THE HELICONIAN LITERARY LECTURE SERIES 2023-24

The Heliconian Literary Lecture Series is entering its twenty-seventh year!
Described as a cross between a traditional book club and a university course without exams, this popular program is divided into a Tuesday series (in-person and online), a Wednesday series (online only) and a Thursday series (in-person and online). Each series delivers 8 one hour lectures starting in September and running until May. There are authors with whom you will be familiar, talented newcomers with whom you will be impressed, and international authors. There are fiction and non-fiction titles whose content is timely, informative, and entertaining.
The books for the three series are now available from Ben McNally Books: https://shop.benmcnallybooks.com/
INFORMATION ABOUT THE IN-PERSON SERIES:
Talented Canadian writers talk about their latest book at the Heliconian Club, a charming venue with its large rose window and vaulted ceilings in the heart of Yorkville. Art Exhibits by Club members adorn its walls and change monthly.
Enjoy a glass of wine and French cheese on a cracker or a cup of tea and a slice of lemon loaf before the presentation. Take part in a Question and Answer Session and have your book signed by the author.
Elizabeth Hay, Charlotte Gray, Michael Crummey and Zoe Whittall are returning. Meet debut authors, Saeed Teebi, Anne Shin, Christopher Cameron and Sheila Murray.
There is a Tuesday and a Thursday Series comprised of 8 in-person lectures. (These lectures will be recorded and the link sent out a week after the in-house lecture.) Doors open at 6:45 pm for refreshments and conversation; the talk begins at 7:30 pm.
The cost of an in-person subscription is $235 and includes $15 for The Club’s Capital Improvement Fund and HST. (HST number 108122466RT0001). If you purchase one in-person subscription, you can add on one online series of a different day for $70 or both for $140.
In-Person subscribers can sign up for the Tuesday Series HERE and the Thursday Series HERE and additional online subscriptions can be added on at check out.
Book lists for each series are below. Full descriptions for any series is available by clicking the links.
Or check out our brochure:
Described as a cross between a traditional book club and a university course without exams, this popular program is divided into a Tuesday series (in-person and online), a Wednesday series (online only) and a Thursday series (in-person and online). Each series delivers 8 one hour lectures starting in September and running until May. There are authors with whom you will be familiar, talented newcomers with whom you will be impressed, and international authors. There are fiction and non-fiction titles whose content is timely, informative, and entertaining.
The books for the three series are now available from Ben McNally Books: https://shop.benmcnallybooks.com/
INFORMATION ABOUT THE IN-PERSON SERIES:
Talented Canadian writers talk about their latest book at the Heliconian Club, a charming venue with its large rose window and vaulted ceilings in the heart of Yorkville. Art Exhibits by Club members adorn its walls and change monthly.
Enjoy a glass of wine and French cheese on a cracker or a cup of tea and a slice of lemon loaf before the presentation. Take part in a Question and Answer Session and have your book signed by the author.
Elizabeth Hay, Charlotte Gray, Michael Crummey and Zoe Whittall are returning. Meet debut authors, Saeed Teebi, Anne Shin, Christopher Cameron and Sheila Murray.
There is a Tuesday and a Thursday Series comprised of 8 in-person lectures. (These lectures will be recorded and the link sent out a week after the in-house lecture.) Doors open at 6:45 pm for refreshments and conversation; the talk begins at 7:30 pm.
The cost of an in-person subscription is $235 and includes $15 for The Club’s Capital Improvement Fund and HST. (HST number 108122466RT0001). If you purchase one in-person subscription, you can add on one online series of a different day for $70 or both for $140.
In-Person subscribers can sign up for the Tuesday Series HERE and the Thursday Series HERE and additional online subscriptions can be added on at check out.
Book lists for each series are below. Full descriptions for any series is available by clicking the links.
Or check out our brochure:
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ONLINE SERIES:
The Wednesday online series is 8 one hour lectures starting in September and running until May. The Tuesday and Thursday online lectures will be launched one week after the in-person date of each series. A link will be sent to subscribers between 7:00 and 7:30 pm on the day of the lecture. The links to the lectures will be accessible from their launch date until August 31, 2024.
Additionally, a Wednesday virtual series of 8 lectures is available online only. It focusses on 8 talented Canadian writers from coast to coast; for example, Janie Chang, Tsering Yangzom Lama, Chelene Knight and Joseph Kakwinokansum.
The cost for all 24 online lectures is $260. The cost for any two series (16 lectures total) is $210 and the cost of any individual series is $140 (all include HST). Subscriptions can only be purchased online. The information about each series and the description of each book are available through these links.
The online subscription options are as follows (click on any link to sign up!):
The full 24 online lecture series
The 16 online lecture Tuesday and Wednesday Series
The 16 online lecture Tuesday and Thursday Series
The 16 online lecture Wednesday and Thursday Series
The 8 online lecture Tuesday series
The 8 online lecture Wednesday series
The 8 online lecture Thursday series
Book lists for each series are below. Full descriptions for any series is available by clicking any link above.
Or check out our brochure HERE.
The Wednesday online series is 8 one hour lectures starting in September and running until May. The Tuesday and Thursday online lectures will be launched one week after the in-person date of each series. A link will be sent to subscribers between 7:00 and 7:30 pm on the day of the lecture. The links to the lectures will be accessible from their launch date until August 31, 2024.
Additionally, a Wednesday virtual series of 8 lectures is available online only. It focusses on 8 talented Canadian writers from coast to coast; for example, Janie Chang, Tsering Yangzom Lama, Chelene Knight and Joseph Kakwinokansum.
The cost for all 24 online lectures is $260. The cost for any two series (16 lectures total) is $210 and the cost of any individual series is $140 (all include HST). Subscriptions can only be purchased online. The information about each series and the description of each book are available through these links.
The online subscription options are as follows (click on any link to sign up!):
The full 24 online lecture series
The 16 online lecture Tuesday and Wednesday Series
The 16 online lecture Tuesday and Thursday Series
The 16 online lecture Wednesday and Thursday Series
The 8 online lecture Tuesday series
The 8 online lecture Wednesday series
The 8 online lecture Thursday series
Book lists for each series are below. Full descriptions for any series is available by clicking any link above.
Or check out our brochure HERE.
2023 - 2024 Series Book lists
TUESDAY |
WEDNESDAY |
THURSDAY |
Sept 26 in person / Oct 3 online- Kyo Maclear: Unearthing: A Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets |
Sept 13 online only – Janie Chang: The Porcelain Moon. |
Sept 14 in person / Sept 21 online - Elizabeth Hay: Snow Road Station |
Oct 17 in person / Oct 24 online– Karin Wells: More Than a Footnote: Canadian Women You Should Know. |
Oct 11 online only - Barbara Joan Scott: The Taste of Hunger |
Nov 9 in person / Nov 16 online – Christopher Cameron: Thornside Stories |
Nov 14 in person / Nov 21 online – Shelly Sanders: Daughters of the Occupation |
Nov 8 online only - Méira Cook: The Full Catastrophe. |
Dec 7 in person / Dec 14 online – Zoe Whittall: The Fake |
Jan 16 in person / Jan 23 online – Suanne Kelman will lecture on Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. |
Jan 10 online only - Shashi Bhat: The Most Precious Substance on Earth |
Jan 11 in person / Jan 18 online – Saeed Teebi: Her First Palestinian |
Feb 20 in person / Feb 27 online – Sheila Murray: Finding Edward |
Feb 14 online only – Tsering Yangzom Lama: We Measure The Earth With Our Bodies |
Feb 15 in person / Feb 22 online - Ann Shin: The Last Exiles |
Mar 19 in person / Mar 26 online – Michael Crummey: The Adversary |
Mar 13 online only - Joseph Kakinokansum: My Indian Summer |
Mar 14 in person / Mar 21 online - C.S. Richardson: All the Colour in the World |
Apr 16 in person / Apr 23 online – Vincent Lam: On The Ravine, interviewed by Suanne Kelman |
April 10 online only - Darcy Tamayose: Ezra’s Ghosts |
Apr 11 in person / Apr 18 online – Charlotte Gray: Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons |
May 14 in person / May 21 online – Andre Narbonne: Lucien and Olivia |
May 8 online only- Chelene Knight: Junie |
May 9 in person / May 16 online – Suanne Kelman will lecture on Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan |
If you are already subscribed and are looking for the 23-24 lectures available until August 31, 2024 please go to Literary Lecture Series Log in