The Author Series at The Hay-Adams

The Hay-Adams Author Series recreates a grand literary tradition established by John Hay and Henry Adams in the late 1800s. At the time, their homes were the center of Washington's intellectual and social gatherings, featuring literary giants such as Mark Twain, Edith Wharton and Henry James.

John Hay served as a personal secretary to Abraham Lincoln, U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and Secretary of State under both William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Henry Adams—the grandson and great-grandson of U.S. Presidents—was a historian and professor at Harvard.  Both men were also accomplished writers who had worked as journalists, authored presidential biographies, and published novels.

In 2005, The Hay-Adams Author Series was launched to renew the spirit of literary discourse that had once occurred on the very land where our historic hotel stands today, in the center of Downtown Washington, DC. The tradition lives on as we now host the most distinguished authors of our time to celebrate their works and share fine food, drink, and lively conversation in a magnificent setting.

Join us for an upcoming Author Series event at The Hay-Adams—where the history of literature comes alive.