Friends of the Library of Sewanee: The University of the South and the Department of English invite everyone to attend an interesting event Wednesday in Sewanee featuring Dr. Robin R. Bates, professor emeritus of English.

Dr. Bates will discuss the importance of card-playing in Jane Austen’s novels and will instruct attendees in how to play Speculation, one of the card games played in “Mansfield Park.” The talk will be held at 7 p.m. in the meeting room of the McGriff Alumni House.

Attendees who would rather watch than play the card game may do so. Tea and crumpets will be served during the game and modest prizes will be awarded to winners.

Dr. Bates has a PhD in 18th century British literature from Emory University and spent his career teaching British literature at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

In 2018, he retired to Sewanee, where he grew up and where he has served as an occasional visiting professor of English.

Although the protagonist of “Mansfield Park” is no card player, Austen informs us that, “It was impossible for Fanny not to feel herself mistress of the rules of the game in three minutes.”

In other words, it is a very simple game, with Austen reporting in a letter, “I introduced Speculation, and it was so much approved that we hardly knew how to leave off.”

Please RSVP via email to pcowan@sewanee.edu to help organizers determine the number of card tables needed.

More information about the Friends of the Library can be found at libguides.sewanee.edu/FOL. For more information about the talk or joining the Friends of the Library, please contact Penny Cowan at 931-598-1573 or email pcowan@sewanee.edu.