This January (2012) help us celebrate our author birthday of the month, Edith Wharton!
Edith Wharton nee Edith Newbold Jones was born on January 24th, 1862 and we will be dedicating the whole month of January to her. She was the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, The Age of Innocence and she wrote a total of 22, at least 85 short stories, 9 nonfiction books, and 3 collections of poetry. Not only was she involved in literary works, but she was highly regarded as a gardener and an interior designer. The term “Keeping up with the Joneses” was apparently coined about her father’s well-to-do family, and she relied on her keen observations of New York’s upper-middle class for much of her work. Each week will be dedicated to one of her works and the book club will meet every Friday night to discuss her works. Feel free to come to any and all events!
Here is a list of the scheduled events:
Wednesday January 4th 6:00: We will have an avid historian and literary critic of Edith Wharton come to the library and speak about her life. Topics will cover her childhood and young adult life in the high class New York Society, her unsuccessful marriage to Edward Wharton and her love affair with Morton Fullerton, her friendship with Henry James and other notable writers, her use of space, design, and fashion in her novels, and her influence in interior design and architecture.Saturday January 7th 7:00: We will be showing Scorsese's film The Age of Innocence (1993), starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Winona Ryder. Free popcorn and pop! Movie Trailer
Friday January 13th 8:00: The book club will discuss The House of Mirth. We encourage you to view the illustrations to the first edition of her novel here. Snacks included.Saturday January 14th 7:00: We will be showing The House of Mirth (2000), starring Gillian Anderson and Dan Aykroyd. Free popcorn and pop! Movie Trailer
Friday January 20th 8:00: The book club will be discussing Ethan Frome. The discussion will focus on the similarities to Wharton's life. Snacks included.
Tuesday January 24th 6:00: Happy Birthday Edith Wharton! Come to the library for some cake to celebrath Edith Wharton's birthday. The library will host a trivia night all about Wharton, her life and her works!
Friday January 27th 8:00: The book club will dsicuss The Old Maid. Snacks included.
Saturday January 28th 7:00: We will be showing The Old Maid (1939) starring Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins and George Brent. Free popcorn and pop! Movie Trailer
