Residents are invited to attend the Northborough Historical Society’s monthly meeting on Friday for a discussion on New England authors and their cultural significance. The program, entitled “New England Authors in the Making of the Modern World,” will be presented by local historian Roger Kolb, creator of New England Armchair Tours. He will discuss writers who introduced ideas, attitudes, and trends that define the modern world. The meeting will be held at the Historical Society building, 50 Main St.,  at 7:30 p.m. The event is free.