Reading Groups

Hidden Influences: Lost Literary Gems of the 20th Century with Richard Klin

4 Sessions Mondays, 6:30 pm EDT - 8:00 pm EDT January 13 to March 17, 2025

Online via Zoom

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The ‘With Books’ option includes the titles required for this group at a 10% discount from our Bookstore.

Meeting Dates:
1/13, 2/3, 2/24, 3/17
Online via Zoom

This reading group will survey four works of fiction from the 20th century that are pivotal and enduring in the literary lexicon and the culture at large—but that are largely unread by modern audiences. We will discuss these books in the context of their time as well as consider their relevance to our current era and the odd perch on which these stories have alighted.

What to read before the first meeting: The Ugly American and Richard Klin’s article “Pax Americana”

What to expect from this reading group: This will be as participant-driven as possible. I’ll offer background to each book and certainly add input, but I’d like the class to be a conversation. I want it to be erudite but also casual.

Book List:

The Ugly American by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson

Capacity: 20

Please note: All virtual classes are recorded. Please click here for information about our recording policy.

Led by

Richard Klin

Richard Klin

Richard Klin is the author of (among other things) the novel Petroleum Transfer Engineer (Underground Voices, 2018). His writing has appeared in the Atlantic, the Millions, the Forward, the Brooklyn Rail, Cultural Daily, and many others.

About this series

Reading Groups

Whether you’re looking to catch up on great novels or you’re interested in exploring a new writer or literary period, our reading groups offer high-level literary discussion led by experts in the field.

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