On Wednesday, Aug. 6, the 2008 Thurber House Literary Picnics series will present Brock Clarke, author of several novels including The Ordinary White Boy and What We Won’t Do.

The Cincinnati resident will read from his critically acclaimed novel, An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England.

The novel is told from the point of view of Sam Pulsifer, explaining how he “accidentally burned down The Emily Dickenson House” and “in the process killed two people.” With humor, wit and a magical sense of adventure and the absurd, Clarke takes the reader on a journey as Sam, released from prison for his “accidental arson,” tries to begin a new life, but his past catches up with him when the homes of other famous New England writers, one-by-one, begin to go up in flames. As Pulsifer attempts to unravel the puzzle, the damage that truth and honesty can cause becomes readily apparent.

Clarke teaches creative writing at the University of Cincinnati and has twice been a finalist for a National Magazine Award in Fiction.

Clarke’s reading is the final event in the Thurber House Literary Picnics summer series, presented on the side lawn of Thurber House, at 77 Jefferson Ave., where picnickers listen to nationally known Ohio authors read from their latest work. The series is completing its 23rd season.

Guests can order a picnic dinner catered by Party Panache or bring their own. Each picnic offers a tour of James Thurber’s historic home given by the Thurber House pre-teen Young Docents. Tours begin at 5:20 p.m.; the picnics start at 6:15 p.m.; and the reading is at 7 p.m.

Guests will need to bring their own blankets or lawn chairs for seating. Parking is free after 6 p.m. at the meters on Jefferson Avenue. The neighboring rain site is State Auto Insurance, 518 E. Broad St. Ticket prices: Dinner/reading, $65; Individual dinner/reading tickets, $25; reading only, adults, $15; children 12 and under, $5. For more information, visit www.thurberhouse.org or 614-464-1032.