Are you a history buff? Do you love to read novels depicting interesting historical events that transport you to another time and another place? Then please join us as we visit historical events that resonate across time with important lessons for today.

We will visit an American Indian reservation in 1950's North Dakota fighting for its survival and that of all Native Americans (in The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich); a reform school in 1960’s Florida where African-American boys learn the harsh and lasting lessons of racism (in The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead); and 58-43 B.C. and the last days of the Roman Republic as seen through the eyes of Marcus Tullius Cicero (in Dictator by Robert Harris).

Format: In preparation for each week, class members will read approximately 100 pages. Class members will be expected to lead one discussion during the semester, either covering the history of the period or posing five questions (in advance) for the class to discuss. Small articles that illuminate the history may be circulated in advance by email. This is a Zoom video conferencing class.

Resources: The three novels are all available from Amazon. The Night Watchman (444 pages) is listed in hardcover, used, at $14.49 and up, and $14.99 for Kindle. The Nickel Boys (210 pages) costs $11.39 and up. And, Dictator (376 pages) costs $3.00 and up used in paperback and $9.99 for Kindle.