Mark Schenker, formerly of Yale College, returns to the Guilford Free Library fall of this Presidential election year with a series of presentations on four masterpieces of American fiction that reflect, not the politics, but rather the history, culture, and society of our nation.
Covering a period of nearly 300 years—from Puritan New England to the Great Depression—and written by two women and two men—these novels fulfill their status as true classics; works of the past that never get old. The first book in the series is:
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850). Copies of The Scarlet Letter will be available to check out at the Reference Desk prior to the discussion date.
Additional titles in the Four Foundational American Novels Discussion series include:
- November 13 at 7pm: Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) by Harriet Beecher Stowe
- December 18 at 7pm: My Ántonia (1918) by Willa Cather
- January 29 at 7pm: Grapes of Wrath (1939) by John Steinbeck
For over 30 years Mark Schenker has led in-person and more recently online sessions on literature, film, and culture throughout Connecticut: in libraries and museums, senior living residences and cultural centers, and private homes. Educational and entertaining, his discussions convey information about a particular author and work in some depth while also providing perspectives on the broader context of history and culture.
This program is free and open to all.
Please register.