Valentine’s Day Celebration and Talk: Cassandra Austen

Cassandra Austen played an important role in the legacy of her novelist sister. Janine Barchas (one of the three curators of the Grolier’s Paper Jane exhibition) will talk about things learned from mounting the exhibition, share some of her research about Cassandra, as well as dare to make a few predictions about what’s next for Jane Austen fans.

Janine Barchas holds the Chancellor’s Council Centennial Professorship in the Book Arts at the University of Texas at Austin. She has authored three books about Jane Austen, including The Novel Life of Jane Austen, a graphic biography with illustrator Isabel Greenberg.

Founded in 1884, the Grolier Club is America’s oldest and largest society for bibliophiles and enthusiasts in the graphic arts. Named for Jean Grolier (1489 or 90-1565), the Renaissance collector renowned for sharing his library with friends, the Club’s objective is to promote “the study, collecting, and appreciation of books and works on paper.” Through the concerted efforts of an international network of over eight hundred members—book and print collectors, antiquarian book dealers, librarians, designers, fine printers, binders, and other artisans—the Grolier Club pursues this mission through its library, its public exhibitions and lectures, and its long and distinguished series of publications.