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In January 2020, the largest and most eagerly awaited cache of new materials written by the Nobel-Prize-winning poet T. S. Eliot was finally opened: the 1,131 letters he sent Emily Hale, his little-known American love, over the course of their lifetimes. Their relationship was, in their own words, an “unnatural” love affair, one that began in Cambridge in 1913, when Eliot was a graduate student at Harvard and Hale, an aspiring amateur actress, and that played out in Boston, England and California over the years. Named as one of its "Fifty Notable Non-fiction Books of 2024" by the Washington Post, Fitzgerald's biography of Hale is based on the embargoed letters and extensive research into Hale’s life and times. Hale was much more than just a muse to a literary celebrity. She overcame personal hardship to pursue a career as a professor of speech and drama at prominent American women’s colleges and schools, including Simmons and Smith Colleges and Abbot and Concord Academies. She was a talented amateur actress and director, who performed at many Boston area theaters and later guided Eliot as he tried his hand at playwriting. But in the end, Eliot disavowed her, sending a secret letter to Harvard in 1960 that claimed his love for Hale was that of “a ghost for a ghost,” and confirming that he had arranged for Hale’s side of their 27-year correspondence to be destroyed. In the words of The Washington Post reviewer, “Missing letters, a secret love affair, a famous poet, a beautiful actress—what else could you possibly want in a story?" Sara Fitzgerald is a retired journalist whose career included fifteen years as an editor and new media developer for The Washington Post. In 2020, she also published The Poet’s Girl: A Novel of Emily Hale and T. S. Eliot. Since then, her essays about Hale have appeared in multiple volumes of the Journal of the T. S. Eliot Society and the T. S. Eliot Studies Annual. She has presented at the annual meetings of the Modern Language Association, the American Historical Association, the International T. S. Eliot Society, and at the T. S. Eliot Summer School at Oxford. She is also the author of the biography, Elly Peterson: “Mother” of the Moderates and Conquering Heroines: How Women Fought Sex Bias at Michigan and Paved the Way for Title IX.

“If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.” - Combahee River Collective, April 1977 This event is part 2 of 4 of our reading group to discuss How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. We will read and discuss the book in sections as follows: Session 1 - Intro, Barbara Smith Session 2 - Beverly Smith, Demita Frazier Session 3 - Alicia Garza, Angela Davis, comments Session 4 – Reflections on Cambridge present and future Participants are encouraged to come to as many sessions as they can — and all are welcome! Copies of the book are available for pickup at the Central Square Branch. This event was created in partnership with Community Conversations: Sister to Sister, the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission, and the Cambridge Women’s Commission.

“If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.” - Combahee River Collective, April 1977 This event is part 3 of 4 of our reading group to discuss How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. We will read and discuss the book in sections as follows: Session 1 - Intro, Barbara Smith Session 2 - Beverly Smith, Demita Frazier Session 3 - Alicia Garza, Angela Davis, comments Session 4 – Reflections on Cambridge present and future Participants are encouraged to come to as many sessions as they can — and all are welcome! Copies of the book are available for pickup at the Central Square Branch. This event was created in partnership with Community Conversations: Sister to Sister, the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission, and the Cambridge Women’s Commission.

“If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.” - Combahee River Collective, April 1977 This event is part 2 of 4 of our reading group to discuss How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. We will read and discuss the book in sections as follows: Session 1 - Intro, Barbara Smith Session 2 - Beverly Smith, Demita Frazier Session 3 - Alicia Garza, Angela Davis, comments Session 4 – Reflections on Cambridge present and future Participants are encouraged to come to as many sessions as they can — and all are welcome! Copies of the book are available for pickup at the Central Square Branch. This event was created in partnership with Community Conversations: Sister to Sister, the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission, and the Cambridge Women’s Commission.

“If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.” - Combahee River Collective, April 1977 This event is part 4 of 4 of our reading group to discuss How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. We will read and discuss the book in sections as follows: Session 1 - Intro, Barbara Smith Session 2 - Beverly Smith, Demita Frazier Session 3 - Alicia Garza, Angela Davis, comments Session 4 – Reflections on Cambridge present and future Participants are encouraged to come to as many sessions as they can — and all are welcome! Copies of the book are available for pickup at the Central Square Branch. This event was created in partnership with Community Conversations: Sister to Sister, the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission, and the Cambridge Women’s Commission.

Art on a nice Summer night? Nothing sounds better than that! Come to the Library and enjoy an art filled evening learning the techniques of watercolor painting. In partnership with artist Brooke Lambert, a professional printmaker and painter, she will take you through this guided art class. The library will provide all materials. Please try your best to arrive on time or notify us if any lateness. There will be a 10 minute grace period to keep your spot held before going to waitlisted registrants.

Art on a nice Summer night? Nothing sounds better than that! Come to the Library and enjoy an art filled evening learning the techniques of acrylic painting. In partnership with artist Brooke Lambert, a professional printmaker and painter, she will take you through this guided art class. The library will provide all materials. Please try your best to arrive on time or notify us if any lateness. There will be a 10 minute grace period to keep your spot held before going to waitlisted registrants.

Art on a nice Summer night? Nothing sounds better than that! Come to the Library and enjoy an art filled evening learning the techniques of printmaking. In partnership with artist Brooke Lambert, a professional printmaker and painter, she will take you through this guided art class. The library will provide all materials. Please try your best to arrive on time or notify us if any lateness. There will be a 10 minute grace period to keep your spot held before going to waitlisted registrants.

Join us as we take a walk to enjoy the natural wonders of spring and learn about clouds. We will get to know some spring birds, look for early flowers and leaf buds, and see how many different types of clouds we can identify! This event is open to all ages. The walk will be on a wheelchair-accessible paved footpath in Danehy Park. Registration for this event is required; register below. The meeting spot for this event will be sent to registrants via email.

This class is designed for people of all levels to strengthen the muscles, the heart and the brain--all while having fun and moving to great music! Come as you are and take everything at your own pace. You will feel the benefits in mind and body! Registration for each session is required. This is a virtual event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event.