Wylie's Smith Library will recreate a day in the world of Jane Austen's England when "A Day with Jane' is held Saturday, April 1, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Experience a day in the life of Lizzie, Emma and other beloved Jane Austen characters through lectures, crafts, sports and activities. Begin the day learning about life in Regency-era England. Historian Jann Patterson Mackey will speak about Austen's homes and haunts, as well as important houses that likely inspired those seen in her works and used as filming locations for movie versions of her books.
Mackey holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Art History and Foreign Languages from SMU, an MBA from Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management, a Master of Liberal Arts degree from SMU, and a Ph.D. in Humanities from the University of Texas at Dallas. In 2006, she was awarded a fellowship from the Royal Oaks Society, The British National Trust and The Attingham Trust to conduct an in-depth study of British country houses.
After the lecture, try your hand (and feet) at sports of the day, such as bocce, similar to lawn bowling, or pickleball, a racquet sport with roots in tennis and badminton.
Choose between afternoon breakout sessions, including Learning Ribbon Embroidery. Susan Fain will show you how to embellish clothing and accessories with basic stitches that are the basis for more complex designs. Supplies are provided. An avid embroiderer, Fain hosts the Regency Sewing Circle for the Jane Austen Society of North America, North Texas region.
Dr. Dallie Clark offers Letter Writing: Austen Style, an introduction to letter writing in the Regency era, with a look at Austen's own letters. If you participate in this session, you'll have time to practice with tips you've learned for writing your own letters. Supplies provided. Clark is a humanities professor at Collin College, who holds a doctorate in humanities from UTD, a master's degree from SMU, and a bachelor's degree from the University of South Alabama.
Everyone convenes for Abigail Malone's English country dance session in the afternoon. She'll teach the type of dances seen in such miniseries as "Price and Prejudice." Although a dance with Mr. Darcy can't be promised, a good time will be had by all. Malone leads an English country dance group of several hundred people in Allen.
The event is free, and lunch is included. Costumes are greatly admired but not required. Register through Eventbrite.com or call 972-516-6250, option 3. This event is for teens and adults.
Smith Library is located in the Wylie Municipal Complex, 300 Country Club Rd., Bldg. 300, Wylie. Call 972-516-6250 for more information.