The Men Who Saved the World | Stories & Strings from the Great War

Join us this Veterans Day for a dramatic reading of Edith Wharton’s newly published wartime story, The Men Who Saved the World, discovered in the archives of Yale’s Beinecke Library. Performed by acclaimed actor Anne Undeland, the reading brings to life a remarkable work of fiction appearing in print for the first time this year. Following the performance, Berkshire County’s Trek Track string quartet will perform music written during the Great War. Set in the summer of 1918, The Men Who Saved the World unfolds inside a French château just a few miles from the front. The dining room has been restored to its prewar elegance—a tablescape of orchids, candlelight, and fine dinnerware—though earlier in the war, an army surgeon amputated limbs on that very table. Outside, artillery fire and falling bombs punctuate the night. Inside, the guests carry on the rituals of polite society. Wharton’s wartime fiction was deeply informed by her own extraordinary humanitarian work in France. Many readers are unaware that, during World War I, she founded and administered three organizations that collectively provided aid to some 10,000 displaced people over five years. She also organized the shipment of blankets, clothing, and other essential supplies to soldiers at the front. From the Drawing Room of The Mount, this special Veterans Day program will highlight Wharton’s humanitarian efforts to contextualize the dramatic reading of The Men Who Saved the World, performed by Anne Undeland. To conclude, Trek Track Collective string quartet will play music written during the time of the Great War, bringing the era vividly to life through stories and strings. Veterans are invited to attend this program for free. Thank you for your service. IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION: This event takes place in The Mount’s Drawing Room, which is located on the second floor of the Mansion. An elevator is available to assist those with mobility concerns. Please park in the Upper Parking Lot. We recommend arriving 15 minutes early to allow time to enjoy the quarter-mile walk down the driveway to the Mansion. Golf carts run throughout the day if you require assistance to the event location. Accessible parking is available in spaces adjacent to the Mansion. In the event of extreme weather, such as a snowstorm, this program may be postponed or canceled. All ticket holders will be notified by email at least two hours before the scheduled start time if a change is necessary. Those wishing to cancel their ticket orders will receive full refunds. To cancel, email: [email protected] Seating for all programs at The Mount is first come, first served. If you have seating preferences, we recommend arriving fifteen minutes early. Accessible seating is available. To discuss arrangements, please contact us by phone: 413-551-5111 x5; or email: [email protected]. For more information about accessibility, review The Mount’s accessibility webpage. Questions? Email: [email protected]; or phone: 413-551-5111 x2 Trek Track is Eileen Markland, Bing Liu, Hannah Roberts, and Robbie Wilson, a collective of string players who honor the classics while pushing the boundaries of what a string ensemble can be. Drawing on diverse musical backgrounds, they bring together tradition, experimentation, and a shared sense of adventure. Their repertoire moves fluidly across genres, reimagining familiar music while exploring unexpected sounds and styles. Rooted in the classical tradition but never confined by it, they make music without borders. Anne Undeland is a theater artist who has worked throughout the Northeast. In addition to acting, Anne has developed living history programs, run oral history projects, narrated audiobooks, puppeteered, and played roles in productions for BBC radio and WBUR/Boston. Lately, she’s branched out into playwriting; her most recent play, Wharton Between the Sheets, was produced by Great Barrington Public Theater, Boston’s Gloucester Stage, and the Middlebury Acting Company. Her newest work, Madame Mozart, made its debut at Great Barrington Public Theater in July 2025.