The Celtic Muse: Afternoon Tea, Scones, and Celtic Harp with Dr. Alexander Lawrence Ames
How can rare books and special collections like those held at The Rosenbach speak to modern-day American life? Why are material artifacts important in understanding our cultures’ history and future? In the first episode of The Rosenbach Podcast, join host Dr. Alexander Lawrence Ames for an evocative voyage into The Rosenbach’s collections of American and British history and literature. Dr. Ames introduces books on The Rosenbach’s shelves by famous authors Edna St. Vincent Millay and Sir Walter Scott to consider representations of gender and family in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, before reflecting on what the work of Edna St. Vincent Millay has to teach us about the economic and social labor of women—mothers in particular—as the United States grapples with the economic hardships laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. Celtic harp music featured in this episode was arranged, performed, and recorded by Dr. Ames.
Interested in baking some festive scones to enjoy this winter season? Check out a few of Dr. Ames’s favorite seasonal recipes: Cranberry Apricot Scones, Cranberry Pumpkin Scones, Merry Christmas Scones.