Canio’s Cultural Cafe will welcome Tony McGowan, a professor of English at West Point and a Herman Melville scholar, at the Masonic Temple in Sag Harbor next Thursday night at 6 as he discusses the modern relevance of “Moby-Dick” ahead of this year’s Moby-Dick Marathon of readings. Free registration is required at the Canio’s website or through Eventbrite.
Readings from the book begin on Friday, May 30, with interested parties gathering at several locations around the village throughout the weekend.
“Since 1983, we have shared this magnificent book with the community,” a Canio’s press release said, “one that speaks so eloquently of themes we continue to wrestle with: obsession and revenge; social and economic injustice; moral turpitude; religious hypocrisy; environmental conservation, and more.”
The marathon serves as a fund-raiser for Canio’s Cultural Cafe, an educational nonprofit. Sign-up is at caniosbooks.com.
The first reading on the 30th will be from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum, before moving to the Old Whalers Church from 2:30 to 5:45, and concluding at Christ Episcopal Church that night from 6 to 10.
The marathon continues the next day from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the John Jermain Memorial Library, moves back to the Whaling Museum from 2 to 5:45, and then to the arts venue The Church from 6 to 10.
On Sunday, June 1, readings will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Eastville Community Historical Society and finish up at the Breakwater Yacht Club from 2 to 5, followed by an after-party at the yacht club with a silent auction, sea chanteys, and snacks.
