In Thanksgiving week, it is natural to think about turkey; and it is equally natural for Austen Variations members to think about turkey in Jane Austen’s life and writing. We need not wonder, however, whether she ate turkey, or liked it; for it is known that she did both. There are symptoms of turkey enthusiasm …
As a long time member of JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America), I’ve been to many of their annual conferences, held in different parts of the country every October. The one that took place in Huntington Beach, California, last weekend, was one of the best ever. I live about an hour’s drive north of …
Sir Walter Elliot stood in one of his two fine adjoining drawing-rooms in Bath, minutely examining his elegant figure in a long pier-glass mirror. It was placed between two ornamented windows, so that the daylight might best reveal the morning condition and texture of his complexion. At the moment he was occupied in examining the …
The sad day is come: the day when people all over the world cannot help but give a thought to Jane Austen, who died two hundred years ago. Tributes there will be in plenty; a few dissenters may proudly squawk that they never read her because they have better things to do. (Their loss.) Most …
In the year eight, Captain Wentworth had returned from his cruise on the Asp, several thousand pounds richer than he had left; and beyond expression happy to be reunited with his dear wife Anne, who had spent the intervening months ashore with his sister. Mrs. Croft was settled in rented quarters at Taunton for those …
When I heard that JASNA, the Jane Austen Society of New York, was having an April conference in Saratoga Springs, NY, called “Spas and Spies”, I knew that was one I wanted to attend. I love the Hudson Valley, so beautiful and history-filled, and riding alongside the river on Amtrak is a joy. Knowing that Abigail …
“The flowers that bloom in the spring, tra la, Breathe promise of merry sunshine — As we merrily dance and we sing, tra-la We welcome the hope that they bring, tra-la Of a summer of roses and wine…” I’ve always loved that tongue-in-cheek tribute to springtime from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado”, but as it …
It was not a very romantic wedding, despite the very great love the principals held for one another. Anne Elliot, at twenty, felt entire happiness and the certainty that she had been right, in accepting Captain Frederick Wentworth, despite her father’s indifference and Lady Russell’s concerns and persuasions. For his part, Captain Wentworth rejoiced in …
“He was, at that time, a remarkably fine young man, with a great deal of intelligence, spirit and brilliancy; and Anne an extremely pretty girl, with gentleness, modesty, taste, and feeling. Half the sum of attraction, on either side, might have been enough, for he had nothing to do, and she had hardly any body …
In honor of our Jane in January Scavenger Hunt, I present you with a Quiz, and a Story! Quiz first. Can you name the books from which these quotes about “Treasures” came from? (I prefer to use the word Treasure in this exercise, because Jane Austen never does seem to use the word Scavenger.) Some …
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