Library to Host Hobart History Professor for Book Talk

Tompkins County Public Library will host Clifton Hood, professor of history at Hobart and William Smith College’s for a discussion of his latest book, “In Pursuit of Privilege: A History of New York City’s Upper Class and the Making of a Metropolis,” Monday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Published in 2016, “In Pursuit of Privilege” offers a cultural history of New York City’s upper class from the mid-18^th century to the present.  During his discussion of the book, Hood will draw connections between today’s upper-elite and the historical role they have played in American life.

“The bulk of the talk is a comparison of the Gilded Age upper class with what I call the anti-elitist elite of today,” Hood said. “I start by talking about elites and anti-elitism with reference to Trump and the November election, using that to say that elites have an important role to play in American life and that we ought to subject the history of elites to scrutiny.”

Hood, who has also researched New York City’s subway system, has earned national recognition for his work and research in recent weeks. A member of the Hobart and William Smith faculty since 1992. He is currently working on a third book that examines imposters.

Hood’s Library talk is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Teresa Vadakin at tvadakin@tcpl.org.