Peoria Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
Friday, May 2, 2025 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Peoria Women's Club, 301 NE Madison Ave., Peoria

In collaboration with Bradley University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), the PWC invites you to join the Peoria Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, recognized as the oldest continuous book club in the United States. Lynette Steger, a professional educator and Peoria Women's Club board member, is the moderator.

Registration is available through the OLLI website under Spring Semester: https://www.bradley.edu/academic/continue/olli/. A small fee includes membership in the national Chautauqua Institution, contributing toward CLSC graduation, and access to the discussion, snacks, and coffee.

What we are reading and discussing:

Horse: A Novel

Horse by Geraldine Brooks weaves a sweeping narrative across time, exploring themes of spirit, obsession, and injustice. The novel is inspired by the true story of Lexington, the greatest racehorse in American history, and spans multiple periods and characters. In 1850s Kentucky, an enslaved groom named Jarret forms a deep bond with a bay foal, setting the stage for the horse's legendary victories. As the Civil War looms, a young artist who paints Lexington enlists for the Union, encountering both the horse and his groom in a far different context. Fast forward to 1954 in New York, where gallery owner Martha Jackson becomes captivated by a mysterious horse painting. In 2019, in Washington, D.C., a scientist and an art historian uncovered the forgotten history of Lexington's racing legacy, especially the unsung Black horsemen who helped shape it. Horse is a powerful exploration of art, science, history, and the ongoing reckoning with racism.

Questions? Contact Lynette Steger at VicePres1@PeoriaWomensClub.com or (309) 642-2688