Lewis Lapham, editor of Lapham’s Quarterly, examines the foundations of the world’s greatest cities, from the modern metropolis to the ancient polis, in conversation with Kansas City Public Library Director Crosby Kemper III.

The Fall 2010 issue, dubbed the The City, includes writing from Jane Jacobs, Italo Calvino, Charles Babbage, and Samuel Pepys. The event marks Lapham’s second appearance at the Library. The first was in April 2010.

Renowned for his tenure as editor of Harper’s, Lapham is also the author of numerous books, including Money and Class in America and Pretensions to Empire.

Copies of Lapham’s Quarterly will be available for sale.