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

P&P The Untold Stories: Lady Catherine, Alone at Rosings on That Wedding Night by Diana Birchall

Lady Catherine is alone with her own thoughts on that special wedding night. November 16, 1812 Rosings! Poor, poor Rosings. No longer allied with Pemberley, no longer a shining crown in the Darcy panoply of great houses, Rosings now stood alone and forlorn. There would be no more visits from the young men with whom …

Continue reading

Still in Byron’s Box (The Darcys in Venice, Chapter 29) by Diana Birchall

“Darcy! Oh, Darcy!” shrieked Lydia to his back, as he made his way out of the box. “Don’t go! Wickham has left his box and I swear he is coming around here. He really is!  I hope he gets here before the plaguey curtain goes up again. Oh, has he got a woman with him? …

Continue reading

Lord Byron’s Box, Redux (The Darcys in Venice, Chapter 28)

As the golden song faded with the end of the first act and the curtain was drawn, Lydia sprawled along the velvet railing of the box, crushing her bosom against it. “Lizzy,” she said pettishly, “That girl is no prettier than I am, and she squeals too high when she sings.” Elizabeth was surprised. “Why, …

Continue reading

Lord Byron’s Box (The Darcys in Venice, Chapter 27)

Mr. Collins stood awkwardly in the middle of Lord Byron’s box at the Teatro de Fenice, arms akimbo, looking very much how he felt, like a fish out of water. “I declare! This is very fine, to be sure, to be in a box at the opera, but I do not know if it will …

Continue reading

Before the Opera – The Darcys in Venice Chapter 26

Lord Byron sent over a note to say that he had ordered tickets for the opera at Teatro la Fenice for the whole party. Contessa Guiccioli had already arrived and was in residence, and they would travel in the two gondolas, Byron’s own and Mr. Darcy’s. “I long to see her,” enthused Lydia as they …

Continue reading

P&P The Untold Stories: Lydia Prepares for Her Wedding by Diana Birchall

No wedding clothes for Lydia… August 31, 1812 Mrs. Gardiner entered her husband’s study quietly and glided across the room. Kissing him on the cheek, she pulled a chair up beside him and sat down. To her dismay, he looked even more tired and distracted than he had been for the past few weeks. “Thank …

Continue reading

Unmasked: The Darcys in Venice. Chapter 25, Mr. Collins Meets Lord Byron

Nobody spoke for a moment. At the sight of Mr. Collins standing in the doorway of Lord Byron’s apartments at the Palazzo Mocenigo, the persons assembled wore expressions ranging from surprise, horror, and pained disdain; but no one looked at all happy. Mr. Collins, who seemed the least distressed, was the first to speak. “Lady …

Continue reading

P&P The Untold Stories: Lydia and Wickham in London by Diana Birchall

Lydia completely fails to repent before her wedding… August 8, 1812 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 so long, that they would not reach St. Clement’s by eleven o’clock, when the wedding …

Continue reading

P&P The Untold Stories: Lydia Elopes by Diana Birchall

Wickham is not the young man to refuse a companion… August 1, 1812 “Look here, Lydia,” said Wickham, getting out of bed and standing by the window, watching red coated troops march by on their way to the Downs. “I have got to leave town.” Lydia sat up, clutching a bed-sheet to her bare shoulders. …

Continue reading

P&P The Untold Stories: Wickham’s Scheme of Elopement by Diana Birchall

Mr. Wickham makes the town too hot to hold him… July 29, 1812 About a month after Lydia’s removal to Brighton, Mr. Wickham sauntered into a handsome suite attached to the Prince Regent’s palatial quarters in Marine Parade. It was not where a young officer of a common militia regiment might expect to be admitted, …

Continue reading

Load more