East Central Regional Library has a unique event in store for Edwardian era history buffs and fans of a certain British drama series that has captured the hearts of America. A free presentation on the library at Highclere Castle, or Downton Abbey—as it’s known to the legion of followers of the PBS series, is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7 at the Milaca Community Library. Discover insights into life on English country estates in the Edwardian era and the treasures collected over generations that filled country house libraries.
Discussed will be several topics, including book binding, significant authors, the influence of The Grand Tour (a rite of passage for the wealthy), along with tales and mysteries of the “Downton Abbey” library. Presenting is Tim Johnson, Curator of Special Collections & Rare Books/E. W. McDiarmid Curator of the Sherlock Holmes Collections housed at the University of Minnesota.
This project is funded with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.