Course Description

Join Author Lynn Cullen for an in the classroom presentation and discussion about her book: The Woman with The Cure. 

Wednesday, August 16th at 11:15am - 12:45pm.

A riveting novel based on the true story of the woman who stopped a pandemic, from the bestselling author of MRS. POE.

OLLI’s Next Chapter book club invites you to enjoy a FREE presentation by author Lynn Cullen.  We will meet in an OLLI classroom Wednesday, August 16th 11:15-12:45.  The successful author of seven novels, Lynn will discuss her most recent historical fiction, “The Woman With the Cure”.  It was just released this past February.  You have heard of Dr. Salk, you have heard of Dr. Sabin…now you will learn about Dr. Dorothy Horstmann who was denied recognition as a devoted researcher in discovering the cure for polio.  This is such an enlightening book about that time period.

 As this is the current selection of our book club, many of us have really enjoyed reading it.  It is apparent that Lynn thoroughly researches her topics.  Having read the book is not a prerequisite to attending this class but it will enhance the experience.  We would like to share this interesting and entertaining presentation with others.  Please feel free to join us!  Register on the OLLI one day class opportunities so that we know how many folks to expect.  There is no charge.  We look forward to seeing you then!

Next Chapter is one of four book clubs offered through OLLI.  We organized at the beginning of the pandemic and found it a wonderful opportunity to connect with others via Zoom.  We meet on the second Friday 1:00-2:30 in the classroom only.  We have men as women participating.  Books we look forward to reading and discussing in the Fall are:  “Hello Beautiful”, “When Breath Becomes Air”, “Slow Horses”, “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” and “Demon Copperhead”.  If you think you might be interested in joining one of the book clubs, please reach out to the OLLI Office.

The Woman with The Cure:

In 1940s and ’50s America, polio is as dreaded as the atomic bomb. No one’s life is untouched by this disease that kills or paralyzes its victims, particularly children. Outbreaks of the virus across the country regularly put American cities in lockdown. Some of the world’s best minds are engaged in the race to find a vaccine. The man who succeeds will be a god.

But Dorothy Horstmann is not focused on beating her colleagues to the vaccine. She just wants the world to have a cure. Applying the same determination that lifted her from a humble background as the daughter of immigrants, to becoming a doctor –often the only woman in the room–she hunts down the monster where it lurks: in the blood.

This discovery of hers, and an error by a competitor, catapults her closest colleague to a lead in the race. When his chance to win comes on a worldwide scale, she is asked to sink or validate his vaccine—and to decide what is forgivable, and how much should be sacrificed, in pursuit of the cure.

Bio: Lynn Cullen is the national bestselling author of historical novels The Woman with the Cure, Mrs. Poe, The Sisters of Summit Avenue, Twain’s End, The Creation of Eve, Reign of Madness, and I Am Rembrandt’s Daughter.

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