Literary Dinner: On Dystopias

What can dystopian literature reveal about the fears shaping our present? Join Lit Club NYC and Open Editions, the indie publishing house, coming out of Open Book Club, at their downtown studio space for a literary dinner exploring utopias and dystopias through Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Herland. Herland is a provocative exploration of the borders between individuality and community, masculinity and femininity, dystopia and utopia. It asks, “What might a different society look like?” and “Who might it be for?” — questions that feel as urgent now as they did when Herland was first published over a century ago. Gilman's imagined utopia is imperfect, sometimes uncomfortably so. But perhaps that's the point. Herland doesn't offer us a blueprint; it offers us a conversation starter. It asks us to examine the systems we've inherited and the ones we're building right now. It dares us to imagine a different world, even when that imagining reveals our own blind spots. And that’s exactly what we’ll do in this conversation over drinks and dinner. Each guest is invited to bring a text—a book, essay, article, poem, or other piece of writing—that speaks to fear in some way. Over a three course dinner we'll unravel it all through guided conversation and community. Expect a beautiful evening of books, ideas, and connection, with room for curiosity, vulnerability, and unexpected perspectives. 🎟️ Ticket Includes A welcome drink from our martini bar (an Open Book Club favorite) A three-course family style Italian dinner, with additional drinks served throughout What we believe to be the best chocolate cake in New York City A complimentary copy of Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Refunds & ExchangesBecause Lit Club & OBC are a one-women labors of love, we’re unable to offer refunds or exchanges at this time. Thank you for supporting our communities so generously—it truly makes all of this possible. Photo PolicyWe love capturing the magic of our gatherings. By attending, you consent to being photographed for use on Open Book Club and Lit Club platforms. If you prefer not to be photographed, just let us know when you arrive.