Diana Birchall

Author's posts

P&P Behind the Scenes: Lydia’s Wedding

    In this last of the three-part story about Lydia and Wickham, Lydia is brought to her wedding, but not to reason, by Mrs. Gardiner. It was after breakfast that Mr. Gardiner was called away to consult with his man of business, Mr. Stone, and Lydia was wild with fear that he would take …

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P&P Behind the Scenes: Lydia Elopes

    Part Two in this three-part series of stories about Lydia and Wickham’s wicked elopement. Let us join this young pair, whom Jane Austen said were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue.  “ “Look here, Lydia,” said Wickham, getting out of bed and standing by the window, watching red coated …

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P&P Behind the Scenes: Wickham’s Scheme of Elopement

  Today we begin three parts of a story about Lydia and her shocking relations with Wickham that (some would say unfortunately) led to their wedding. A preface to this tale was posted on August 24, 2015, so you may like to go back to prepare yourself!  About a month after Lydia’s removal to Brighton, …

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Anniversaries for Jane Austen

To commemorate our second anniversary, we invite you, our loyal readers and friends, to join us this month at Austen Variations. We have grand plans! For February, we intend to share the endearing moments of Jane Austen’s beloved characters as they celebrate their own anniversaries.     It is curious that Jane Austen does not …

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Considering Jane Bennet – and her Sisters

What better way to start the year that to focus on one of Jane Austen’s most beloved characters? Join Austen Variations as we spend January looking into the lovely Jane Bennet. Writing a Jane Bennet story the other day (“In the Shrubbery”) naturally made me think about this remarkably sweet secondary heroine, and I hope you …

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Jane Bennet in January: In the Shrubbery

“It is settled between us already that we are to be the happiest couple in the world. But are you pleased, Jane? Shall you like to have such a brother?”    “Very, very much. Nothing could give either Bingley or myself more delight. But we considered it, we talked of it as impossible.” *********************************************** A carriage …

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12 Days of a Jane Austen Christmas: Lady Catherine’s Christmas

It was Beatrice Nearey, an Edmontonian Janeite, who gave me an auspicious kick start as a Jane Austen Playwright. I had written Austenesque stories for years, but it never occurred to me to try my hand at plays, until Beatrice and her friend Dolores Kohler cleverly adapted a story of mine, “The Courtship of Mrs. …

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12 Days of a Jane Austen Christmas: A Book of Days

In 1798, a little more than a week after her twenty-third birthday, Jane Austen wrote to her sister Cassandra what might certainly be called a Christmas letter, as it was begun at Steventon on the Monday night of Christmas Eve. She opens with news of hopes for a promotion for her brother Frank, then a young Navy …

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Jane Austen and Scotland by Diana Birchall

    Abbotsford, home of Sir Walter Scott Jane Austen and Scotland – the UK Jane Austen Society was putting on a conference in Edinburgh in September, and the title was irresistable. I knew Jane Austen never went to Scotland, and had little if anything to do with that country; but it was intriguing to …

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P&P: Behind the Scenes – Lydia Goes to Brighton

    Lydia received an invitation from Mrs. Forster,the wife of the Colonel of the regiment, to accompany her to Brighton. This invaluable friend was a young woman, and very lately married.  Spring, 1812.  Early on a bright morning in late May, a gay party left Meryton: the  girls, Lydia and Mrs. Forster, with the …

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