Unnamed Members of Byron Society

Byron Societies were originally literary groups that met to read and discuss the works of George Gordon, Lord Byron. By the time of this novel, the Jefferson version of the Byron Society was essentially a social club for aristocratic and middle class women. Like the Cotillion Club, membership in the Society confers social prestige. Of the Bryon Club, Maggie Mallison says, "it had been a long time now since anybody listened to anybody read anything because they played bridge now but at least she said that when it met with Miss Jenny Du Pre they had toddies or juleps instead of just coffee or coca colas" (325).