On January 28, the world celebrated 200 years since the publication of Jane Austen's classic
Pride & Prejudice, and the Free Library of Philadelphia played its part. They hosted an all-day event featuring lectures, film screenings and "pop-up" theatrical performances of scenes from the novel.
"The enthusiasm and inventiveness that we’re seeing now has everything to do with what’s happened in the decades since that bicentennial in 1975," Ms. Wells said by e-mail. "The beloved 1995 mini-series adaptation of 'Pride and Prejudice,' for sure, but also the influence of the Jane Austen Society of North America (founded in 1979) and of course the Internet and social media. So many people of all ages, nationalities, and walks of life now self-identify as Austen fans and are out and proud about that. They love, love, love 'P&P' and are overjoyed at any opportunity to celebrate and share that love."
Original source: The New York Times
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