Jane Austen is renowned for providing scant details on the physical aspect of her characters. She barely gives us a hint of what her protagonists look like, and spends very little time describing the clothes they wear. Equally, although she does give a fair account of the architecture of some of the stately homes in her… Read the full blog post …
Aged 15 or 16, Jane Austen wrote a very amusing History of England in the style of a mock textbook. The short text, illustrated by Austen’s sister Cassandra, is most definitely worth a read. The title page (below) sets the tone: Austen describes herself as “a partial, prejudiced & ignorant historian” and promises that “there will be… Read the full blog post …
Tomorrow, June 24, is Midsummer’s Day. Coming on the heels of the summer solstice, which usually falls between June 20 and 22, Midsummer marks the end of spring and the beginning of summer. It is a time of joy and abundance, of long days and short nights, of picnics, gatherings and outdoor pursuits. But how is… Read the full blog post …
My friend Emma, a fellow Janeite, hinted at something outrageous about Mr Darcy last time I saw her. It was a good three months ago, but her words so struck me that I needed some time to process what she said. It all started with some casual chat about Darcy and Wickham’s dislike for each other.… Read the full blog post …
Chances are that, wherever you are in the world, you are experiencing at least some limitations to your daily life. We are living through strange times, to say the least, and some of us are finding them harder than others. In my case, I have turned to Jane Austen for consolation, and she has not… Read the full blog post …
My sister, a nurse, is dismayed at the sheer amount of false information, medical or otherwise, doing the rounds on social media these days. Not all of it is malicious: a great deal of it is useless as it is harmless. However, blindly following some of the worst advice can be positively dangerous. Of course,… Read the full blog post …
SPOILER ALERT: I don’t wish to spoil anyone’s enjoyment of the latest film version of Emma but I discuss it in some detail below, so if you haven’t seen it yet but plan to watch it, please look away now! We have been eagerly awaiting it since the last trailer made it to YouTube. Emma.,… Read the full blog post …
I love going to the theatre. I get a real thrill out of seeing actual people perform in front of me. I am even more keen to go if the play on offer is in any way, shape or form related to Jane Austen. In the last two months, I’ve been lucky enough to see… Read the full blog post …
One of the things I love about Jane Austen is that nothing is wasted in her books. Even the tiniest of details is used to convey information of some kind or as a plot device. This includes the servants, who are ubiquitous in her novels. Let’s look at the role they play in a bit… Read the full blog post …
“The Most Agreeable & Rational Recreation Ever Invented” During a recent visit to Edinburgh’s Museum of Childhood, I was drawn to one of the exhibits, a board game called The New Game of Human Life. Published in London in 1790, it was aimed at the family market and was the British adaptation of a French game, Le… Read the full blog post …
“Do you understand muslins, sir?” “Particularly well; I always buy my own cravats, and am allowed to be an excellent judge; and my sister has often trusted me in the choice of a gown. I bought one for her the other day, and it was pronounced to be a prodigious bargain by every lady who… Read the full blog post …
Austen Authors is honored to announce the winner of Eliza Shearer‘s “Celebrating the Launch of Miss Price’s Decision” Giveaway. Patricia Finnegan will receive an eBook copy of Ms. Shearer‘s Miss Price’s Decision. Congratulations, Patricia. Please contact Regina Jeffers, Giveaway Coordinator, at reginalm@rjeffers.com to claim your prize. [According to stated giveaway rules on Austen Authors, all… Read the full blog post …
I am delighted to announce the imminent launch of Miss Price’s Decision, my second novel in the Austeniana series, which focuses on the stories of the younger sisters of Austen’s heroes and heroines. If Miss Darcy’s Beaux told the story of Georgiana Darcy, now it is the turn of Susan Price, Fanny’s younger sister in… Read the full blog post …
