The Boston Public Library is set to host its 27th annual Hundred-Year Book Debate on February 10, 2024, a lively event that challenges the traditional perception of libraries as quiet spaces. This year, local literary experts will passionately argue the merits of three influential works published in 1926, culminating in a vote to determine the evening’s champion.
The debate, which first took place in 1999, has a history of spirited discussions. Previous iterations have featured classics such as Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening,” which triumphed over Henry James’s “The Awkward Age” and Frank Norris’s “McTeague: A Story of San Francisco.” Notable participants in the past have included authors like Tom Perrotta and Robert Pinsky.
Hilary Justice, a scholar at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, will advocate for Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises,” while Regie Gibson, the Commonwealth’s First Poet Laureate, will champion Langston Hughes’s debut poetry collection, “The Weary Blues.” Jackie C. Horne, a professor at Simmons University, will represent the beloved children’s classic “Winnie-the-Pooh” by A.A. Milne.
Following each advocate’s presentation, moderator Kennedy Elsey will facilitate a dynamic discussion, inviting questions from the audience. Attendees, whether present in person or joining via Zoom, will participate in the voting process through a QR code, with the winner announced at the event’s conclusion. The prize? According to Lisa Fagin Davis, chair of the Hundred-Year Book Debate committee, it amounts to “bragging rights,” along with a gift certificate to a local bookstore.
Elsey, who has hosted the debate five times, expressed her personal connection to the library. “When I moved to Boston, the library was one of the first places I went,” she shared. The debate not only promotes literary appreciation but also fosters community engagement.
For Amanda Doyle-Bouvier, the newly appointed head of the Associates of the Boston Public Library, the event presents an opportunity to showcase the library’s extensive Special Collections. “We have first-edition copies of all three titles in the BPL Special Collections,” she noted, highlighting that the Milne and Hughes collections are even signed by their authors.
The Associates support the Special Collections with over $1.2 million annually, funding conservation and staffing efforts. Doyle-Bouvier emphasized the importance of access to these artifacts for researchers and authors alike. “It’s important that we continue to lift up history and the lessons contained within these cultural artifacts,” she said.
Davis added that the debate serves to connect modern readers with historical texts. The event encourages audience participation, including creative attire and signs, creating an energetic atmosphere filled with applause and excitement.
Looking ahead to this year’s debate, predictions remain uncertain. Last year, many expected F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” to win, but Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway” took the prize in a surprising upset. Elsey noted, “Every year, I think I know who’s going to win, and every year I’m wrong. And that’s what makes it so fun!”
The Hundred-Year Book Debate will begin at 18:00 in Rabb Hall at the Central Library in Copley Square. While admission is free, advance reservations are required through Eventbrite. This spirited celebration of literature promises to engage audiences and highlight the enduring relevance of classic works.
