Spring Exhibits Explore Jane Austen and the History of the Cookbook

April 21, 2025

two photos, on left: a row of Jane Austen books; on right: students look a Jane Austen book

credit Katie Lenhart

For Love or Money? Jane Austen at 250

What do I care more about, love or money? What about my parents’ expectations? Am I comfortable with all these social roles I have to play? What will happen to my reputation if I make the wrong decision? When does my privacy become creepy secrecy? Should I stay within the bubble, or strike out toward the horizon?

If these challenges ring a bell for you, you’re either a Dartmouth student, or you’re a character in a Jane Austen novel.

“For Love or Money? Jane Austen at 250” explores iconic novels that revolutionized how we understand the complex inner lives of young women–works that display Austen’s keen satirical edge. This impressive exhibit was developed and curated by students from Professor Carolyn Dever's winter term class, ENG 07.44: Reading Jane Austen, with support from many library staff, including Jay Satterfield and Laura Barrett.

Step onto Baker-Berry Main Street to view first editions of Jane Austen's most popular books: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Persuasion. You'll also discover other printed items from that time, like sheet music for popular songs, books on gardening and “ladies' conduct,” and even a map of England showing the towns that various Austen characters visited.

View it now through June in Berry Library.

Read More About the Project

The exhibits transform the Libraries into a dynamic space where learning is visible, achievement is celebrated, and individual potential is unlocked.

Jennifer Taxman, Associate Dean of Libraries

Kira Parrish-Penny '24 adjusts here exhibit in the display cases

Cooking wasn't always a glorified pastime (and depending on who is cooking: it still isn't.) It took centuries for us to normalize publishing cookbooks, let alone sharing recipes on blogs or binge-watching shows determined to make a chaos of ingredients palatable in 30 minutes or less.

In her new exhibit, Kira Parrish-Penny '24 explores how this cardinal skill gained widespread respect in Western culture. She explains how the taste and smells associated with cooking are powerful forces for nostalgia and memory, reminders of legacy and affiliation. Dishes become traditions that we covet, alter, and pass down: recipes our heirlooms.

two photos provide different angles of the cookbook history display case

When asked about her "why" for her final fellowship project, she writes,

"Cooking is meditative for me, and sharing a meal with loved ones has been a great comfort in these unsettling times. I decided to focus on cookbooks to highlight the unsung creativity of domestic life, while still exploring more serious themes regarding gender and “women’s roles.” I was excited to investigate this historical niche, and I figured I would find some new recipes to inspire my cooking—I did!"

View it now through June in Rauner Library.

View Text from the Exhibit

At the Libraries, we encourage and support the Dartmouth community, particularly students, at every stage of the exhibit process. Jennifer Taxman, Associate Dean of Libraries, Academic Engagement & Operations Strategies says, “by showcasing student work, we provide a platform that fosters confidence and encourages intellectual risk-taking.” She further explains how exhibits — and the research and learning outcomes that result from doing them — demonstrate how the Libraries, "empower students by unlocking individual potential," and express our current goal to "highlight and celebrate Dartmouth's scholarly achievements through events, programming, and exhibits."

When asked about the Jane Austen at 250 exhibit, Jay exclaimed it was “awesome to work on the project: great assignment, great students, and a great faculty member!” It's no wonder our colleagues wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to these collaborations.

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Plate to Print: Cookbooks and the Evolution of the Domestic Sphere