Calling all pre-schoolers! Come play with us on the last Thursday morning of every month. We’ll read a story together and then embark on a treasure hunt through the Rosenbach brothers’ glitzy Rittenhouse Square home to discover things that relate to the story. Afterward, families are welcome to join us in our activity room for hands-on art making activities, creative play, music and snacks.
In this four-week course, participants will explore popular literary dystopias, from 1984 and The Handmaids’ Tale to “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” and M.T. Anderson’s Feed. We’ll look at the language of dystopia, how authors across the twentieth and twenty-first centuries examine dystopian societies, and more.
The game is afoot to ferret out the realm of detective and spy literature at the Rosenbach. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to explore early mystery stories, examine an original cypher belonging to a female Civil War spy, and exercise your sleuthing skills to detect a forgery.
Charles Dickens’ Bleak House lives up to its title, exploring the bleakest parts of London and the dark desires of its inhabitants. The novel opens in fog, then takes the reader into the circuitous byways of the slum Tom-all-Alone’s and the through the interminable legal case of Jarndyce v. Jarndyce.
This course revisits Milton to recover a complex presentation of female agency in Comus, Paradise Lost, and Samson Agonistes. Even as we consider Milton in his own cultural context, we will examine how the Lady, Eve, and Dalila transcend their historical moment to speak eloquently and powerfully to the inequities, prejudices, and oppressions of our ours.
The Rosenbacchanal is the Rosenbach’s annual gala. Proceeds from the Rosenbacchanal benefit our incredible collection and help us continue to provide exciting exhibitions and programs that explore and celebrate it. This year we celebrate the intricate mysteries crafted by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in collaboration with our Clever Criminals and Daring Detectives exhibition. To learn more or purchase tickets, please call Kelsey Bates at 215-732-1600 x122, or email at [email protected]
“It is not down in any map; true places never are.” So says Ishamel in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. Join us for a look at the Rosenbach’s mighty Melville collection. We’ll explore letters and original editions of Melville’s novels to find some of the true places of his life and work.
During this hour-long thematic tour of the Rosenbach brothers’ home, you’ll hear dramatic, playful, and sometimes scandalous tales of love behind fine art or rare books in our collection. Bring a date, bring a friend, or just bring yourself to explore the comedy and tragedy of love this May.
Reading Shakespeare plays aloud not only offers a communal way to enjoy these great works but promotes a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s poetry and wordplay. No acting experience is required to participate—just bring your voice!
Heralded as one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, Ulysses is also considered one of the most daunting. The Rosenbach offers a welcoming discussion-based environment and unparalleled access to primary resource materials from our James Joyce collection to deepen readers’ understanding of the text and the author himself. First-time Ulysses readers and returning fans alike are welcome in either group.