Special Event! - Lecture on "An American Tragedy" - Thursday April 7

Please join the Friends’ “Big Book” group on Thursday night, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Historic Takoma (7328 Carroll Ave.) for a special event.

Dr. Adam Wood, Chair of the English Department at Salisbury University, will introduce a series of discussions on Theodore Dreiser’s “An American Tragedy,” with a lecture on this widely acclaimed novel,  followed by a reception with refreshments.

“ “An American Tragedy” is one of the greatest ‘social novels’ produced in America, one that paints the fullest and deepest picture of American society. It is a novel about a murder that not only illuminates the dark regions of the criminal mind, but plays a searchlight across the landscape of American society…Dreiser’s power originates in such raw, sincere eloquence; in his great humanity and deep sympathy with the lowly, and in his patient accretion of facts – and not only the facts themselves but the psychological resonances behind them.” [Richard Lingeman]

This book caused a sensation when it appeared in 1925. Many scholars consider it the defining work of American naturalism. In 2005 it appeared on Time Magazine’s top 100 novels written in English since 1923.

All are welcome at this event, whether or not they have read or plan to read the book. Further discussions will be held in the Takoma Park Community Center on April 20, May 4 and May 18. The Big Book club and the Bi-monthly Book club are sponsored by the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library.