|
|
Civil War Book of Days, November 18
Julia Ward Howe Writes "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"November 18, 1861. As Julia Ward Howe and others rode in their carriage back to Washington from having attended a military review in Union army camps in Virginia, they sang the well-known abolitionist song "John Brown's Body" -- to the applause of Union soldiers whom they passed along the roadside. Her pastor, who was in the party, suggested that she write better words for the tune.  | | Julia Ward Howe, 1861 |
Later, Howe remembered what happened that night at the Willard Hotel in Washington, where she and her party were staying: I went to bed that night as usual, and slept, according to my wont, quite soundly. I awoke in the gray of the morning twilight; and as I lay waiting for the dawn, the long lines of the desired poem began to twine themselves in my mind. Having thought out all the stanzas, I said to myself, 'I must get up and write these verses down, lest I fall asleep again and forget them.' So, with a sudden effort, I sprang out of bed, and found in the dimness an old stump of a pen which I remembered to have used the day before. I scrawled the verses almost without looking at the paper. "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" was first published on the front page of the February 1862 edition of The Atlantic Monthly. Read more . . .  Sign up for the Civil War Book of Days, VHC's weekly e-newsletter marking the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. It commemorates what happened each week 150 years ago.
|
Vermont Reads 2012
 The Vermont Humanities Council is pleased to announce that Vermont Reads 2012 will feature Paul Fleischman's Bull Run, a beautifully written novella that takes place during the Civil War. It is written in the first person from the point of view of sixteen different characters, eight Northerners and eight Southerners -- male, female, black, white, old, young, soldier, and civilian. The award-winning book focuses on the social context of the war, the run-up to the first battle of the war, and its aftermath as well as on the battle itself. Also as part of Vermont Reads 2012, VHC is encouraging communities to read The Red Badge of Courage, Stephen Crane's classic and groundbreaking story of heroism and weakness in the face of war's indifference to the fate of individuals.  Fleischman is the author of the hugely successful Vermont Reads 2005 selection, Seedfolks, which tells through multiple voices how the planting of a garden in a vacant lot creates community. Learn more and apply for Vermont Reads 2012.
|
|
You Come Too Poetry DiscussionDecember 13: Thomas Gray (1716-1771) � Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) � Dover Beach � Growing Old
Read the poems in advance or read them upon arriving. Refreshments are served. RSVPs are encouraged, at 802.262.2626, ext. 307. Spur of the moment participants are welcome.
|
|
Thank You for Your Gift!
The Vermont Humanities Council depends on donations from individuals and businesses to offer public programming and programming for underserved communities.
|
Join Us on Facebook
Join the Vermont Humanities Council on Facebook. Look for program and event announcements, humanities article links, and more.  Follow us on Twitter  |
|
|
|
|
The Vermont Humanities Council presents more than 1,200 events every year. Thank you for your interest in lifelong learning!
Sincerely, |
Sylvia Plumb, Director of Communications
Vermont Humanities Council |
|
|
BULL RUN by Paul Fleischman and The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane