Vancouver Classical Plays/Novels

### Echoes of Power: Shakespeare's 'Measure for Measure' Meets Modern Scandals
Hosted by: Vancouver Classical Plays and Novels
Date & Time: sunday, August 3, 2025 · 11 AM
Location: Pallet Coffee Roasters - Melville Street
About the Event:
In a world buzzing with scandals, power plays, and calls for justice—from Ep$tein fallout to political hypocrisy and high-stakes lawsuits—let's dive into Shakespeare's timeless takedown of it all! Join us for an electrifying discussion of *Measure for Measure*, where a corrupt deputy abuses his authority in ways that feel ripped from today's headlines.

Agenda:

* Icebreaker – Share your take on a current world scandal!
* Deep dive into the play's juiciest scenes and real-world echoes.
* Fun activity – debate "What would Shakespeare tweet about today's news?"

This isn't your dusty book club—it's lit meets life! Perfect for book lovers, politicos, and anyone tired of scrolling headlines alone.

Suggested Prep: Read *Measure for Measure* (if you want a modern translation of the play in PDF, email : alexfitzgrld@gmail.com)
Questions? Message the host at 604 615 5275
#Shakespeare #VancouverEvents #BookClub #CurrentEvents #MeasureForMeasure

## The Great Tolstoy Mission: Session 2 —

## Hadji Murat

📍 Location: 350 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6B 6B1 (Vancouver central Library)
We are on the 4th floor room 492.
When you leave the elevator turn left and then go to the far right corner

🕰 Time: August 24th @ 11AM
📚 Hosted by: Vancouver Classics plays / novels

Our journey through Tolstoy continues.

After confronting mortality in The Death of Ivan Ilyich, we now turn to one of Tolstoy’s most gripping and underrated works — Hadji Murat, a novella he completed near the end of his life.

Set during the Russian Empire’s brutal expansion into the Caucasus, this tale follows a defiant Chechen war hero caught between two empires. Part political thriller, part philosophical meditation, it offers one of Tolstoy’s most brutal critiques of power, nationalism, and betrayal.

Come ready to discuss:

• What it means to fight for honor in a corrupt system
• Tolstoy’s complex view of Russian imperialism
• Violence and dignity — is moral purity possible in war?
• The powerful symbolism of the thistle in the final scene

This is the final short work before we begin our epic climb through War and Peace. Whether you’re reading Tolstoy for the first time or returning to him with new eyes, this is a session not to miss.

🪻 Reading length: ~90 pages
📩 RSVP to confirm your seat — and message me if you have any questions.