Join Sam in an exploration of the story and the local setting of this first novel by John Barth.
On the morning of June 23, 1937 (or maybe it was June 24, he couldn’t remember exactly), Todd Andrews, the best lawyer on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and the most determinedly eccentric citizen of the tidewater city of Cambridge, decided to commit suicide. Todd was 37 years old, a bachelor, and a resident of the Dorset Hotel. Each morning Todd paid his rent for the night before by check, $1.50, and then registered for another night. It wasn’t that his endocarditis or his damaged prostate gland made Todd doubtful that he would live out the day, although he was doubtful. It was his pleasure in doing everything differently. Seventeen years later, in 1954, Todd sat down to write an account of that memorable day and why he did not kill himself after all. He had seven peach baskets full of notes on the subject.
Barth was 25 when he wrote “The Floating Opera” – a first-person account of the day Todd Andrews decided to commit suicide. It was Barth’s first novel, published in 1957. Barth comes from Cambridge, Md., himself. He is young, erudite, and clever. Every now and then in “The Floating Opera” he is funny. His ability to contrive a really preposterous situation is impressive. His gift of gab is impressive, too.
What to Expect:
Sam will lead us through an animated discussion of the book and the glimpse of local history it portrays. PLEASE NOTE! At Sam’s request, we have added an additional session at the end (the 15th) to discuss more of the Eastern Shore history that is represented in this book. Be sure to add the 15th to your calendar!
Feedback from Sam’s last course:
“Sam was outstanding at facilitating conversation about, and comprehension of, “The Sun Also Rises”. Very interesting program – l look forward to more classes with Sam!”
“Sam is a good discussion leader, and we had participation from just about everyone who took the course.”
“Sam did a great job of opening up a novel that didn’t seem, at first, to have such depths. The class was full of people with good and varied points to make; Sam wove them together well and kept the discussion moving.”
HYBRID course at the Easton Family YMCA (choose to participate in person, or through Zoom, but NO recording) | 2 sessions | Wednesdays | Nov 1, 8, 15 | 10 – 11:30 am | $30
