Chawton House Library Conversations: October's Podcast

Welcome back to Chawton House Library Conversations. First launched on Sunday 8 March 2015 in celebration of International Women’s Day, our monthly podcast is a round up of news, events and highlights, helping you stay connected with Chawton House Library wherever you are.

In October’s podcast we hear from Professor Jane Chapman, Turner Sims Fellow at the University of Southampton and recent performer of eighteenth-century Indian music on the harpsichord here at Chawton House Library. Professor Chapman tells us about the ‘Oriental Miscellany’ (1789), a collection of Indian music gathered by woman such as intrepid travel writer from our Library collection, Maria Graham. Harpsichord maker, Chris Barlow, then gives us a delightful introduction to this romantic instrument that predates the piano.

This month we were proud to welcome our first cohort of visiting fellows for 2015-16. This academic year we have six named fellowships supported by literary societies and individuals, in addition to our usual fellowships. Here, Alexis Pogorelskin, (University of Minnesota Duluth) our Vera Brittain/Society of Women Writers and Journalists Fellow, and Jeni Buckley (Independent Scholar), our Hester Davenport/Burney Society Fellow, tell us about their fascinating research projects.

At the end of September we held our annual Fun Ride around the Estate and Parkland, this year with the addition of a special, historic event: a Side Saddle Gala by the Side Saddle Association (SSA). Angela Wells, an area Chairman of the SSA, tells us about the appeal of the elegant art of side saddle and the inspiration behind the beautiful costumes the riders wear. Finally, we hear from champion side-saddle rider, Esther Roston about the experience of parading on the South Lawn here at Chawton House Library.