OLLI Literary Club: The Gilded Age

This course examines two classic novels of the Gilded Age: Edith Wharton’s Age of Innocence and Henry James’ Washington Square. Historian Jennifer Le Zotte, scholar of material culture and fashion, describes this period of unprecedented American industrial wealth in September. Wendy Perkins leads the discussion on Age of Innocence in October, while Paula Kamenish presents Washington Square in November. Participants are encouraged to read the novels and be ready to engage in discussion. 

Jennifer Le Zotte is a UNCW professor and scholar of 19th and 20th century U.S. history. Wendy Perkins is an English professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus, where she teaches American literature classes online. Paula Kamenish is a retired, award-winning UNCW professor of literature.