LEADER
Herb Shapiro received his Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Rochester. His specialty is mid-twentieth century-century American literature, culture and film and has enjoyed working with adult readers in Rochester and at UCLA, Stanford, Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida and various SUNY campuses in New York State where he has taught both undergraduate and graduate students. Last year he led a Classical Pursuits seminar on “The Great Gatsby.” He has never been to Kansas!
READINGS
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
(Knopf/Doubleday Trade paperback, 1994)
SEMINAR OVERVIEW
And a tough, struts little man said, “I believe in capital punishment. It’s like the Bible says— an eye for an eye. And even so we’re two pair short!” (from Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”)
The novel became one of the best-selling novels of all time. Capote proudly declared that his novel represented a new and important postmodern genre which he called, “the nonfiction novel,” a narrative form that employs all the best and highest forms of aesthetic techniques based very closely on a real-life journalistic event.
In the seminar we will explore together Capote’s literary techniques, the various literary forms that inform this novel (the western, the true crime novel, hard-boiled detective fiction, etc.) as well as some of its influences on later well-known writers.
We hope to be able to show the award-winning 2005 film Capote to appreciate the challenges and benefits of translating from one imaginative genre to another.
Toronto Pursuits pricing options
All seminars are $150 off through February 28. Sale prices are automatically applied.
Bring a friend and save even more! Take $100 off your registration for every new friend you bring to Toronto Pursuits. Your friend also saves $100 on their registration. Choose your discount from the dropdown menu based on the number of friends who also plan to register, and let us know your friend’s name in the order notes.
The fine print: To get the bring-a-friend discount, your friend must not have registered for any previous Toronto Pursuits seminar in any year. Your friend must register by July 1, 2025, or Classical Pursuits will apply the nondiscounted price to your final payment. Limit one $100 discount per participant for being referred as a new friend. For example, if person A brings new friend B, person C cannot also claim friend B for the bring-a-friend discount. If friend B brings new friend D, friend B qualifies for $100 discount for being a new referral, and an additional $100 for referring new friend D. Classical Pursuits reserves the right to make all decisions about discount eligibility.
Toronto Pursuits 2025
See the Toronto Pursuits 2025 page for full details on the program schedule, health and safety, booking your accommodations, terms and conditions, and more.
