this morning it's our pleasure to have timothy eagan.onal best seller the big burn. tim's current book just released last week is entitled to immore eat irishman who became an american hero, a biography of thomas mar. he's sadly been largely forgotten since his death so tim what starked your interest in mar. >> well, thank you, bruise, it's great to be here in this lovely arizona morning, this huge crowd, i can't believe it. you people love books. [laughter] >> also i've been told -- a number of times i've been told this is the best book festival in the world. [cheers and applause] >> but as someone who is interested in getting the truth right, i've been to -- i haven't been to every book festival in the world but my experience is it passes that task. i would like to think that i know my people's history. i'm one of seven kids, one after the other, the sort of classic irish family. i would like to think we knew our history and i was standing outside -- even though i thought i knew our history i'm -- irish american and i was standing outs