January 28, 2013, marks the 200^th publication anniversary of Pride and Prejudice. In honor of the special occasion, the Free Library is hosting Pride and Prejudice at 200, a day-long celebration of the novel at Parkway Central Library, neighborhood libraries, and online at freelibrary.org!

The Library is proud to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity through our literary celebrations like Pride and Prejudice at 200 and Year of Dickens 2012. See below for a listing of events, and stay tuned to freelibrary.org for more information on the day’s activities.

• Digital Exhibition
  freelibrary.org
  The Print and Picture Collection at Parkway Central will curate a digital exhibition on freelibrary.org with images of Jane Austen and illustrations depicting the time period.


• Special Twitter Feed
  twitter.com/digitalmrdarcy
  Follow @DigitalMrDarcy on Twitter as he makes his way to Philadelphia while observing modern life (which he often finds vexing).


• Film Screening
  Lobby, Running Throughout the Day 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Throughout the afternoon in Parkway Central, the 2005 film adaptation, Pride & Prejudice, will be projected on screens in the lobby. Free and open to the public.


• First Editions at Rare Book Department
  Rare Book Department, 3rd Floor, 11:00 a.m.
  The Rare Book Department celebrates Pride and Prejudice at 200 by displaying the first American editions of other Austen classics, Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey during Monday’s public tour of the department.


• Pop-Up Performances
  Parkway Central, Two performances, 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
  Customers at Parkway Central will be entertained by pop-up performances by the Old Academy Players, directed by Carla Childs. Actors will perform scenes from Pride and Prejudice.


• Literary Salon
  Room 108, 5:30 p.m.
  Bring along your copy of Pride and Prejudice and participate in our Literary Salon. Open to long-time Austen fans and newcomers alike!   


• The Three Elizabeths
  Room 108, 6:30 p.m.
  Carrie Rickey, longtime film critic for The Philadelphia Inquirer, will talk about how Elizabeth Bennett is framed in three different versions of Pride & Prejudice, the 1941 version starring Greer Garson, the BBC version starring Jennifer Ehle, and the 2005 version starring Keira Knightley.


• Pride and Prejudice: Past, Present, and Future
  Room 108, 7:30 p.m.
  Elizabeth Steele, Vice-President for Conferences of The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) and member of  Board of Directors for both JASNA and the local region, leads a talk on the importance of Pride and Prejudice throughout its 200 years.

Note: At the Literary Salon, The Three Elizabeths presentation, and the Pride and Prejudice: Past, Present, and Future presentation, attendees will have a chance to walk away with a set of Austen-inspired books courtesty of our friends at Quirk Books!
 

In addition to the events at Parkway Central, the following will take place at our Oak Lane neighborhood library: 

• Film Screening
  Oak Lane Library, 5:45 p.m.
  Stop by Oak Lane Library for a screening of Pride and Prejudice and enjoy hot tea and biscuits as you watch!