Park Hotel -- "USA: The 42nd Parallel"

Please join us on Monday, July 20, 2026 for a discussion of John Dos Passos' 1930 novel "The 42nd Parallel," the first book in his "USA" trilogy. The 42nd parallel is a line of latitude that runs east-west across the United States, passing through Chicago.

The author wrote in a foreword to the trilogy that "USA is the world's greatest rivervalley fringed with mountains and hills, USA is a set of bigmouthed officials with too many bankaccounts, USA is a lot of men buried in their uniforms in Arlington Cemetery, USA is the letters at the end of an address when you are away from home. But mostly USA is the speech of the people."

Note that some editions contain all three books in the "USA" trilogy, but we're only going to be discussing the first book ("The 42nd Parallel"). You may want to look for an edition with notes, such as the Library of America edition, especially if you're unfamiliar with the many historical events from the early 20th century that are referenced in the text.

There is no cost to attend the meetup, except for the food and drinks you order from The Post bar and restaurant in the hotel. Please keep in mind that The Post is a business, and that the wait staff depends on your tips for their income.

There are two different meetups this month for the same book. The format and discussion will be the same for both meetups. Please RSVP for one or the other.