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Vermont Humanities E-newsletter
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Vermont Reads Haroun and the Sea of Stories
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Announcing Vermont Reads 2015
Vermont Reads Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
"What's the use of stories that aren't even true?" - Haroun, the son  Vermont communities are invited to participate in the statewide read of Salman Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories. This funny and touching story of a father and son is, at its heart, a reflection on the importance of stories, imagination, and creativity. In Haroun, Rushdie has created his own fantastic folktale, modern yet steeped in the narrative traditions of world cultures. The story features storyteller Rashid Khalifa and his young son, Haroun. A great upheaval in their family causes Rashid to lose his voice, his stories, and possibly, the family's livelihood. Haroun's challenge -- complete with water genies and talking fish -- is to unclog the Sea of Stories and restore his father's storytelling abilities. Discover with others the power of reading, and of reflecting on the importance of stories and imagination. Libraries, schools, and other nonprofit organizations may apply; collaboration among town organizations and businesses is strongly encouraged. - Receive FREE books and programming support.
- Host readings, discussions, and community events in your schools, libraries, and local businesses.
- Listen to Vermont Public Radio's Vermont Reads feature.
- Watch the live streaming of Salman Rushdie's January 14 talk at Ira Allen Chapel (see below).
 Taking applications now. Learn more about Vermont Reads Haroun and apply.Apply: December 5, 2014 or June 5, 2015
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Author Event: Salman Rushdie
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* * Update **
Salman Rushdie with What's the Use of Stories That Aren't Even True?
Wednesday, January 14, 5:00 pm, Ira Allen Chapel, Burlington
Tickets (free) for Salman Rushdie's talk have all been distributed. Please note:- Empty seats for no-shows will be released just before the event. You may choose to wait in the stand-by line outside of the Ira Allen Chapel that day to get a seat.
- The event will be LIVE-STREAMED. Visit our website in January for the link in order to view it live on your computer, mobile phone, or tablet from the comfort of your home.
Thank you for your interest!
 Salman Rushdie, author of VHC's 2015 Vermont Reads book, Haroun and the Sea of Stories, talks about the importance of storytelling.
A Vermont Humanities Council Vermont Reads and First Wednesdays event presented with the Office of the President, University of Vermont
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First Wednesdays Season 2014-2015
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 First Wednesdays -- December 3, 7 pm
Brattleboro * Essex Junction * Manchester * Middlebury * Montpelier * Newport * Norwich * Rutland * St. Johnsbury | |
Inaugural poet Richard Blanco will speak in Montpelier for First Wednesdays on December 3.
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The Costumes of Downton Abbey with Middlebury College artist-in-residence Jule Emerson. (Brattleboro, Brooks Memorial Library)Presidential Term Limits: The History of a Bad Idea with UVM professor emeritus Frank Bryan. (Essex Junction, Brownell Library)Beethoven's Deafness: Psychological Crisis and Artistic Triumph with renowned concert pianist and psychiatrist Richard Kogan. (Manchester, First Congregational Church)Daily Life in Prewar Nazi Germany with Keene State professor Paul Vincent. (Middlebury, Ilsley Public Library)Becoming American: An Inaugural Poet's Journey with presidential inaugural poet Richard Blanco. (Montpelier, Unitarian Church)The Soldier's Pen: Letters from the Civil War Battlefront with Dartmouth History professor Robert Bonner. (Newport, Goodrich Memorial Library)What the Buddhists Teach: Finding Clarity in Everyday Life with author Dr. Polly Young-Eisendrath. (Norwich, Congregational Church)Jesus: The Human Face of God with author and Middlebury College professor Jay Parini. (Rutland Free Library)
Walking with the Great Apes with bestselling author Sy Montgomery. (St. Johnsbury Athenaeum)
All First Wednesdays talks are free and open to the public. Learn more.
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Words to Live By
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Words to Live By"Our rulers are the peoples choice [sic]. . . . In other countries men become kings, princes and rulers by birth and not by merit. . . . Not so with us. The wisdom of our laws and customs are such that every man of suitable character and ability is eligible to the highest gift of the nation."
 | | Alexander Twilight, Courtesy Stone House Museum |
Alexander Twilight (1795-1857), was born in Corinth, Vermont. He was a teacher, Congregational clergyman, and principal of the Orleans County Grammar School. Twilight is often credited as being the first African American to earn a degree from an American college or university (he graduated from Middlebury College in 1823) as well as the first African American in the U.S. to serve as a legislator (Vermont State Legislature 1836).
Words to Live By brings weekly wisdom from Vermont poets, writers, artists, and thinkers and is a project of the Vermont Humanities Council and the Vermont Arts Council.
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Fall Conference: A Fire Never Extinguished
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A Fire Never Extinguished:
How the Civil War Continues to Shape
Civic and Cultural Life in America
The Civil War casts a long shadow in the United States. As Robert Penn Warren put it in his classic 1961 book, The Legacy of the Civil War, "many clear and objective facts about America are best understood in reference to the Civil War."
VHC's 2014 fall conference, presented in collaboration with the Vermont Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, explores the influence that the War had and continues to have on literature, visual art, race, memory, and politics. The conference, taking place five months before the end of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, will seek to identify lessons vital to American democracy that still can be learned from the War and its aftermath.
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Civil War Book of Days : Latest Entry
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Searchable site contains all 211-plus entries to date.
Civil War Book of Days. VHC began the weekly e-newsletter to honor the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. We hope you enjoy our most recent entry. October 31, 1864/2014
Volume 5, Issue 44 (212 Issues Since 15 October 2010)
 | | Mary Chesnut |
On October 30, diarist Mary Chesnut wrote of the Confederacy's desperate strategic situation, expressing it in her own compelling voice: ". . . Nowadays, England and France are never mentioned, yet once we counted so strongly on them for a good stout backing. We thought this was to be a bloodless duel and that we would get out of the Union, because if they hated us so, why should they want to keep us! We are as sanguine as ever, though, desperate as our case seems." To continue, click here.
Visit civilwarbookofdays.org for the complete searchable archive of 211 entries of the Civil War Book of Days. The site is updated weekly. And sign up for the weekly e-mail.
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Humanities Commentaries on VPR
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 Timely Commentaries from the PastStick Season (11-27-06) Many of us have a favorite season in Vermont. Commentator Peter Gilbert's favorite may surprise you. Whitman's Election Day (11-6-12) It's been said that you campaign in poetry and govern in prose. And as the country prepares to vote once again, commentator and Vermont Humanities Council executive director Peter Gilbert tells us about a timely poem written by one of America's greatest poets.
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Double Your Devotion
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A group of VHC friends has offered a one-to-one 40th anniversary challenge grant. They will match the entire gift of donors who at least double their giving from 2013 to 2014. They will also match gifts from people who didn't give in 2013 or are a new donor to VHC. VHC hopes you will participate in this exciting opportunity to help the Council in a very dramatic way.
If you would consider making a stretch gift to VHC, there isn't a better time to do so!
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The Vermont Humanities Council presents more than 1,000 events every year. Thank you for your interest in lifelong learning!
Sincerely,
Sylvia Plumb, Director of Communications
Vermont Humanities Council
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