After six or so tries I finally managed to become a contributor (in name only, still; this doesn't count). Thanks for asking me in. IMO (never h), the group is most distinguished.
Welcome to this month's reading group selection. David Von Drehle mentions The Melting Pot , a play by Israel Zangwill, that premiered on Broadway in 1908. At that time theater was accessible to a broad section of the public, not the exclusive domain it has become over the decades. Zangwill carried a hopeful message that America was a place where old hatreds and prejudices were pointless, and that in this new country immigrants would find a more open society. I suppose the reference was more an ironic one for Von Drehle, as he notes the racial and ethnic hatreds were on display everywhere, and at best Zangwill's play helped persons forget for a moment how deep these divides ran. Nevertheless, "the melting pot" made its way into the American lexicon, even if New York could best be describing as a boiling cauldron in the early twentieth century. Triangle: The Fire That Changed America takes a broad view of events that led up the notorious fire, noting the gro
Carol, glad you made it! A few of us will be reading the Henrietta Lacks book in August -- thanks to NY's strong recommendation. Hope you can join us for that discussion -- and many more to come!
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, I'm stuck in Minneapolis waiting for a flight to DC. Parsons, I have an interesting book along that might interest you -- For the Soul of France, about the "culture wars in the age of Dreyfus." Fascinating reading so far about the struggle between the men of science and the men of the church.