Thomas Wolfe Short Story Discussion - "April, Late April"
Led by Dan and Ana Clare
A fun way to enter the world of Thomas Wolfe, Asheville's most famous writer!
In this 10th annual series of monthly discussions during the winter season, members of the general public have been working our way through Thomas Wolfe's Complete Short Stories, edited by Francis E. Skipp (1987) and available for purchase at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial or your favorite bookstore. "April, Late April" is a 9-page short story in this book.
If you don't know much about Wolfe, don't worry. "April, Late April" describes two people at the height of their love for each other. But these aren't just any two people. They are Thomas Wolfe in his twenties, writing madly in a garret in new York City, and Aline Bernstein, married to another man and a professional set/costume designer for the theater. If you want to remember, observe, or even relive what it's like to be deliriously in love, these are the nine pages to read.
If you can't attend in person, don't worry. This is a FREE and hybrid event - both in-person AND Zoom. Register via Eventbrite and receive a Zoom link about a week before the event.
Our discussion leaders Daniel and Anastasia Clare share a lifelong passion for literature. They first met as students at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where they studied English. After moving to Washington, D.C. in 2004, the couple returned to higher education to pursue graduate degrees in education and literature at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Over ten years ago, Anastasia's love of Thomas Wolfe's Look Homeward, Angel inspired a trip to Asheville. It wasn't long after that Daniel, Anastasia, and their two children became permanent residents of the North Asheville community.
Since moving to Asheville, Daniel has taught English at A.C. Reynolds High School, Asheville High School, and FernLeaf Community Charter School. Through his work, he is able to introduce young Ashevillians to authors like Thomas Wolfe, Wilma Dykeman, and Ron Rash among others. In 2018, he received a grant from the NEH to study with a variety of Appalachian scholars, filmmakers, professors, writers, artists, and cultural leaders in a summer enrichment program for educators entitled Appalachia and the Power of Place. Daniel is also a National Paideia Institute Teaching Thomas Wolfe scholar and grant recipient. He currently serves on the board of the Wilma Dykeman legacy.
In addition to her full-time career in marketing, Anastasia has taught English literature courses as an adjunct professor at Northern Virginia Community College and worked for several years on a bi-lingual literary journal. For the last eight years, she's served on the board of the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Advisory Committee.
This is their 8th time leading a short story discussion for the Thomas Wolfe Short Story Book Club.