Part of our Trouble Begins Series – “What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know. It’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” -Mark Twain

Join author and humorist Gabe Henry for a lively discussion of Enough Is Enuf: Our Failed Attempts to Make English Easier to Spell. Mixing history, humor, and linguistic curiosity, Henry dives into the comic—and sometimes tragic—history of spelling reform. From Noah Webster’s dictionary ambitions to our beloved Mark Twain’s strong support to George Bernard Shaw’s radical proposals, this book reveals the rebels who dared to suggest that thru should replace through and laf should stand in for laugh. Don’t miss this hilarious and insightful look at the quirks of the English language—because enuf is enuf!

Books are available for purchase. We are offering a ticket + book bundle, and the author will sign copies following the discussion. We are happy to offer a $5 discount for the book to ticket-only holders on the night of the event. 

Register for the event HERE.

The Trouble Begins Series is features distinguished scholars who discuss elements of the life, work, and era of Mark Twain and use them to explore wider themes in the humanities and both historical and current issues.

_____________________________________________________________

About the Author:

Gabe Henry is the author of three books including the poetry anthology Eating Salad Drunk, a humor collaboration with Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Odenkirk, Mike Birbiglia, Margaret Cho, and other titans of comedy. Eating Salad Drunk was featured in The New Yorker in February 2022 (“A Smattering of Haiku for the Burnout Age”) and ranked one of Vulture’s Best Comedy Books of 2022. Henry’s work has been published in New York Magazine, The Weekly Humorist, The New Yorker, Light Poetry Magazine, and the Motion Picture Association’s magazine The Credits. He has spent more than a decade exploring the strange and forgotten history of simplified spelling, which, by his own admission, has only made him a worse speller.

About the Moderator:

Jennifer DiCola Matos is the Administrator at the Museum of Connecticut History housed within the Connecticut State Library. She has over 20 years of experience in the museum field and has worked at such estimable organizations as Connecticut’s Old State House, the Connecticut Historical Society, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Connecticut Landmarks, and most recently, as the Executive Director of the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society from 2014-2023. Ms. Matos has a B.A. in History and Art History from the University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, CT and a M.A. in American Civilization from Brown University, Providence, RI.