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American Gothic: Dark Stories for a Young Nation

  • October 28, 2026 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • Aldrich House

    110 Benevolent Street
    Providence, Rhode Island 02906
Ticket Price $11.63-$16.88 Register Now
Description

As our commemoration of the 250th continues, join us on Wednesday, October 28th at 6 pm for "American Gothic: Dark Stories for a Young Nation" as we explore some of America's best-known dark literature and its New England roots. Together with Brown University English Professor Jim Egan, we will examine the literary and historical contexts behind classic 19th-century stories by essential American authors Washington Irving, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Edgar Allan Poe.

 

We will also be joined by retired National Park Ranger John McNiff, who will help to bring this genre to life by reading selections from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," "Young Goodman Brown," and the entirety of "The Tell-Tale Heart."

 

The program begins at 6 pm. Guests may arrive at 5:30pm for a wine and cheese reception.

 

Egan is a Professor of English at Brown University. He specializes in 17th- and 18th-century colonial British-American literature, and he studies various aspects of the role of literature in an information age.

 

 

 

Date & Time

Wed, Oct 28, 2026 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Venue Details

Aldrich House

110 Benevolent Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02906 Aldrich House
Rhode Island Historical Society

The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state's oldest and only statewide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting and sharing Rhode Island's past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st  -century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center and the Aldrich House.


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