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While still a teenager, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn teamed with the Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies) to fight for free speech and improved conditions for workers in the culinary, mining, and garment industries.

Explore the life of this remarkable woman with Dr. Lara Vapnek. Vapnek literally wrote the book on Flynn, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn: Modern American Revolutionary. Stick around until the end of her talks for a very special guest.

This program is part of Lake County Reads – a countywide, summerlong series of book talks and online programs that concludes with a special evening with bestselling and celebrated author Jess Walter on Aug. 5.

Throughout the summer, the public and academic libraries in Lake County will host book-club discussions where all are invited to talk about Walter’s literary smash The Cold Millions. They’re also offering free online programs that take a deeper dive into the themes and historical context of Walter’s story. For example, you can learn about the suffragettes’ fight for women’s rights, discover some of the lesser-known but key figures in the early Labor Movement, or even enjoy a ragtime concert with The Ragged Blade Band.

The libraries have also teamed with Literary Cleveland for a series of writing workshops and author talks that explore the idea of writing about the working class. It crescendos with an author talk from Walter himself.

All of these programs and book-club discussions are free to attend. They will be hosted via Zoom, and registration is required to get the link. Get more information and sign up for any of these programs at www.leagueoflibraries.org.