On Friday and Saturday, March 17 and 18, the University of Delaware will host a two-day symposium, “Celebrating the Mark Samuels Lasner Collection: Rare Books and Manuscripts, Victorian Literature and Art.”

Samuels Lasner — a longtime friend, staff member and supporter of the University — donated his vast collection of British literature and art to the University’s Morris Library Special Collections in 2016.

The symposium will feature a keynote address by Elaine Showalter (emerita, Princeton University), the noted literary critic, feminist, and writer on cultural and social issues. The other speakers are Mark Dimunation (Library of Congress), Barbara Heritage (Rare Book School, University of Virginia), Ed Maggs (Maggs Bros. Ltd., London), Joseph Bristow (UCLA), Linda K. Hughes (Texas Christian University), Margaretta S. Frederick (Delaware Art Museum), William S. Peterson (Emeritus, University of Maryland), David Taylor (UK historian and author) and Margaret D. Stetz (University of Delaware).

Attendees will be able to see the exhibition "Victorian Passions: Stories from the Mark Samuels Lasner Collection, " on view in the Special Collections Gallery on the second floor of Morris Library through June 3.

The symposium is free and open to the public. Registration (which includes lunch on Saturday) is requested. To learn more, visit the symposium website.