Delta Bohemian Seminars:
Book Study of Donna Tartt’s
“The Secret History”
“A haunting, compelling, and brilliant piece of fiction….Packed with literary allusion and told with a sophistication and texture that owes much more to the nineteenth century than to the twentieth.” — The Times (London)
“A huge, mesmerizing, galloping read, pleasurably devoured…..Gorgeously written, relentlessly erudite.” – Vanity Fair
The Delta Bohemian® is pleased to announce our first seminar, Book Study of Donna Tartt’s “The Secret History”, to be held the weekend of February 21 and 22, 2020 at the Clarksdale White House in the Salon de Boheme. Seminar facilitator will be Chilly Billy Howell, a trained fellow of the National Writing Project and Delta Bohemian Tour Guide.
The seminar will feature a book study of Mississippi author and Pulitzer Prize Winner Donna Tartt’s first novel, a contemporary classic, “The Secret History.” A fascinating, erudite, flawlessly constructed novel, which wrestles with themes such as: loss of innocence, major conflicts in literature, elements of a classical education prior to the proliferation of social media, the finding and loss of self, the dangers and opportunities associated with isolationism, and familiar themes including alienation, faith or the lack thereof, and the vicissitudes “coming of age” can bring.
The book-discussion seminar will begin Friday afternoon on Feb. 21. Guests staying at the Clarksdale White House will check-in by 4:00pm, and the seminar will begin at 5:00pm. Local folks and seminar participants not staying at the Clarksdale White House will need to be present by the start times for the different sessions.
We will meet for approximately an hour on Friday afternoon at 5:00pm. Seminar participants will be free for the rest of Friday evening to eat dinner and hear live music at one of our many Clarksdale area restaurants and live music venues.
The seminar will reconvene at the Clarksdale White House at 10:00am on Saturday, Feb. 22, with a break for lunch at Noon, catered by one of our local restaurants. The afternoon session will conclude around 5:00pm and attendees will be able to enjoy another evening out in Clarksdale.
The “seminar approach” to this book study will include a brief didactic introduction to the novel, followed by directed small group discussions, creative writing opportunities, Socratic discussion and a concluding attendee summary and evaluation.
This seminar will be light, fun, informative, collaborative, and will provide all of us an opportunity to learn from each other, break bread around discussion of great literature, and with ample time embedded to enjoy Clarksdale’s culinary, musical and cultural offerings.
Seminar Attendee Requirements:
- To have read “The Secret History” prior to the seminar and to bring a copy of the novel with you.
- To have read and thought through the big questions and content in the syllabus that will be provided in advance of the seminar.
- Register and pay $15 seminar fee via BrownPaperTickets
Cost will cover Saturday lunch, snacks, soft drinks, water, seminar syllabus, study guide, handouts and postage.
Seminar limited to 15 participants.
DELTA BOHEMIAN SEMINARS
Book Study of Donna Tartt’s “The Secret History”
February 21 & 22, 2020
Clarksdale White House
325 W 2nd Street
Clarksdale, MS
Seminar Facilitator Chilly Billy Howell
[email protected]
662-313-9918
Purchase your ticket here: https://dbseminarssecrethistory.brownpapertickets.com
DESCRIPTION OF SEMINAR: Didactic introduction to the novel, followed by directed small group discussions, creative writing opportunities, Socratic discussion and a concluding attendee summary and evaluation
$15 per person
Seminar limited to 15 participants
Includes lunch, snacks, soft drinks, water, syllabus, study guide, handouts
Free street-side parking
Purchase tickets at https://dbseminarssecrethistory.brownpapertickets.com
SCHEDULE:
Friday, February 21, 2020
5:00pm-6:00pm First Session
Saturday, February 22, 2020
10:00am-Noon Morning Session
Noon Lunch
1:00pm-5:00pm Afternoon Session
5:00pm Seminar conclusion
Please direct any questions you may have to Seminar Facilitator Billy Howell
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