by Shoshana Bockol
All Program Dates January 13, 2026 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm ET February 10, 2026 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm ET March 10, 2026 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm ET April 7, 2026 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm ET May 12, 2026 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm ET Registration Admission for this book club is $30 per session or $128 for the whole series. Members receive exclusive discounts on our programs and courses. Not a member? Learn more. Please check your spam folder for your email confirmation. If you have questions, please call (215) 732-1600 or email rsvp@rosenbach.org. This program is for those 18 and older. Registration opens for Delancey Society members on Friday, September 12, for Rosenbach members on Friday, September 19, and for the general public on Friday, September 26. Registration opens at 12:00 p.m. ET. This program is now sold out. If you would like to join the waitlist, please email rsvp@rosenbach.org. Description Step into the shadows of history with “Mad” Women. Over the course of five months, we will uncover richly imagined stories based on real figures or inspired by historical events—women imprisoned, executed, or exiled under the guise of madness or moral corruption. These aren't just tales of guilt or innocence. They are stories about women whose truths were too complex for the world to bear. Expect rich discussion, challenging themes, and a space to question everything you've been taught about madness and morality. Meeting 1 — Tuesday, January 13: Walter Scott, The Bride of Lammermoor (1819) A tragic Gothic romance novel tells the story of Lucy Ashton, a young woman forced into an unhappy marriage against the backdrop of social and political conflict in 18th-century Scotland. The novel explores themes of love, betrayal, family loyalty, and the consequences of societal pressures. Meeting 2 — Tuesday, February 10: Sara Collins, The Confessions of Frannie Langton (2020) This historical fiction novel follows the life of Frannie Langton, a young woman born into slavery in Jamaica who is later brought to London as a maid for a wealthy family. Accused of murdering her employers, Frannie recounts her life story as a way to defend herself and reveal the truth behind the murders. The novel explores themes of enslavement, forbidden love, obsession, and the societal constraints placed upon women and people of color in the 19th century. Meeting 3 — Tuesday, March 10: Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace (1997) Atwood tells the story of Grace Marks, a young Irish immigrant convicted of murdering her employer and his housekeeper in 19th-century Canada. The novel explores themes of gender, class, and the complexities of memory and truth, as Grace recounts her life to a young doctor investigating her case. Through Grace's narrative, the book examines societal perceptions of women, particularly those in vulnerable positions, and the ambiguity surrounding her guilt or innocence. Meeting 4 — Tuesday, April 7: Sarah Waters, Fingersmith (2022) A Victorian-era thriller ab...
The Rosenbach Museum & Library is a community that celebrates the art of the written word using our collection of rare books and manuscripts.
