Happy Hour: J.R.R. Tolkien: Myth & Modernism

J.R.R. Tolkien was a towering figure in the world of twentieth-century English letters. His labors on Beowulf continue to shape the literary landscape, his work on the Oxford English Dictionary still serves, and his groundbreaking thoughts about the role and purpose of fairy stories gave focus to the thoughts of C.S. Lewis and other Inklings. The Rev’d. Andrew Lazo returns to speak to the ESU about Tolkien’s approach to myth and language in his own period—an approach that still speaks call on our age as well.

Happy Hour: Vampire Literature: An Anthology

Co-Authors Dr. Robin Werner and her colleague, Dr. Elizabeth Lewis, will discuss their book titled Vampire Literature: An Anthology. Specifically, they will talk about the anthology's inspiration and the challenges of the creation process.

Happy Hour: The Lost Heirs: The Rise and Fall of the D’Oyly Carte Dynasty

The name D’Oyly Carte is recognized throughout the world because of Richard D’Oyly Carte’s partnership with Gilbert and Sullivan, which produced fourteen famous comic operas during the last quarter of the 19th Century such as H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Mikado.

Happy Hour: A Brief History of Toys for Tots

From its humble beginnings in 1947, the wife of a Marine Reserve Major wanted to
donate dolls to a charity that would distribute the toys to children in need. She
convinced her husband to create one. He looked to fellow Marine reservists to get the job done. The project was a huge success and was officially adopted by the Marine Corps in 1948 and went nationwide almost immediately.