Western Classics Book Club Sydney

Meeting at the usual place, The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire St, Surry Hills, at 7.00pm on Thursday 3 September 2026, we will be discussing Anne of Green Gables (1908).

We are very lucky to welcome back Susannah Fullerton, The President of the Jane Austen Society of Australia, who spoke at our August meeting. Anne of Green Gables is one of her favourite books, and she has conducted 'Anne' tours of where the book was set, in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, Canada. More info about Susannah can be found at https://susannahfullerton.com.au/

Montgomery wrote a novel called Anne of Green Gables. She also wrote another 19 novels, 530 short stories, 500 poems, and 30 essays.

Anne of Green Gables was the first in a series of Anne stories by Lucy Maud Montgomery about the young orphan. Adapted many times for TV and movies, it is the story of an older brother and sister who live on a small farm in the 1870s. They want to adopt a strapping young boy to help with the labouring on the farm. Due to a confusion in communication and much to their disappointment, they get a skinny 11 year-old girl. Their disappointment at getting a girl is replaced with a growing affection and they allow her to stay at their home.

Often seen at first glance as little more than a 'girly novel,' it is a very moving story with very grown-up themes: life and death, duty and sacrifice, loyalty and loss, and the celebration of beauty in the commonplace.

There will be 5 mins of introductory remarks followed by Susannah's presentation, where she will be happy to answer questions. The meeting then formally ends, with almost everyone staying back and talking more about the book in small informal groups.

Please arrive by 7.00pm. About 30 people are expected to attend. People normally start turning up at about 6.30pm.

The book is easily available from shops and local libraries. Contact Dale for more information on MeetUp or at dalemills@cantab.net

Meeting at the usual place, upstairs at the Shakespeare Hotel, Surry Hills, Sydney, on Thursday 5 November 2026, we will be discussing Lolita (1955) by the Russian-American author Vladimir Nabokov.

This is one of the most famous and controversial novels of the 20th century. Humbert is a middle aged man obsessively attracted to to a 12-year-old girl whom he nicknames 'Lolita.' After he marries her mother, Humbert manipulates circumstances to gain control over Lolita after her mother's death. He then sexually abuses her over a long period of time, convincing himself that (despite her age) she is consenting and enjoying it.

For me (Dale), the power of the novel is that morally Humbert is the lowest of the low — a serial child abuser. Yet he would probably be the most captivating guest at a dinner party: cultured, clever, witty and amusing. How do we distinguish between the morality of a person's words and ideas on the one hand, and the reality of their actions on the other? Nabokov forces us to confront an idea sometimes assumed by the ancient Greeks: that a person's intelligence, charm and artistic sensitivity somehow reflects their inner beauty. Or perhaps the most intelligent and witty people can be the most morally corrupt?

The novel was initially rejected by several publishers because of its subject matter before being published in Paris. It later became an international bestseller and is now considered a classic.

Easily available in hard copies from local libraries (free) or through inter-library loan ($3.50). About $13 from Amazon, ebay and bookshops. Soft copies from our friend Anna or a free pdf from me on request at dalemills@cantab.net

We meet upstairs in the pub in a private room conducive to discussion. Look for the sign or ask at the bar for details. There will be about 30 of us. We talk about the book in big group for about 40 mins, before breaking up into small groups. Newcomers are very welcome.