The American Dream (or Nightmare) How Novels Portray America with Catherine Wald

What has the American Dream meant in the past, and what does it mean today? Does the dream still live? Has its meaning changed over the years? What happens to people who attain it and who fail to attain it? And just what is IT? Join Catherine Wald and through the lens of a series of Pulitzer Prize fiction winners, explore this rich and multilayered topic.

The five-week seminar will take place at the Larchmont Public Library on Monday evenings at 7pm, on October 2, 23, November 13, and December 4, 18. Space is limited so online reservations are required.

Freelance writer James Truslow Adams popularized and defined the phrase “American Dream” in his 1931 book EPIC OF AMERICA: “But there has been also the American dream; that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement”.

The reading list for the seminar includes these five Pulitzer-Prize winning novels:

10/2 Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser

10/23 American Pastoral by Philip Roth

11/13 The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

12/4 Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

12/18 Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

ABOUT CATHERINE WALD:

Catherine Wald's poetry has been published as a chapbook ("Distant, Burned-Out Stars", Finishing Line Press, 2011), and in numerous journals including American Journal Of Nursing, Jewish Literary Journal and Westchester Review. She is the author of "The Resilient Writer: Tales of Rejection and Triumph from 23 Top Authors" (Persea Books 2005), winner of a 2006 Outstanding Book Award from the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Ms. Wald is also translated from the French Valery Larbaud's “Childish Things” (Sun & Moon 2004). She has received fellowships from NYFA, Center for Book Arts and Ragdale Foundation.

Catherine Wald teaches creative writing, memoir, poetry, self-promotion, publication and other aspects of the creative process. She also has 20-plus years' experience as a corporate editor, writer and project manager. She attended Barnard College, where she graduated cum laude, with the Prize for French literature.

For more information on this workshop series or any of the programs offered by the Larchmont Public library, call 834-2281 or visit the library online at www.larchmontlibrary.org.

###