The McMahon Auditorium Authority, in collaboration with the City of Lawton Arts and Humanities Division, The City of Lawton, and Cameron University, is excited to announce the launch of the new series theme of Let's Talk About It, "The Gilded Age." This dynamic book club, organized by Oklahoma Humanities since 1985, has fostered connections among readers throughout the state. The program is free and open to the public.

"The Gilded Age" series is made possible through funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and aims to explore the literary response to the social changes of that era. By delving into this theme, the program partners seek to shed light on the critical function of several writers whose works question the superficial prosperity of the time.

 Let's Talk About It is a five-part scholar-led discussion group that brings books to life and encourages thought-provoking discussions. All book discussions will occur at the Cameron University Library, located at 2800 W Gore Blvd, every third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m.

 The series schedule and accompanying scholars are as follows:

• July 20: "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" with Dr. David Fennema

• August 17: "The Red Badge of Courage" with Jason Poudrier

• September 21: "The Awakening" with Dr. William Carney

• October 19: "The Souls of Black Folk" with Dr. Judy Neale

• November 16: "The Call of the Wild" with Dr. Margery Kingsley

Citizens interested in participating in this series can acquire copies of the books at the City of Lawton Arts & Humanities office, located at 801 NW Ferris Ave, during office hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This series is made possible by Let's Talk About It, a project of Oklahoma Humanities, with generous funding and support from The Kirkpatrick Family Fund and Oklahoma City University. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or Oklahoma Humanities. Oklahoma Humanities (OH) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities by promoting understanding of the human experience, encouraging new perspectives, and fostering informed civic participation. As the state partner for the National Endowment for the Humanities, OH provides a wide range of cultural opportunities, including educational magazines, Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibits, reading and discussion groups, and other humanities-based engagements that stimulate community dialogue and exploration of various disciplines such as history, literature, film studies, ethics, and philosophy.