6:30 - 8:00 pm
September 17, October 15, and November 19
$15/participant for three sessions
Happy Land is historical fiction inspired by the true story of The Kingdom of the Happy Land, a communal community created by formerly enslaved people following the Civil War. Located near Hendersonville, in the mountains of western North Carolina, the town thrived from 1865 to 1882. Dolen Perkins-Valdez seamlessly weaves the stories of her two narrators, Nikki, who lives a life in Washington, DC, far removed from her ancestors, and Luella, the kingdom's queen, who is Nikki's great-great-great grandmother. By spending time together on the land and in the garden, where every flower is described in beautiful detail, Nikki develops a close bond with her grandmother, Mother Rita, and discovers the importance of protecting her family's land and legacy.
Join Kate in exploring a little-known chapter in United States history, an important part of our past that we never learned about in school. The book is so engrossing that Kate read it over just a few days. She hopes that you'll find it as fascinating as she did! There are several sites that discuss the actual kingdom, and a few are listed here. There are also several interesting videos on YouTube.
About This Event
Book Club: 3 part series
Happy Land: by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
6:30 - 8:00 pm
September 17, October 15, and November 19
$15/participant for three sessions
Happy Land is historical fiction inspired by the true story of The Kingdom of the Happy Land, a communal community created by formerly enslaved people following the Civil War. Located near Hendersonville, in the mountains of western North Carolina, the town thrived from 1865 to 1882. Dolen Perkins-Valdez seamlessly weaves the stories of her two narrators, Nikki, who lives a life in Washington, DC, far removed from her ancestors, and Luella, the kingdom's queen, who is Nikki's great-great-great grandmother. By spending time together on the land and in the garden, where every flower is described in beautiful detail, Nikki develops a close bond with her grandmother, Mother Rita, and discovers the importance of protecting her family's land and legacy.
Join Kate in exploring a little-known chapter in United States history, an important part of our past that we never learned about in school. The book is so engrossing that Kate read it over just a few days. She hopes that you'll find it as fascinating as she did! There are several sites that discuss the actual kingdom, and a few are listed here. There are also several interesting videos on YouTube.
Getting There
Shepherd's Corner Ecology Center
987 N Waggoner Road
Blacklick
United States