Written by a Lady (2019)

Written by a Lady was an event organized by Folger Public Programs in conjunction with Opera Lafayette. It took place on Thursday, November 14, 2019, at 6:00 pm in the Paster Reading Room.

The work of Anne Kingsmill Finch, Countess of Winchilsea (1661-1720), provided the focus for this discussion of attribution, collaboration, and early feminist literature. Her collection of poetry, published only as Written by a Lady, explores romance, social justice, and mental health struggles. In addition, Finch is credited as the librettist for the early English opera Venus and Adonis; although the unique, irreverent text may also have ties to Aphra Behn and Anne Killigrew.

The event opened with remarks from Opera Lafayette Artistic Director Ryan Brown, and included a conversation between Folger Shakespeare Library Director Michael Witmore and 2014-2015 Folger Institute Fellow Dr. Jennifer Keith (editor of the forthcoming Cambridge Edition of The Works of Anne Finch). After the talk, Eric Weinmann Librarian and Director of Collections Greg Prickman guided participants through a pop-up exhibition of related rare materials from the Folger collection.

This event complemented the opening of Opera Lafayette's 25th-anniversary season with Venus and Adonis. Performances took place on November 21 and 23 at The Corcoran Gallery in Washington, DC.