All Of It: Celebrating Jane Austen with Juliet Wells

Podcast Information:

• Title: All Of It
• Host: Alison Stewart
• Producer: WNYC
• Description: ALL OF IT is a show about culture and its consumers, aiming to engage thinkers, doers, makers, and creators in discussions about the what and why of their work. The show focuses on the diverse cultural landscape of New York City and beyond.

Episode:

• Title: Classics Week: A New Exhibit Honors Jane Austen
• Release Date: August 12, 2025

Introduction to the Exhibit

In this episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart delves into Classics Week, dedicating the discussion to celebrating literary classics, with a spotlight on Jane Austen. To mark her enduring legacy and 250th birthday, the Morgan Library and Museum is showcasing a special exhibit titled "A Lively Jane Austen at 250." This exhibition features rare manuscripts, personal items from Austen's home, and artifacts from private collections worldwide, running until September 14th.

Meet the Guest: Juliet Wells

Joining Alison in the studio is Juliet Wells, a Professor of Literary Studies at Goucher College and co-curator of the A Lively Jane Austen at 250 exhibit.

[00:09] Alison Stewart: This is All Of It on WNYC. I'm Alison Stewart. All week we're celebrating literary classics and today we continue with Jane Austen.

[01:21] Juliet Wells: Oh, it's a pleasure to be here.

Juliet Wells’ Journey with Jane Austen

Juliet shares her personal journey with Jane Austen, revealing how her interest sparked during her junior year of high school when she chose to read "Emma" for her AP English class.

[01:44] Juliet Wells: I was a junior in high school. [...] my AP English teacher gave us a choice of novels to read and I chose Emma and that was the beginning.

Her passion for Austen led her to author books on the subject and eventually co-curate the current exhibit.

The Relevance of Jane Austen in 2025

Juliet emphasizes the timelessness of Austen's work, highlighting its universal appeal across different ages and backgrounds. She appreciates how modern platforms like TikTok have introduced Austen to new audiences, bridging the gap between classic literature and contemporary culture.

[02:16] Juliet Wells: It's important to think about Jane Austen in 2025 because her works still resonate with readers around the world, readers of all ages, readers of all walks of life.

Modern Engagement: Austen on TikTok

Exploring Austen's presence on TikTok, Juliet notes the platform's role in popularizing various film and TV adaptations of her novels, thereby inspiring new generations to engage with her literature.

[02:40] Juliet Wells: There's some very smart TikToks out there. [...] Clueless, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. [...] those all still matter to people.

Understanding Austen Through Her Personal Life

Juliet discusses how understanding Austen's personal life enriches the reading experience, providing insights into the inspiration behind her realistic characters and settings.

[03:20] Juliet Wells: Jane Austen's realism to us can seem like another planet sometimes because it is more than 200 years away and geographically quite distant. But to her contemporaries, the characters they were reading about would have seemed like people that they knew.

Student Perspectives on Jane Austen

Speaking from her experience teaching, Juliet shares how her students approach Austen's work, often encountering challenges with her narrative style but ultimately finding value in her storytelling techniques.

[04:59] Juliet Wells: Some of my students are creative writers themselves [...] She often tells rather than shows. Sometimes she has challenging first chapters [...] but we talk together and it gets easier.

The Alberta Burke Collection: A Treasure Trove

A significant highlight of the exhibit is the Alberta Burke collection, donated to the Morgan Library and Goucher College in 1975. Juliet explains Burke's lifelong dedication to collecting Jane Austen memorabilia, including rare editions, translations, and ephemera.

[07:48] Juliet Wells: ...Alberta Burke died and bequeathed her massive, wide-ranging, very special Jane Austen collection to two institutions [...] original artworks on paper. [...]

Designing the Exhibit: Evoking Austen’s Home

The exhibit's aesthetic is thoughtfully designed to reflect Jane Austen's home in Chawton, England. Using historic reproduction wallpaper and design elements, the exhibit immerses visitors in the Regency-era environment that inspired Austen's writing.

[09:04] Juliet Wells: ...the green pattern that you see when you enter [...] evokes the outdoors that were so special to Austen. [...] bringing the outdoors in, I think.

Exploring Austen’s Letters

A pivotal aspect of the exhibit is the display of Austen's letters to her sister Cassandra, offering a window into their close relationship and Austen's personal thoughts. Juliet highlights a particular letter where Jane writes:

[14:28] Juliet Wells: "I can no more forget S and S (Sense and Sensibility) than a mother can forget her sucking child." [14:28]

These letters reveal Austen's vibrant personality and her dedication to her craft.

The Craft of Letter Writing in Austen’s Time

Juliet provides an informative explanation of how letters were composed and sent during Austen's era, emphasizing the artistry involved in written correspondence.

[15:30] Juliet Wells: [...] you have a rectangular sheet of paper and you fold it in half like a greeting card. [...] sealed it with sealing wax or a wafer. [...] at the Morgan, all of these sheets now live flat. They've been conserved.

Collaborating with Chawton House

The collaboration between the Morgan Library and Chawton House ensured a diverse and comprehensive collection for the exhibit. Juliet discusses the logistics of loaning items from various institutions to create a rich narrative of Austen's life and work.

[17:05] Alison Stewart: The exhibit features items from Jane Austen's home in Chawton, England. How did you work with the Morgan and the Chawton house to decide what could be displayed?

[17:17] Juliet Wells: [...] we were authorized to request loans from a dozen different institutions.

Highlighting Iconic Austen Artifacts

Among the exhibition's most coveted items is the turquoise ring associated with Austen, which has never left the United States and was previously owned by Kelly Clarkson.

[17:33] Juliet Wells: [...] that is a thrill for Jane Austen lovers to see in person. That ring has never traveled outside the United States. It was briefly owned by Kelly Clarkson [...]

Ambition and Aspiration: Austen's Early Writing

Juliet underscores Austen's ambition, noting her dedication to writing even as a teenager. Austen meticulously crafted her works to resemble published novels, demonstrating her commitment to her literary aspirations from a young age.

[19:07] Alison Stewart: It was really interesting that you used the word ambitious.

[19:10] Juliet Wells: [...] What sets Jane Austen apart is that she was practicing being a published author even in her teenage years [...]

Jane Austen’s Personal Choices and Legacy

Austen's decision to remain unmarried is explored, highlighting how it afforded her the freedom to write without the constraints that marriage might have imposed during her time.

[20:40] Alison Stewart: She remained unmarried, though.

[20:41] Juliet Wells: Yes, she did. [...] had she married him, in all probability she would have been the mother of many children and she quite likely would not have had the time and freedom to do much writing. At all.

Adaptations: Fidelity to the Source

The conversation touches on various Austen adaptations, discussing their accuracy and the essence they capture from her novels. Juliet expresses admiration for adaptations like Clueless, which, despite being set in a different era and location, successfully convey the spirit of Austen's storytelling.

[22:03] Juliet Wells: The way you feel when you watch it and what you think about when you think about it maps on pretty well to Emma.

The Delayed Recognition of Austen’s Genius

Finally, Juliet addresses why Jane Austen’s work was not fully appreciated during her lifetime, attributing it to her subtle storytelling and focus on everyday life rather than sensational plots. This approach, while not immediately popular, has cemented her works as enduring classics.

[22:46] Juliet Wells: She was so subtle. [...] she concentrated on everyday events, realistic, recognizable characters. [...] it is a recipe for works that last.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Alison Stewart reiterating the details of the A Lively Jane Austen at 250 exhibit and encouraging listeners to visit.

[23:34] Alison Stewart: The exhibition is called A Lively Jane Austen at 250. It is on exhibition at the Morgan Library and Museum until September 14th. Juliet Wells is one of the co-curators. Juliet, thanks for joining us.

Juliet expresses her gratitude before the episode transitions to an advertisement segment, which, as per guidelines, is omitted from this summary.

Key Takeaways:

• Austen’s Enduring Legacy: Jane Austen remains a beloved figure in literature, with her works continuously resonating with modern audiences.
• Exhibit Highlights: The Morgan Library's exhibit features rare manuscripts, personal artifacts, and contributions from passionate collectors like Alberta Burke.
• Modern Engagement: Platforms like TikTok have revitalized interest in Austen, introducing her to younger generations through creative adaptations and discussions.
• Personal Insights: Understanding Austen’s personal life and her relationship with her sister Cassandra enriches the appreciation of her novels.
• Design and Presentation: The exhibit's design meticulously reflects Austen’s Regency-era home, creating an immersive experience for visitors.
• Lasting Influence: Austen's focus on realistic characters and everyday life, while not immediately popular, has ensured her stories’ longevity and relevance.

Notable Quotes:

• "It's important to think about Jane Austen in 2025 because her works still resonate with readers around the world, readers of all ages, readers of all walks of life." — Juliet Wells [02:16]
• "The way you feel when you watch it and what you think about when you think about it maps on pretty well to Emma." — Juliet Wells [22:03]
• "This is not a recipe for fame and bestsellerdom, I think, then or now, but it is a recipe for works that last." — Juliet Wells [23:16]

Visit the Exhibit: For those interested in exploring Jane Austen’s life and legacy further, the A Lively Jane Austen at 250 exhibit is available at the Morgan Library and Museum until September 14th.