On May 2, 2024 the Folger’s virtual book club continues with a discussion of The East Indian by Brinda Charry. To prepare for the discussion, we have pulled together a list of resources related to A Midsummer Night’s Dream and America’s early colonization.
READ the Shakespeare play referenced throughout novel
EXPLORE the play’s connection to trade and early globilization
- ‘In the spiced Indian air’: Trading coin and cloth in the empire of the Great Mughal
- Shakespeare’s Asia: Ships, spices, and porcelain
- written by Su Fang Ng, May’s guest speaker
- “More strange than true”: Finding America among the fairies
LISTEN to podcast episodes related to colonial history and impact
We would like to thank the following organization for its generous support of this program
Join us for a future event
Storytime at the Folger - Frost Fair
Storytime at the Folger
Join us for family storytimes during Frost Fair at Quill & Crumb and in the Reading Room, in partnership with DC Public Library. These free events are designed to be enjoyed by all ages.
Tue, Dec 02 — Wed, Dec 31, 2025
On View: Missy Dunaway
On View: Missy Dunaway
In this small solo exhibition, artist Missy Dunaway investigates the connections between art, literature, history, and the natural world with her paintings of birds mentioned in Shakespeare's plays.
Fri, Nov 14, 2025 – Sun, Jan 4, 2026
Writing By Hand: Early Modern Handwriting Tools and Techniques
Writing By Hand: Early Modern Handwriting Tools and Techniques
Join us for this special pop-up display of items from the Folger collection showing how words were written by hand, using pen and ink, and the ways those words made their way to readers via sealed letters and manuscript books.
Sat, Dec 13, 2025, 12pm
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