Irish poems, plays and novels helped conjure a nation, and this show lays out that story in more than 135 rare books, manuscripts, broadsheets and playbills from Leonard L. Milberg's collections. It follows writers in Ireland and across the diaspora as they turned to myth to wrestle with exile, belonging and identity. If you love Yeats-and-Joyce-era literature or have Irish roots in New York, it is worth a detour.
What to expect
Expect cases of first editions, handwritten manuscripts and theater ephemera, with an emphasis on formal and aesthetic experimentation. It is a reading-focused exhibition that suits literature lovers more than casual browsers.
Good to know
- Nearest subway is the B/C at 81st Street–Museum of Natural History
- Rare books and manuscripts are displayed in cases, so expect close reading
- Pairs with Revolutionary Women in the same building
- Best for literature, theater and Irish-American history fans
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Common questions
Whose collection is it drawn from?
Highlights come from the collections of Leonard L. Milberg.
How many objects are in the show?
More than 135 rare books, manuscripts, broadsheets, playbills, drawings, prints and illustrations.
