On Wednesday, April 14, at the Country Club of North Carolina, Dr. J. Dennis Huston will speak on “Shakespeare’s Richard II: A Study of Brilliant Villainy.”

Huston is a professor of English at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He earned both his master’s degree and doctorate at Yale University. Yale awarded Huston the Wilber Cross Medal of the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the highest honor awarded for outstanding achievement in professional life.

His investigative areas are Shakespeare, drama and film. Huston is presently doing research in preparation for a new course in contemporary American drama. He has been invited to lecture many times in the past years, and he has a large listing of topics that include his expertise on Shakespeare, film, drama, and the teaching of writing and detective fiction. His books include “Classics of the Renaissance Theater” and “Shakespeare’s Comedies of Play.”

The English-Speaking Union is an organization whose mission is “drawing together the English-Speaking people of the world.” Its commitment is promoting scholarship and the advancement of knowledge through the effective use of English in an expanding global community. The local branch of the E-SU approaches the mission with a timely monthly program of information and entertaining speakers on topics ranging from literary to the geopolitical stage.

The event will be held at the Country Club of North Carolina. Cocktails will be served at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The program follows. The English-Speaking Union welcomes new members.

For information, call Martha O’Connor at (910) 235-0635 or e-mail Dr. Phillip Hinsley at phinsley@gmail.com.