The Known World
by Edward P. Jones
The Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma book discussion series at Oklahoma City University will kick off with The Known World by Edward P. Jones at 7 p.m. Sep. 13 in Walker Center room 151.
The discussion series is titled “Civil Rights and Equality: A Pulitzer Prize Centennial Series.” It is made possible through a grant from the Oklahoma Humanities Council.
Jones’ well-researched historical novel weaves together different time sequences and family histories as it follows the story of a former slave in early 19th-century Virginia who works to buy his own plantation and his own slaves. The engaging novel shakes up our assumptions about the antebellum world and raises important questions about ambition, power, identity, race, and property—and the consequences that come with the decisions made in regards to them.
At each session in the five-part series, a humanities scholar makes a presentation on the book in the context of the theme. For this book, our speaker will be Dr. Tracy Floreani. Small group discussions follow with experienced discussion leaders. At the end, all participants come together for a brief wrap-up.
Those who are interested in participating are encouraged to preregister and borrow the reading selections and theme brochure by calling Tracy Floreani at 405-208-5707, e-mailing her at [email protected] or dropping by the Dulaney-Browne Library room 211 or 207.
UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS
* Sep. 27, Native Guard by Natasha Tretheway
* Oct. 11, The Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age by Kevin Boyle
* Oct. 25, A Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
* Nov. 1, Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo