OSHER 790 - History and Literature: "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet"

Historical novels tell interesting stories about a time and its people, requiring authors to do extensive research so their writing accurately reflects the history. Using "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford as the launching point, this class will offer a one-hour look at the history of the internment of Japanese-Americans in World War II, as misinformation, conspiracy theory, and racism--fanned by political actors and the media--drove the creation of concentration camps on US soil. We will also discuss the contributions of Japanese-Americans to the war effort--in spite of their internment!--and how America came to terms with this ugly chapter. We will follow the history lecture with an examination of the novel as contemporary literature, including class discussion and participation. Readers and history buffs are welcome! Class members should read "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" beforehand.