Short Friday Classics: Voyage in the Dark by Jean Rhys

Toronto Public Library

Michael LaPointe, Vivian Gornick and Miranda Seymour discuss Jean Rhys's 1934 novel, Voyage in the Dark.

TPL Book Seminar SessionJoin acclaimed biographer Miranda Seymour and celebrated memoirist Vivian Gornick in conversation with writer and critic Michael LaPointe as they explore Jean Rhys's powerful novel, Voyage in the Dark. Their discussion will examine how this 1934 work crystallized Rhys's distinctive literary voice—introducing her unflinching portrayal of female alienation, colonial identity, and psychological dislocation that would culminate in her masterpiece Wide Sargasso Sea. Seymour's meticulous research will illuminate how Rhys's experiences as a Dominican-born woman navigating interwar London informed her protagonist's profound sense of displacement, while Gornick brings her expertise on memoir and the female experience to this literary exploration.Published between the World Wars, Voyage in the Dark emerged when modernist literature was grappling with fragmented identities and the legacy of empire. The novel follows young Anna Morgan's journey from the West Indies to England and her descent into emotional isolation, standing out for its raw depiction of a woman's marginal existence and its critique of British colonial attitudes. Rhys's uncompromising portrayal of exploitation and alienation in a hostile metropolis established her as a singular voice in modernist fiction, her stark emotional landscape serving as both personal narrative and incisive commentary on the outsider experience.Participants are encouraged to read the book in advance of the session.<a href="http://www.mirandaseymour.com/about.htm" title="http://www.mirandaseymour.com/about.htm" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">About Miranda Seymour</a> <a href="https://www.michaellapointe.com/biography.html" title="https://www.michaellapointe.com/biography.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">About Michael LaPointe</a> <a href="https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/gornick-vivian" title="https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/gornick-vivian" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">About Vivian Gornick</a> <a href="https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/search.jsp?Ntt=Jean+rhys+voyage+in+the+dark" title="https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/search.jsp?Ntt=Jean+rhys+voyage+in+the+dark" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Read Voyage in the Dark from TPL</a>Important information for accessing this live virtual event:<ul><li>You must register for a free ticket via Eventbrite to gain access to this event.</li><li>This event will be presented in a Zoom Webinar. Once registered, you will receive reminder emails from both Zoom and Eventbrite with links and instructions to access your unique Zoom Webinar link to watch this event.</li><li>At the time of the event, you must be signed in to Zoom or Eventbrite with the same email address that you used to book your ticket in order to access your unique event link. Unique event links can only be open on one device at a time.</li></ul>***Short Friday Classics is a virtual series dedicated to exploring remarkable books that can be read in a single sitting. Curated and hosted by Michael LaPointe, these bi-weekly sessions at 12 noon ET bring together writers, critics, scholars, and readers to consider why these concentrated works of literature continue to resonate. Each conversation features expert guests who illuminate why these classics speak urgently to contemporary readers in 2025. The series emphasizes audience participation, with time dedicated to questions and discussion points from participants, creating a dynamic forum for literary exploration and discovery.Other sessions in this series include:<a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1292675440039?aff=oddtdtcreator" title="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1292675440039?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Dorothy B. Hughes: In a Lonely Place</a>, Fri Apr 25, 12-1pm ET (featuring Sarah Weinman &amp; Adam Nayman)<a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1295809293479?aff=oddtdtcreator" title="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1295809293479?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Yasunari Kawabata: Snow Country</a>, Fri May 9, 12-1pm ET (featuring Charlotte Shayne and Lauren Oyler)Toni Morrison: Sula, Fri May 23, 12-1pm ET [event link forthcoming] (featuring Canisia Lubrin &amp; Hilton Als)Marguerite Duras: The Lover, Fri Jun 6, 12-1pm ET [event link forthcoming] (featuring Lydia Davis)****This series is made possible by: A gift from the Ann Thoburn Fund***Accessibility at Toronto Public LibraryWe are committed to making our content accessible to as many Torontonians as possible. Please call or email us if you are Deaf or have a disability and would like to request accommodation to participate in this program. Please let us know as far in advance as possible and we will do our best to meet your request. At least three weeks' notice is preferred. Phone 416-393-7099 or email accessibleservices@tpl.ca

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

Short Friday Classics: Voyage in the Dark by Jean Rhys

More events from Toronto Public Library

Discover more events from Toronto Public Library, from Arts to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all online events to browse and filter by date, category, and more.

Short Friday Classics: Voyage in the Dark by Jean Rhys

More events from Toronto Public Library

Discover more events from Toronto Public Library, from Arts to other experiences you might love.

You might also like...

Browse more events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all online events to browse and filter by date, category, and more.