During two sessions, we’ll look at literature about cities—including some fiction, essays, and poetry—and consider the ways in which writers have described the unique appeal of some of the world’s most fascinating urban areas. We'll discuss the ways in which each city plays a distinctive role in the narrative.

During our time together, we’ll travel from the Dublin of James Joyce to Gogol’s St. Petersburg to the Los Angeles of Nathaniel West, and, of course, to Boston of Edwin O’Connor’s The Last Hurrah. We’ll also consider the importance of the city to several Jewish authors, such as Batya Gur’s and Amos Oz’s Jerusalem and Kafka’s Prague. You won’t need a passport, a visa, or proof of COVID vaccination in order to join this journey, just an open mind, enthusiasm, and great curiosity!

Biography: After a long career in public relations, Kathryn Bloom returned to university to obtain the PhD in literature, with a focus on American middlebrow writing. She loves to read, think about, and discuss all sorts of literature and looks forward to returning to Shir Tikvah in December.