Characters to Contemplate

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The year is 1815, and Jane Austen has just returned from a visit to the Prince Regent’s London residence. The honor of this invitation prompts her to reminisce about the events that led the daughter of a country clergyman to a position of such prominence. She shares her thoughts and feelings about her novels and how their publication changed her life for ever.

The day is March 4th, 1825, and on this day of her husband's inauguration as the 6th president of the United States, Louisa reflects on the events of her tumultuous life in the public eye. From her childhood in England and France, to her adventures as the wife of an American diplomat in Europe where she charmed heads of state from Berlin to St. Petersburg, Louisa’s memories provide a glimpse into international politics during the Age of Revolutions.

The year is 1853: Charlotte has recently published Villette, her third, and most personal, novel.  The remarkable writer reflects on her extraordinary family, unconventional education, and the life-changing experience in Brussels that inspired her most recent novel.  

Learn about the hardships faced by single women in the 19th century who attempt to make a living and, possibly, a name for themselves as authors.

The year is 1855 and preparations to return from Europe to her home in Weymouth, MA, prompt Maria Weston Chapman to think back on her childhood in Weymouth, and on the turbulent early days of her work with the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society. She reflects on how her passion for the cause of Abolition, to which she has devoted her life, took her from Boston to New York to the capitals of Europe, in pursuit of justice.

This year is 1814 as Dolley welcomes the audience to a reception at The Octagon House.  Dolley shares a glimpse into the life of a political hostess in Washington City, and into her unexpected adventures during the War of 1812.  She reflects on the courageous and creative life that has taken her to the center of society in the capital.

The year is 1788. Abigail and John Adams have just returned from Europe, where John has served as an American envoy to France and then to England. When greeted with the news that the new United States' Constitution has finally been ratified and that the first Presidential election is at hand, Abigail looks back over her life at the center of the challenging and inspiring events that led to the creation of this new nation.