Diana Birchall

Now retired from her career as a story analyst at Warner Bros Studios, Diana is the author of Jane Austen sequels Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma, The Bride of Northanger, In Defense of Mrs. Elton, Mrs. Elton in America, and the forthcoming The Darcys in Venice, as well as Austenesque plays, stories, articles, and pastiche. Diana's scholarly biography of her grandmother, Onoto Watanna, the first Asian American novelist, was published by the University of Illinois Press. Diana grew up in New York City, and now divides her time between California and England.

Most commented posts

  1. 12 Days of a Jane Austen Christmas: A Book of Days — 62 comments
  2. Throwback Thursday with Diana Birchall — 59 comments
  3. Leap into Love – an Excerpt by Diana Birchall — 55 comments
  4. The Darcys and Lord Byron in Venice, Part 8 — 53 comments
  5. Persuasion 200: Mary Musgrove’s Complaint — 48 comments

Author's posts

Confessions & Correspondence: Charles Bingley Writes to his Man of Business about Netherfield

Welcome to our epistolary retelling of Pride & Prejudice! Jane Austen’s original version of the story, First Impressions, was told entirely in letters, so it seemed like a great group project. We’ll be posting a new letter every Wednesday.    Charles Bingley May 6, 1812 Charles Bingley had never known a time in his life …

Continue reading

Confessions and Correspondence: Letters between Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana Darcy

  Welcome to our epistolary retelling of Pride & Prejudice! Jane Austen’s original version of the story, First Impressions, was told entirely in letters, so it seemed like a great group project! We’ll be posting a new letter every Wednesday.  December 3, 1811 My dear Georgiana, I hope you and your brother are well, and …

Continue reading

Peering into Jane Austen’s Spectacles

I spent most of December in England, celebrating a dowager’s milestone birthday (er, that is, mine!). It was not primarily a Jane Austen-centered trip; throughout my long lifetime I have most satisfyingly visited nearly every Austen-related site that I desired to see. (To confess the truth, I have not climbed Box Hill, but I may …

Continue reading

Austen Variations 2025 Advent Calendar

Welcome to the 2025 Austen Variations Advent Calendar, where our amazing authors will bring you a new gift every day from now until today, December 24th. Lady Catherine’s Christmas Carol Part One. The Ghost of Christmas Past. It was Christmas Eve, and Lady Catherine was in a hurry. A lady, of course, never hurries,” she …

Continue reading

Prelude to Pemberley: Lady Catherine Interferes by Diana Birchall

Welcome to our Pride & Prejudice prequel! P&P: Prelude to Pemberley tells the story of the time leading up to the events of Pride & Prejudice, including what Darcy and Elizabeth were doing and thinking, Georgiana Darcy’s story, the events of Ramsgate, how Mr. Bingley came to lease Netherfield, and much more! Join us on …

Continue reading

Mr. Darcy’s Guidebook (excerpt from The Darcys in Venice by Diana Birchall)

As my novel The Darcys in Venice glides slowly as a gondola toward hopeful publication, I share a new scene with you, in which Mr. and Mrs. Darcy prepare for their journey. Mr. Darcy’s Guidebook Now the dark winter evenings at Pemberley became busy ones. The storms moderated, the guests departed, repairs were carried on, …

Continue reading

Did Jane Austen Ever See an Elephant? by Diana Birchall

You don’t have to be a pachydermophiliac to delight in a very delectable question, whose origin may be traced to a discussion on one of the Jane Austen online lists from as far back as 2011 – this post is what one might hopefully and tactfully call An Old Classic. Research has not revealed whether …

Continue reading

Planned in the Cradle: Darcy and Anne

“What a fine pair they are,” said Lady Catherine de Bourgh, tilting her dark, lace-capped head sentimentally to the side, for effect. “Surely no finer children were ever seen in England.” “You are right, I believe,” her sister Lady Anne Darcy answered placidly. “My little Darcy is remarkably strong and intelligent, and twice little Anne’s …

Continue reading

P&P Prelude to Pemberley: Lady Catherine Deals with Georgiana

Welcome to our Pride & Prejudice prequel! P&P: Prelude to Pemberley tells the story of the time leading up to the events of Pride & Prejudice, including what Darcy and Elizabeth were doing and thinking, Georgiana Darcy’s story, the events of Ramsgate, how Mr. Bingley came to lease Netherfield, and much more! Join us on …

Continue reading

P&P Prelude to Pemberley: Lady Catherine’s Scheme

Welcome to our Pride & Prejudice prequel! P&P: Prelude to Pemberley tells the story of the time leading up to the events of Pride & Prejudice, including what Darcy and Elizabeth were doing and thinking, Georgiana Darcy’s story, the events of Ramsgate, how Mr. Bingley came to lease Netherfield, and much more! Join us on …

Continue reading

Load more