In conjunction with The Obermann Center, Prairie Lights invites you to a celebration of Charles' Dickens birthday at the Iowa City Public Library on February 7th.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the famous novelist's birth. The Obermann Center has organized a number of events around this anniversary. Prairie Lights, The Iowa City Public Library, The UNESCO City of LIterature, The Project on the Rhetoric of Inquiry and The UI LIbrary Special Collections will collaborate in the sponsorship of these events.

On February 7th, a mutli-disciplinary panel at the library will introduce the novel Oliver Twist. All are then invited to participate in a community reading of Oliver Twist, which will culminate in a public discussion — again at the library — on March 5th.

The panel on the 7th will include: Jeff Cox from the UI History Department discussing The Poor Law and the "welfare" system in 19th Century Britain; Miriam Gilbert from the English Department discussing stereotypes of "the Jew" that shaped the character Fagin; Becci Reedus, Executive Director of the Crisis Center of Johnson County discussing poverty and hunger in our own community; and Teresa Mangum from the Obermann Center introducing themes from the novel in preparation for the March discussion. They will be followed by Tim Budd of Prairie Lights reading "the death of Nancy" from Oliver Twist. The evening will end with birthday cake and punch.