Friends of the Library Literary Discussions Fall 2023 - War and Peace

Most people think of war as armed conflict between countries, cultures, religions, societies and other groups. But we generally think of peace as more than just the absence of armed combat. For example, the Treaty of Versailles did not lead to what most would call peace in Germany. No, peace connotes tranquillity, calm, harmony and freedom from fear of violence. Peace does not include revenge. Still, historically, when one talks of peacetime, one may mean a time without war. 

Our first novel takes place in England in 1932, 14 years after the end of World War I. The Great War took Violet Speedwell's fiancé and brother. She has a low paying office job and lives in a boarding house with other "surplus women." Her country is at peace, but she is restless, bored, and dissatisfied with her loveless, small, frugal life. That is until she beings to work on embroidering a kneeler in Winchester Cathedral. 

On Thursday, September 28 at 10:30 am in the library, Dr. Suzanne Brown will lead a discussion of A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier. We will explore this story of a wartime survivor who has the courage to find her own peace. Attendees can choose to attend in person at the library or online using Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 day before the event.

Print copies of the novel are available in the library. It is also available on Libby as an ebook or audiobook.