Inside Edith Wharton's Library

The OLLI Distinguished Speakers Series presents
Anne Schuyler and Nynke Dorhout:

Inside Edith Wharton's Library

Tuesday, January 24 at 7:00 p.m. EST

Online via Zoom 

In her memoir, A Backward Glance (1934), Edith Wharton wrote, "The core of my life was under my own roof, among my books and my intimate friends." Wharton's extraordinary 2,700-volume library is housed at The Mount, in Lenox, Massachusetts—the historic home she designed and built in 1902. Known predominantly for her books Ethan Frome, The House of Mirth, and The Age of Innocence, Wharton was an extremely prolific and popular author. Edith Wharton's library is a testament to her lifelong hunger for learning, the key to her closest friendships, and the expression of a supremely imaginative life. Edith started reading as a little girl, and tirelessly expanded her libraries for her homes in Newport, Lenox, and, ultimately, France. Her library at The Mount is a highlight for visitors, and very much alive today. Personal inscriptions by friends such as Henry James and Theodore Roosevelt, as well as markings in the author’s own hand, provide a rare and intimate glimpse into Wharton's thoughts and feelings over 100 years ago. Director of Visitor Services Anne Schuyler and Librarian Nynke Dorhout will recount the journey of Edith Wharton's library, and share the stories of some of its most surprising treasures.

Nynke Dorhout holds a Master of Arts degree from Leiden University and for ten years was Assistant Collections Manager at Harvard University’s Peabody Museum. As librarian, she assists researchers from around the world, directs inventory and preservation projects, gives specialized library tours and contributes to programs, online content, and exhibits. Anne Schuyler is The Mount’s Director of Visitor Services and Interpretation. Anne has produced multiple exhibits and developed online programs such as the book clubs and Library Conversations. She holds a Bachelor’s from the University of Virginia and a Professional Certificate in Public History from Northeastern University in Boston.

This event will be recorded.

Admission is $10 for OLLI at BCC and Berkshire Museum members, and $15 for the general public.  Admission is free for Berkshire Community College students, youth 17 and under, and those holding WIC, EBT/SNAP, or ConnectorCare cards.

Pre-registration is required. Register safely and securely online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9am-4pm) to register by phone with a credit card.