Noted historian Michael Kenneth Hemp will host an interactive presentation on Cannery Row, the Monterey street made famous by John Steinbeck’s novel of the same name. The event will begin at 7 p.m., Oct. 28, at the Bainbridge Public Library, 1270 Madison Ave.

Kemp’s book, “Cannery Row: The History of John Steinbeck’s Old Ocean View Avenue,” and first published in 1986 and now in its third edition, focuses on the history of the real street made famous by Steinbeck. Using archival photography from the Pat Hathaway Collection, Hemp will bring to life the area dubbed in the 1940s as “The Sardine Capital of the World.

The presentation will illustrate the multicultural nature of the sardine fishing and canning industry at Monterey and the contributions of a varied ethnic and international work force. It will also address the enormous ecological lessons of the disastrous collapse of its sardine industry.

Hemp is a leading authority on “Cannery Row” history and the legacies of both John Steinbeck and Edward F. “Doc” Ricketts, author of “Between Pacific Tides.” In 1983, Hemp established the Cannery Row Foundation, becoming its research historian, and executive director. He is currently president of the Board of Directors.

Hemp will have copies of his book for sale and will sign books at the end of the evening. The free presentation is part of Kitsap Regional Library’s “One Book, One Community” program.

For those interested in meeting Hemp prior to his library presentation, a no-host luncheon is scheduled at 2 p.m. on Oct. 27 at Bainbridge Thai Cuisine, 330 Madison Ave. An RSVP is requested by calling 842-4164. Both the luncheon and lecture are sponsored by the library.

For more information, call 842-4162, or visit www.bainbridgepubliclibrary.org.