LAURUS READING GROUP

facilitated by Dr. Monica Mikhail and Dr. Dena Fehrenbacher

Laurus (first published in Russian in 2012) is a historical novel set in Russia at the end of the middle ages, but it plays with both the form of the novel and idea of the medieval past. Throughout the narrative, subsequent centuries make odd, pointed intrusions. While the novel is embedded in Russian literary, cultural and religious traditions, it also challenges the spiritual and cultural boundaries of modern nation-states. And as a creative project of the Russian medievalist, Eugene Vodolazkin, the novel explores the assumptions, questions, and epistemologies we bring to bear on history.

We invite you to join us in reading and discussing our Fall 2023 Community Read. We will approach this text not from the position of scholarly authority, but in an attempt to connect questions about history and our relationship to it.

This reading group will meeting monthly, during lunch hour. You will find the reading schedule below. Feel free to drop in to the meetings that best suit your schedule (i.e. you do not need to commit to attending all monthly meetings). This reading group is open to the general public. RSVP is requested as lunch will be provided.

Reach out to info@binst.org with any questions.