Edith Wharton in 1905
(LENOX, Mass.) – Edith Wharton continues to find relevance with contemporary audiences, and popular culture continues to find relevance in the works of Edith Wharton, and The Mount – the home of Wharton – honors the acclaimed author with three special events showcasing Wharton in current-day context, beginning on Saturday, January 18, 2014, at 3pm, with pop culture journalist David Kamp in a discussion entitled “From The House of Mirth to The House of Crawley: Downton Abbey Hits The Mount.”
The second event, “Society, Scandal, and Double Standards,” on Thursday, January 23, at 6pm, is a reading and discussion with bestselling author Francesca Segal. The final event, “Fifty Shades of Lily: Wharton, Art, and Popular Culture,” on Saturday, January 25, at 3pm, is a talk by Wharton scholar Emily Orlando.
The three events will take place in the Drawing Room of The Mount on January 18, January 23, and January 25 respectively. Tickets are $5-$10, but are free for Mount members. Space is limited, and reservations are highly recommended. Visit The Mount or call 413-551-5100 to purchase tickets.
“The provocative titles were designed to make people pause and think about Wharton in a new context,” said Kelsey Mullen, public programming coordinator for The Mount. “My hope is that both long-time Wharton enthusiasts and first-time visitors to The Mount will learn something new about Edith Wharton’s writing or her life and times. This is Wharton at her freshest and most relevant.”
Young Edith Wharton
“Since January is Wharton’s birth month, we wanted to put her front and center,” said Susan Wissler, executive director. “I think Edith would be thrilled to see her writing has sustained its relevancy 76 years after her death. It’s why she is still one of America’s greatest writers.”
From The House of Mirth to the House of Crawley… Downton Abbey Hits The Mount!
January 18, 3PM, $10 general and free for Mount members
On January 18, in the heart of Downton Abbey’s fourth season on PBS, Vanity Fair editor/writer David Kamp is on hand for a lighthearted talk about his experiences with Julian Fellowes and how Fellowes’ work is informed by Wharton’s novels.
Society, Scandal, and Double Standards: A Reading and Discussion of New Year’s Day with Francesca Segal
January 23, 6PM, $5 general and free for Mount members
Acclaimed author Francesca Segal, author of The Innocents, a novel inspired by Wharton’s The Age of Innocence, will read from New Year’s Day (the Seventies) in the Drawing Room on the eve of Wharton’s 152nd birthday.
Fifty Shades of Lily: Wharton, Art, and Popular Culture
January 25, 3PM, $10 general and free for Mount members
Edith Wharton’s 152nd birthday is marked with a special lecture by Wharton scholar Emily Orlando.. Orlando will discuss the secret to Wharton’s enduring popularity, making connections to contemporary culture, art, and even Lady Gaga. Considering Lily Bart’s tableau vivant in The House of Mirth as a turning point in the writer’s work, Orlando will discuss the ways in which Wharton resonates in our 21st-century world.
The Mount is located at 2 Plunkett Street in Lenox, MA. Open daily May-October. The grounds are open to public from dawn to dusk November-April. Special events, lectures, and performances are hosted throughout the year. Visit The Mount for more information or call 413-551-5110.