It was, literally, all fun and games at the February 17 meeting, which was led by our own Jo Ann Staples, author of the recently published Jane Austen's Card Games.
In addition to learning several card games that Austen and her characters would have known (including Brag and Commerce), the group enjoyed a presentation from Rachel Lavenda, Special Collections curator at Vanderbilt University, about the George Clulow and United States Playing Card Co. Gaming Collection. Boasting more than 1,000 volumes dating from the 15th to the 20th centuries, the collection, recognized as one of the world’s premiere collections of cards, books about cards, and card memorabilia, was acquired by Vanderbilt in 2017.
Jane Austen's Card Games includes complete instructions for 11 Jane Austen card games along with three supper menus based on period recipes for dishes mentioned in the novels and letters. Chapters on the history of card playing and the evolution of supper in English country life provide background and context.
Special thanks to our friends at Montgomery Bell Academy for the use of the meeting room.
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| Tea-time treats included a dense and delicious Seed Cake, using a recipe from "Jane Austen's Card Games" |
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| Rachel Lavenda and Jo Ann Staples |
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