In May 2024, The David Roche Foundation welcomes renowned literary lecturer Susannah Fullerton OAM. Across two evenings, Susannah will share her knowledge on the public work and private lives of two of Britain's best known nineteenth century authors: Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde. Tickets may be purchased for individual lectures, or a discounted 2-lecture package.

Lecture 1 - Jane Austen: Her Life and Works

Wednesday 15 May 2024, 6:00pm-7:15pm

The 6 most polished, controlled and elegant social comedies to be found in English literature were written by a woman whose personal life was unexciting and confined. Jane Austen’s genius, cool judgment, and ironic detachment gave her novels a depth and charm which contributes to their enduring popularity, two centuries after they were written.

In this lecture, Susannah Fullerton, President of the Jane Austen Society of Australia and author of several books about Jane Austen, shares her passion for Austen’s novels and her interest in her life and times. Illustrations will bring the Regency world to life and readings will remind audiences just how funny Jane Austen can be.

Lecture 2 - The Importance of Being Oscar: The Life and Works of Oscar Wilde

Thursday 16 May 2024, 6:00pm-7:15pm

“Somehow or other I’ll be famous, and if not famous, I’ll be notorious” declared the young Oscar Wilde: he proved to be both! Wilde’s genius as a raconteur and coiner of epigrams made him the most quoted man in London. He translated his genius into stories, plays, poems, and a novel and gained a place amongst the great Victorian writers.

Wilde once stated that he had put only his talent into his works, but had put his genius into his life. Susannah Fullerton discusses Wilde’s extraordinary life story, his fall from fame and the creation of his great works of literature. Dramatic readings will bring Wilde's works to life, and illustrations throughout this lecture will provide the sort of sumptuous visual background that Wilde himself would have appreciated.

About the speaker

Susannah Fullerton loves nothing more than sharing her passion for great writers with audiences around Australia and overseas. She has been president of the Jane Austen Society of Australia, the largest literary society in this country, for almost thirty years. She is Patron of the Rudyard Kipling Society of Australia and a member of other literary societies. Susannah leads popular literary tours to the UK, France, Italy and the USA for Australians Studying Abroad. She is the author of several books, and publishes a regular newsletter titled 'Notes from a Book Addict'. In 2017 Susannah was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to literature as an author, lecturer and historian.

Each ticket includes one beverage on arrival.

Limited parking available on-site.

Wheelchair accessible.

Banner image: Napoleon Sarony (1821–1896) photographer, Oscar Wilde 1882 (detail), albumen print on card. National Portrait Gallery, London, NPG P25. Cassandra Austen (1773–1845) artist, Jane Austen c.1810 (detail), pencil and watercolour on paper. National Portrait Gallery, London, NPG 3630.