THE LITERARY CANON CLUB. · TROUBADOUR STUDIO · EST. 2018
Read the Stories
That Built America
A monthly live discussion club for serious readers. Every session explores a masterwork of American short literature, poetry and cinema—guided by Kirk Barbera, educator, literary critic, writer and founder of The Literary Canon Club.
2026 READING SERIES
America: Literary Inventions
(And Its Discontents)
Every great nation tells stories about itself. In 2026, we'll read the stories that invented America—its legends, its fears, its humor, its moral conscience, and even its holidays. Each month explores a different act of literary creation: the moment a writer gave America a piece of its own identity, and the shadows that came with it. This is America's 250th year. Let's read what built it.
LIVE MONTHLY SESSION
One 90-minute live Zoom discussion per month. Real conversation, real depth.
ALL RECORDINGS
Every session recorded. Catch up any time, keep them forever.
PRIVATE COMMUNITY
A private forum of serious readers — no noise, only conversation worth having.
FILM & POETRY PAIRINGS
Each month pairs its core text with a companion poem and a recommended film.
COURSE DISCOUNTS
Members receive 30% off all Troubadour Studio courses.
MONTHLY READING SCHEDULE
Six Months. Six Inventions.
Sessions begin Sunday July 19th 2026. Readings are approximately 75-100 pages per month.
Sessions run on the third Sunday of the month at 8:00 AM PST/11:00AM EST
Each Session has a main text an optional poem and an recommended film.
JULY 2026 · MONTH I
America Invents Its Legends
TEXTS Washington Irving — Rip Van Winkle & The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
POEM Henry Wadsworth Longfellow "Paul Revere's Ride"
FILM The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (John Ford, 1962)
October 2026 · MONTH IV
America Invents the Gothic
TEXTS Edgar Allan Poe The Fall of the House of Usher & The Masque of the Red Death
POEM Edgar Allan Poe "The Raven"
FILM The Haunting of Hill House (Mike Flanagan, 2018, Netflix mini-series)
August 2026 · MONTH II
America Invents Science Fiction
TEXTS Nathaniel Hawthorne — The Birthmark, Dr. Heidegger's Experiment & Rappaccini's Daughter
POEM Edgar Allan Poe "Sonnet—To Science"
FILM Gattaca (Andrew Niccol, 1997)
November 2026 · MONTH V
America and the Lie It Tells Itself
TEXTS Mark Twain The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg
POEM Edwin Arlington Robinson "Richard Cory"
FILM The Music Man (Morton DaCosta, 1962)
September 2026 · MONTH III
America Refuses to Look
TEXTS Herman Melville Benito Cereno
POEM Herman Melville "The Portent"
FILM The Searchers (John Ford, 1956)
December 2026 · MONTH VI
America Invents Christmas
TEXTS Washington Irving Christmas Eve & Christmas Day (from The Sketch Book); O. Henry The Gift of the Magi
POEM Clement Clarke Moore "A Visit from St. Nicholas"
FILM Miracle on 34th Street (George Seaton, 1947)
What Members Say
From the Club
It has been a thrilling journey to read through the Western Canon. As part of the Literary Canon Club, I have the encouragement to read classics that I have always known about and highly interested in — even some I didn't know about. It is especially insightful to discuss our reading experience as a group and share what we've learned.
Marco Romero
Real Estate Investor
In a world where literature is not easily accessible, the LCC makes it easy to open a treasure chest of valuable artistry. The group is welcoming and Kirk is knowledgeable and inviting. If you have not sampled the Literary Canon Club, have a taste!
Ann Ciccolella
Artistic Director, Austin Shakespeare
Is this a "great books" club — or a GREAT books club? She chose the latter.
Molly Johnson
YOUR GUIDE
Kirk Barbera
Kirk Barbera is a literary educator, media producer, and the founder of Troubadour Studio. He has led readers through Homer, Greek tragedy, Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, and Melville, and now brings that same depth of engagement to the great works of American literature.
His approach is rigorous but never academic: every session is a live conversation designed to make the text feel urgent, alive, and personally meaningful. He believes the Western canon is not a museum piece, but it's a toolkit for understanding the world and what made it.
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Founder of the Literary Canon Club, established 2020
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Author of a modern verse translation of Homer’s Iliad
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Board Member and Actor, Austin Shakespeare
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Founder of Troubadour Studio, including the Troubadour YouTube education channel and Troubadour Reacts!
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16 years teaching, lecturing, and leading in-person and online discussions on literature, drama, poetry, mythology, film, and the Western canon
MEMBERSHIP
Simple, Affordable, Cancel Anytime.
One price. Everything included. No long-term commitment.
Best Value
Literary Canon Club
25
Every month
Valid until canceled
One live 90-minute Zoom discussion per month
Access to all session recordings
Private member community
Monthly reading guide with text and context notes
Companion poem + film recommendation each month
30% discount on all Troubadour Studio courses
Priority access to the upcoming Shakespeare Seminar
