Hard at Work Book Series – Delaware Humanities Forum Discusses Novels about Workers and Businesses in Delaware

Delaware Humanities Forum presents a Sunday afternoon reading and discussion series, with historical fiction that portrays workers and business in Delaware. The three selected novels span the lives of runaway slaves before the Civil War to how towns and working people change with the rise and fall of modern industry.

Actors from Wilmington’s City Theater Company and the University of Delaware will begin each program with a brief dramatic reading from the featured novel. As well, local experts will talk about the books’ connections to Delaware business and employment. Participants are invited to read the selected books and take part in casual discussion and entertainment.

What: Delaware Humanities Forum book series featuring novels about Delaware’s business history

When: February 27, March 20 and April 10 at 2 p.m.

Where: Union City Grille, Eighth and Union streets, Wilmington, Delaware

Cost: Free.

Contact: (302) 657-0650 or toll free (800) 752-2060. Visit www.dhf.org for more information.

Each book is insightfully written by a distinguished contemporary novelist.

· Song Yet Sung by James McBride: Before the Civil War, runaway slaves flee through the swamps of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, chased by Patty Cannon’s gang of kidnappers. The Code of the Underground Railroad tells them how to go. But fugitive Liz Spocott has strange dreams of the future.

· In the Beauty of the Lilies by John Updike: Between 1910 and the 1990s, four generations of the Wilmot family confront the modern boom of factories, unions, cities and the fascinating movie business. But small-town Delaware remains a refuge from ruthless competition.

· Empire Falls by Richard Russo: In this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the fictional river town of Empire Falls, Maine, is dominated by the wealthy Whiting family dynasty, even after overseas competition closes the old textile mills. Yet the local people who gather at the diner prove resilient regardless of corporate fortunes. Finally a credit-card bank buys up and transforms the riverfront buildings. In real life, author Russo saw Delaware-based MBNA bank do this in Camden, Maine.

The book talks take place as follows:

· On Sunday, February 27 at 2 p.m., for Black History Month, participants will discuss Song Yet Sung. Percussionist Kamau Ngom will perform African drum music and talk about the African connection to blues music, country shouts and the Underground Railroad.

· On Sunday, April 10 at 2 p.m., participants will discuss Empire Falls by Richard Russo. University of Delaware business history specialist Jonathan S. Russ will talk about the evolution of modern industry.

There is no fee to participate, and no registration is required. The public is encouraged to visit www.dhf.org and sign up for its monthly e-newsletter for updates and announcements about future programs.

This book series is part of Delaware Humanities Forum’s Delaware Industrial History Initiative. It is funded with a “We the People” grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information on the book program, contact Rita Truschel, DHF project consultant, (302) 838-7288, rtruschel@comcast.net

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