OSHER 352 - History and Literature: "The Librarian of Burned Books"

Historical novels tell interesting stories about a time and place and the people living there. The authors of these novels must do extensive research so that their writing accurately reflects the history of the period. Using "The Librarian of Burned Books" by Brianna Labuskes as the launching point, we will offer a one-hour look at the history of the period covered in the novel. Specifically, we will consider the rise of Hitler and the Nazis, including book burnings and persecution of Jews in Germany and France, as well as the politics of the US in 1944, the penultimate year of the war - from Roosevelt's campaign for a fourth term and the conservative opposition. We will then spend an hour discussing the novel as a piece of contemporary literature. We will also include a look at the "Armed Services Editions" (ASE) books. Readers and history buffs welcome! Please read "The Librarian of Burned Books" before class.