Democracy of the Dead:

reading great books of the past for our modern edification

“Tradition means giving a vote to most obscure of all classes: our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead.”

- G.K. Chesterton

Adolescents are forced to read Great Books through their English classes (I know; I’ve assigned these works to them). But we often don’t appreciate literature’s beauty, goodness, & truth until we’re adults.

Think back on what you read for high school class*.

Wish you could get more out of them now?

*Or let’s be honest — what you were assigned to read for high school class.

Let’s Read Together.

Democracy of the Dead is a salon-style gathering for adults (and mature adolescents) who want to engage in older classics with thoughtful kindred spirits.

Though the ideal would be in-person with plates & drinks in hand, we'll do the next-best thing by meeting online.

Summer ‘23 Selections:

The Jazz Age & Great Depression

The early decades of the twentieth century promulgated a wealth of great writers, and few depicted the worldviews of their eras better than F. Scott Fitzgerald and John Steinbeck. These men couldn't be more different, but they were both indeed products of the age.

The Great Gatsby, published in 1925, described the Jazz Age so well we post-moderns think of it as synonymous with the decade.

Of Mice and Men, published in 1937, depicts the plight of migrant workers in the thick of the Depression, when ekeing out a living was the most many could do.

Both short novellas, we'll cover these exquisitely-written stories over a summer nearly one-hundred years later.

Who’s invited?

All paying subscribers of Tsh Oxenreider’s newsletter, The Commonplace, are invited into the Salon. We’d love to have you join us!

Learn more

Salon Dates 🗓

June 7, 2023 // 8-9 pm CST

The Great Gatsby, Ch. 1-4 🍸

June 21, 2023 // 8-9 pm CST

Of Mice and Men, Ch. 1-3 🐇

June 14, 2023 // 8-9 pm CST

The Great Gatsby, Ch. 5-9 🍸

June 28, 2023 // 8-9 pm CST

Of Mice and Men, Ch. 4-6 🐇

Meet Your Host

Tsh Oxenreider is the bestselling author of several books, most notably At Home in the World, her travel memoir about her family’s year traveling around the world and living out of backpacks. She’s also a top-ranked podcaster, literature teacher, and travel guide, and lives in Georgetown, Texas with her husband and three children. She’d love to have a slow meal with Wendell Berry, GK Chesterton, CS Lewis, Flannery O’Connor, & JRR Tolkien. …It’ll happen one day.

Learn more about Tsh.

FAQ

  • Simply become a subscriber of The Commonplace and you’ll be emailed a Zoom link to each salon close to time. Already a subscriber? Great — you’re already in!

  • By ordering them here or here, you’re supporting The Commonplace so future DoD salons can continue. But don’t forget your local used bookstores or libraries — they usually have lots of classics.

  • Each salon will assume you’ve read the discussed sections, but please join in even if you couldn’t get to it all. (Just know you’ll get spoilers!)

  • Yes! While it’s best to be there in-person, if you can’t make it you can always watch the recorded salons later.

Get the Books: