The present day book club member might be surprised to learn that the concept of a reading group has been around for a long time. While many people credit Oprah Winfrey for popularizing the book club as it is recognized today, its origins can be traced back as early as the 1720s.
The Beginnings of Book Clubs
Because literacy was initially reserved for only those member's of society's upper classes, reading was not an activity that the general public could indulge in. This gave those who were literate, usually the wealthy and educated, an instant upper hand in society.
While there is some debate as to when the first book club was formed (in part because the facts are vague), Rachel Jacobsohn, author of The Reading Group Handbook, recalls a reading group comprised of " white glove-wearing, hat-wearing, tea-drinking, elitist old white women" from the late 1800s. This exclusive group was restricted to members who inherited a place among the coveted club.
Women's Roles in Traditional Book Clubs
Though men were the first gender to popularize the concept of a reading group, women followed the examples of their male counterparts. Though remaining confined to the social parameters of their sex, women slowly shifted their social activities from sewing circles and church groups to the eventual formation of their own reading groups.
Women initially resorted to book clubs as a way to socialize and discuss daily happenings. According to Jacobsohn, women in reading groups "simply came together to discuss the same issues and dilemmas that men debated". Women used the reading group as an outlet to not only socialize, but to be given an opportunity to have a voice and be heard among peers.
How Expanding Literacy Affected Book Clubs
Many outside influences affected the growth and expansion of book clubs in the twentieth century. From wars and the Great Depression to the evolution of social norms, society rapidly shifted thus enabling more opportunities for the general population. Jacobsohn notes that "free libraries and mandatory schooling also had tremendous effects on the rise" of both reading as pastime and increased literacy among society in general. The influx of immigration, according to Jacobsohn, "brought new voices to a newly diversified America".
Simply put, more literate people had access to a wealth of reading material, which naturally led to book-based conversations. These conversations naturally became more structured in the form of groups that would get together at houses of worship, book stores, schools, libraries and eventually individual home and the internet.
Literacy grew from being a privilege that few had, to a right that many had access to. Society now had a new way to make use of its increased leisure time, while still retaining a method by which to socialize and exchange ideas.
About Rachel Jacobsohn
Rachel Jacobsohn is the author of The Reading Group Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Start Your Own Book Club. She also conducts nationwide workshops to improve group dynamics and analytical reading skills within book clubs. For more information, Rachel can be contacted via email: bklvr1@mail.com.
Lisa Rufle - If I had to describe myself in one word, it would easily be: curious. So as a natural extension of my curiosity, reading is my life's ...
