to the United States and settled in Philadelphia, where they had four daughters. There George began a surprising intellectual journey, finding his true self in the realm of free thought. The story, told in the voice of George Longford himself, is based on decades of genealogical and historical research as well as stories and anecdotes passed down through the family. The author hopes the book captures the essence of a remarkable man while providing valuable insights into the times in which he lived.

About Woody Exley

The author grew up in Philadelphia and has lived in Connecticut since 1968 and in West Hartford since 1981. He began his career as a reporter and editor at newspapers including the Hartford Times. He worked in Corporate Communications at Cigna and United Technologies before launching a third career as a free-lance business writer. He is a member of the State Board of Education and serves on the board of the National Association of State Boards of Education. He has served the community as a hospice volunteer and as a teacher of English to speakers of other languages. He manages a scholarship program which he established in 1995 for college students of color who are preparing for careers in education. The recipients have been making a difference as outstanding teachers as well as educational leaders at the local, state, and national levels.