Category: Mary Lydon Simonsen

Sense and Sensibility – Location, Location, Location by Mary Simonsen

It’s almost a sacrilege to write about anything other than P&P, but I’ve been branching out and rereading some of Austen’s other works, most particularly Sense and Sensibility. Here is an interesting article I found regarding Austen’s first published work. * * * In my large family, at a very young age, I was made aware of the …

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Fantastical Austen – Unpublished Excerpt from Mr. Darcy’s Bite by Mary Simonsen

The following is an epilogue that I wrote for Mr. Darcy’s Bite. I thought it was a pretty good ending, but my editor at Sourcebooks disagreed, and it was deleted. (I agree with her now.) As background, Marguerite Ashton was Darcy’s paternal aunt. She knew of her nephew’s condition and provided refuge, when necessary, during …

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Launch of Convincing Mr. Darcy, a Novella, by Mary Lydon Simonsen

It’s been awhile since I published anything, and so I am happy to release my e-book novella, Convincing Mr. Darcy. To celebrate the launch, I am giving away threee-books. The winners will be announced on October 4th. All you have to do is to leave a comment about your favorite Jane Austen character(s) (other than …

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Austen Locations – Bath – Part 2 – Anne Elliot Meets Captain Wentworth at the Circus by Mary Simonsen

Anne held the guidebook of Bath in her hand, but after reading the same paragraph for the third time, she closed it. Her thoughts were elsewhere—Molland’s to be exact. She was still attempting to understand what had happened at the confectioner’s shop a day earlier. She had just finished a cup of tea and a …

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Austen Locations – Bath – Part 1 – Anne Elliot Meets Captain Wentworth at Molland’s – Mary Simonsen

In Persuasion, Anne visits Bath with her family. One of the most popular sites was Molland’s, a confectionery store, where she would have enjoyed a cup of hot tea and a sweet. Sweets included dried fruits, gingerbread, cakes, sugared almonds, and jellied fruits. Anne was sent back, however, in a moment by the entrance of …

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August Travels: Emma – Going Nowhere Fast by Mary Simonsen

Disclosure: I am not an Emma scholar. I have read the book only once. Even though some of Jane Austen’s best lines are in Emma,* I have a hard time liking a heroine who cannot understand, no less accept, the opinions of others. (Even Jane Austen anticipated my reaction.) However, I have seen the various …

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August Travels: Anne Elliot Goes to Lyme by Mary Simonsen

Jane Austen’s characters see their fair share of travels. Elizabeth travels to Hunsford to see Charlotte. Catherine Morland treks to Bath. Frank Churchill journeys to Highbury. Captain Wentworth sails the seas with His Majesty’s navy. The Dashwoods sojourn to Barton Cottage after the loss of their home, thence to London, while Sir Thomas Bertram voyages all the …

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Jealousy in July: Marianne Behaves Badly – Elinor Responds by Mary Simonsen

  Is Caroline Bingley green with envy as she notices Mr. Darcy’s attentions to Elizabeth Bennet? Does Emma Woodhouse wish unspeakable horrors on Harriet Smith because of Harriet’s crush on Mr. Knightley? After Willoughby, does Marianne covet Elinor’s more sensible behaviour? We could go on for ages, but it’s only for this month so don’t …

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Jealousy in July: Elinor Dashwood and Lucy Steele Discuss Edward Ferrars by Mary Simonsen

Is Caroline Bingley green with envy as she notices Mr. Darcy’s attentions to Elizabeth Bennet? Does Emma Woodhouse wish unspeakable horrors on Harriet Smith because of Harriet’s crush on Mr. Knightley? After Willoughby, does Marianne covet Elinor’s more sensible behaviour? We could go on for ages, but it’s only for this month so don’t miss …

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Jane Austen and her Times by Mary Simonsen

Welcome to All Things Austen in April! Today, I am writing about the world Jane Austen lived in. Jane Austen was born at a fascinating time. In America, His Majesty’s oldest colony was in revolt, and the war would rage on for eight very long years. Another revolution played a larger role in Jane’s life. The French Revolution …

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