The Rosenbach

What is your favorite literary adaptation?

The Rosenbach is currently updating and expanding our online library catalog, Rosy. In the process, we’ve made a few unexpected discoveries, including the play, Don Quixote in England, tucked away in a multi-volume edition of the dramatic works of Henry Fielding. The 18th-century adaptation features scathing political satire, as well as the occasional musical interlude. For more information, click the link in bio to read our regular blog post, Notes from the Reading Room.

Image: Henry Fielding (1707-1754). Don Quixote in England. A comedy. As it is acted at the New Theatre in the Hay-Market. London, J. Watts, 1754. Rosenbach Museum & Library, EL2 .F459.0d v.3 item 2

On June 25, 1891, the first Sherlock Holmes short story, A Scandal in Bohemia, appeared in The Strand Magazine in London. Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the story introduced Holmes to a wide readership, propelling the consulting detective to international fame while boosting the magazine’s circulation.

Its publication followed Doyle’s earlier novel, The Sign of Four, which had been commissioned for Lippincott's Monthly Magazine. At a dinner arranged by editor J. M. Stoddart, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde were each invited to contribute a work, leading to the publication of Doyle's The Sign of Four (February, 1890) and Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray (July, 1890).

Image: Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930). The sign of the four, or The problem of the Sholtos. Rosenbach Museum & Library. EL4 .D754si 890a.

It is hard to believe that Bloomsday was one week ago today! 🍋

We hope you spent the day with us, but in case you missed it, here are the top 5 highlights of the day:

5. Gathering with a unique community of passionate bibliophiles who collectively honor one of the most ambitious days in literary history.

4. The spontaneous cheering, groans, and laughter from the audience.

3. The musicality of the Sirens with our talented vocalists from .

2. Guided gallery tours, literary talks, and the original, handwritten manuscripts.

1. The thrilling climax of hearing Molly at sunset say "yes I said yes I will Yes."

What was your favorite part of the day? Drop a picture or a memory in the comments below.

Image credit:

Erich Maria Remarque was born in Osnabrück, Germany, on June 22, 1898. Like Paul Bäumer, the main character in his book, Remarque was drafted at age 18 and sent to fight on the Western Front in World War I. His book describes the German soldiers' extreme physical and mental trauma during the war, as well as the detachment from civilian life felt by many upon returning home from the war.

Remarque's harshest critics were his countrymen, many of whom felt the book denigrated the German war effort and that he had exaggerated the horrors of war to further his pacifist agenda. The strongest voices against Remarque came from the emerging N**i Party and its ideological allies. In 1933, when the N**is rose to power, All Quiet on the Western Front became one of the first "degenerate books" to be publicly burned.

Beyond the author's birthday, June 22 is also the exact date in 1941 when N**i Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, the massive surprise invasion of the Soviet Union. This offensive expanded the scope of World War II on the Eastern Front and was the largest and most destructive land invasion in human history.

Image: Erich Maria Remarque (1898-1970). Im Westen nichts Neues (All Quiet on the Western Front) ROsenbach Museum & Library. MDAL 0032

Join the Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Abbotsford: The Home of Sir Walter Scott, in the Scottish Lowlands, for a transatlantic book club experience!

Session 2 — Sunday, August 9: Sarah Maine, Women of the Dunes

Women of the Dunes is a historical novel set on the wild, Western coastline of Scotland, told through two interwoven timelines: the 17th century and the present day. The novel explores themes of female resilience, superstition, isolation, and buried histories. By connecting past and present, Sarah Maine emphasizes the importance of recovering lost female narratives and confronting historical injustices that still resonate today.

Learn more by visiting www.rosenbach.org.

Image credit: Photograph. Rosenbach Museum & Library. 2006.4944.

June 19, 1865, the day when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had declared enslaved people in Confederate-held territories free. Now celebrated as a federal holiday in the United States, Juneteenth honors the end of slavery.

This Juneteenth, we reflect on the ongoing journey toward freedom, justice, and equality while celebrating the stories, voices, and histories that shape the American experience. Our collections invite visitors to explore the many narratives of the Americas through rare books, manuscripts, and historical artifacts that illuminate more than five centuries of history.

We will be closed on June 19th in observance of Juneteenth. We will reopen on June 20th.

Image: Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), By the President of the United States of America. : A proclamation… Washington, D.C., 1865. Rosenbach Museum & Library, A 863b.

Celebrate National Go Fishing Day! Dr. A.S.W Rosenbach would encourage you to step away from your daily routine, pick up a rod, and drop a line in the nearest stream, pond, or lake.

Image: Photographer unknown. Photograph of Dr. Rosenbach. Rosenbach Museum & Library. 2006.2080.

Due to a power outage, the vocal performances scheduled to take place at the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) at 3:00 have been canceled.

Vocalists will perform on Delancey Place at 6:00.

See our website for more details on the day. www.rosenbach.org