Join American Ancestors Curator of Special Collections and beloved raconteur Curt DiCamillo for a richly illustrated lecture and tea revealing the fanciful world of the English country house as written about by Jane Austen. This fun-filled and entertaining event will take place at the Chilton Club, where there will be a delicious tea and camaraderie with fellow enthusiasts.

From Plinth to Pen: How the English Country House Inspired the Writings of Jane Austen

Perhaps no novelist inspired the idealized vision of the English country house more than Jane Austen. Through her sublime writing we are left with romantic images of great houses set in gorgeous landscapes populated by people—flawed and wonderful—who find common ground with decency and kindness. The reality is that Jane herself visited many of the great houses of England and used them as models in almost all of her books. This lecture will examine country houses that inspired Jane and left us with a fanciful world of English rural beauty unequaled in literature.

Please note that the Chilton Club has a dress code of appropriate club dress for women and collared shirt and jacket for men. For more information about this, please consult their website here: https://www.chiltonclub.org/guest-information