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Wednesday, December 30

Jane Austen Memorabilia at the Morgan Library Gift Shop

Janeites who are lucky enough to live within a day's drive of New York City and the exhibit at the J. Pierpont Morgan Library, and who have yet to see A Woman's Wit: Jane Austen's Life and Legacy, have until March 14, 2010 to make the trek. My visit was well worth while, and I shall be writing about my experience all next week. Meanwhile, you can visit the exhibit vicariously by clicking on this link. My only disappointment? No catalogue about the exhibit was for sale. While the online links are extensive, much of the fascinating text from the exhibit is missing. Perhaps the information will be added after A Woman's Wit has run its course.

The gift shop did have this merchandise for sale. The most surprising offerings were the mash up novels, which I feel have no place in a museum gift shop. A gag or humor shop, perhaps, but not among such August company.







Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World

7 comments:

ChaChaneen said...

I completely agree about the 'other' books. ha ha

Looking forward to visiting this week and experiencing it all through your enthusiasm and humor. Take your time, don't want to miss a thing!

Deb said...

Oh Vic! so glad that you got to go to the exhibit! Wasn't it fabulous to see all the letters? I felt as though Jane was looking right over my shoulder...I went a few weeks ago, but alas! have not had a moment to write anything yet - I look forward to your commentary! I agree about the catalogue - I was disppointed as well - and do hope that they publish something after the fact.

As for the maash-ups - I was surprised also, laughed out loud really! - just think they were trying to cover all their bases of possible patrons. I walked into Urban outfitters last week and almost fainted when I saw the P&P Zombies and S&S Monsters displayed in a prominant spot - I still say, it is great if it gets people reading the real stuff - but oh! how I am sick of that zombie cover!

Will check back next week...
Deb

Deb said...

Oh, and Happy New Year to you Vic!

Tammy said...

Oh I so agree about the "other" books. I look forward to reading what you have to share next week.

Happy New Year

JessC said...

I loved the exhibit. I was there last weekend! I, too, was disappointed in the gift shop. I was hoping for a lovely print of the illustrations by Elizabeth Bishop (did I get the name right?). Oh well!

Anonymous said...

So glad you got a chance to visit the exhibition, Vic! Wasn't it marvelous? I could've spent all day in that room with her letters and manuscripts.

I agree with you about the gift shop. I bought a few Austen-related things, but already owned lot of the books they had. Maybe they carry the mash-up books to appeal to younger visitors who saw the exhibit and want to give an Austen novel a try, but only if it has monsters in it. =P

Adriana Sales Zardini said...

Snif... I won't have a chance to see it! :(