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Lecture focuses on 18th century women's writing clubs

Feb. 16, 2005

KALAMAZOO--Dr. Clifford Siskin, the George Delacorte Professor of the Humanities at Columbia University, explores the workings and reasons behind an 18th-century Scottish secret society of young women devoted to writing during a free public presentation at Western Michigan University at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, on the 10th floor of Sprau Tower.

In a talk titled "What Writing Wants: The Secret of the Fair Intellectual Club," Sisken will examine the lure of writing and its appeal to these young women--the age of admission was between 15 and 20--with only a small window for intellectual activity. He also will look at the function of what might be called a "club culture," and he will speculate about what this early 18th-century phenomenon has to tell modern society about the pleasures and demands of the club scene for women--and men--then and now.

A reception will follow the event. For more information, contact Dr. Christopher Nagle, assistant professor of English, at (269) 387-2591 or <christopher.nagle@wmich.edu>.

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 269 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu

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