In this year of our country's 250th anniversary, this is the perfect time to revisit the early short stories that articulated our evolving values and aspirations. We will delve into celebrated works by Irving, Hawthorne, Melville, Benet, Bierce, London, Twain, and others. Themes include the mining life, religion reimagined in the new world, the reality of slavery, finding a wife, man versus nature, the war for independence, and more. This course aims to expand your awareness of 18th and 19th century America while helping you appreciate the wit, warmth, clarity, and humanity of its first landmark writers. Activities will include short discussions of the writers, read-alouds of the most memorable passages, and salon-type discussions. Expect to learn, laugh, and actively contribute your reactions to each work.

COURESE LEADER
Susan Matson, M.S., has taught several courses for the Evergreen Forum, from American documentaries to award winning essays to classic short stories. Her M.S. in Education is from Johns Hopkins University. Having worked as a teacher, curriculum developer, and teacher trainer, she now teaches English at Middlesex College.

GENERAL INFORMATION
This Evergreen Forum course takes place in-person only and will not be recorded. No zoom or virtual attendance will be available for this course.Any general questions or concerns about this event should be directed to CMAP at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling 609-751-9699.

SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS are available. Please submit a request form by following the link here to apply.

REFUND INFORMATION
If you are no longer able to attend an event/program, we invite you to donate the program fee to CMAP — call us for more information.

If you do need a refund, checks are issued for cash, check, and credit card payments; electronic payments are refunded electronically. Refund processing takes approximately 2 weeks.Refunds requested up to 6 business days before class are issued minus a $15 processing fee;no refund is offered 5 business days or less before class begins.No refund is offered for programs costing $15 or less, and a $15 processing fee applies to those who register for the same program more than once.