‘Without music, the world is a blank’ says Mrs. Elton. Eighteenth century musicales or parlor performances included the traditional Irish air, a song from a ballad opera, piano sonatas, or a setting of a popular dance tune. They were frequent occurrences in society and it is reflected in Austen’s personal collections and in her work. In this lecture on Jane Austen’s Emma, join Grand Central Library and NYPL Music staff for a look into Jane Austen’s relationship with music and how it affected her writing.