'Tis the "Season": Regency Society from Austen to Bridgerton

Class Description

This class invites participants into the dazzling and rule-bound world of Regency London, where status was everything, and reputation could make or break a season. Together, we’ll explore how the rituals of the “ton” (English fashionable society), from glittering balls to carefully choreographed courtships, reflected deeper currents of class, gender, and power in early nineteenth-century Britain. From Jane Austen’s sharp social observations to the sumptuous spectacle of Bridgerton, we’ll consider how ideas of elegance, morality, and identity were performed, policed, and sometimes subverted.

All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.

A cultural historian and lecturer, Emilie M. Brinkman holds a PhD in European history from Purdue University. She specializes in the history of British politics, queenship, fashion, and popular culture.

What to Expect

Format: Virtual 

Class Capacity: 30 

Class Style: Lecture or presentation; option for questions 

Materials List

No Required Materials

A Brief Syllabus

1. The Regency World: Politics, Politeness, and Power
2. The Social “Season”: Space, Display, and Sociability
3. Love, Matrimony, and Modern Echoes

Cost and Registration

3 Sessions, $95 ($85.50 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($95), Community Supported ($90), and Sponsor ($100). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

Take a Look

View our full schedule of adult education classes.

Support the Newberry

Your generosity is vital in keeping the library’s programs, exhibitions, and reading rooms free and accessible to everyone.

Questions?

Call us at (312) 255-3700 or send us an email at adulteducation@newberry.org.

We are in office Tuesday through Thursday, 10 am–6 pm CT.
We are available by email Tuesday through Saturday.