Political Analyst

Brazile is a weekly contributor and political commentator on CNN's Inside Politics and American Morning. She is also a columnist for Roll Call Newspaper and a contributing writer for Ms. Magazine. Her book, Cooking With Grease, is an intimate account of Brazile's thirty years in politics.

Social Critic

Vidal is an unapologetic social critic of the American political establishment. In addition to a host of novels, he has authored stage plays, screenplays and is especially known in the United States for his powerful essays and TV projects such as the miniseries Lincoln. He is known for his groundbreaking 1948 book The City and the Pillar.

*Format: Vidal will be interviewed on stage by retired Blade vice president and editor Tom Walton.

European travel expert

Steves is an author of European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Since 1973 he has spent some 120 days a year in Europe. He employs about 80 people at his Europe Through the Back Door headquarters in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington. His syndicated column appears in the Chicago Tribune.

American historian

Brinkley is an American author and distinguished professor of history at Rice University. He works as the history commentator for CBS News, and is a contributing editor for Vanity Fair magazine. Five of his award-winning books have been selected as New York Times Notable Books of the Year. His works include The Unfinished Presidency: Jimmy Carter's Journey Beyond the White House and American Heritage History of the United States.

Chilean novelist

Allende is Chilean novelist. Her latest work, Ines of My Soul, is a work of historical fiction which recounts the astonishing life of Ines Suarez, a daring Spanish conquistadora who toiled to build the nation of Chile. She started her career as a magazine writer in Chile, and has taught literature at several major American universities. Allende's first novel was published in 1982 titled The House of the Spirits.

Syndicated newspaper journalist

Page is a journalist, syndicated columnist and member of the editorial board for the Chicago Tribune. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, and graduated from high school in Middletown, Ohio. At the tender age of 17 he began his journalism career freelancing for the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Middletown Journal. His books include Showing My Color: Impolite Essays on Race and Identity, and A Foot in Each World: Essays and Articles.