We wrote yesterday that the IMdB is listing Claudie Blakley as playing Mrs. Phillips in the upcoming film and that Samantha Bloom has an “unknown” role, in direct opposition to the information we previously received from a representative of the film’s U.S. distributor. We suspect that the information was sent in by the frantic Orlando Bloom fangirls who are spreading the rumor that Ms. Bloom, Orlando’s sister, would be playing Charlotte Lucas, so not only must they get Ms. Bloom on the cast list, they must deny Ms. Blakley her assigned role.

Today, our contact said, and we quote, “The information that I gave you prior was and remains confirmed.” In other words, Claudie Blakley (whom our readers may recall being serenaded by Jeremy Northam in GOSFORD PARK, the fortunate girl) will be playing Charlotte Lucas, and Samatha Bloom is not in the film at all.

We repeat, for you dozen or so Googlers who come to this site daily looking for information on that young lady: Despite statements by individuals purporting to “know” the Bloom family, Samantha Bloom does not have a role in the upcoming film production of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. She will not be playing Charlotte Lucas. SHE IS NOT IN THE MOVIE.

EDIT 4 Feb 2005: So much for our snitty little rant. We received word today that Miss Bloom is indeed in the film as “The Rosings Governess,” we presume meaning the companion to Miss DeBourgh.

Also, the representative said that there is still no U.S. release date for the film, but a spring release is doubtful (that goes for the U.K. as well).

The Capitol Times (Madison, Wisconsin) has an interview with Emily Auerbach, the author of Searching for Jane Austen. Ms. Auerbach is distressed by the trivialization of Jane’s work and what she perceives as a misogynistic attitude in academe. (more…)

New AustenBlog Reader Sonja of sent us a lovely note to tell us about a German language Web site and mailing list maintained by “Team Jane Austen Freunde.” Danke sehr, Sonja!

The listeners of BBC Radio 4’s “Woman’s Hour” have voted Pride and Prejudice as the book that has most changed the way they see themselves, topping Jane Eyre and To Kill A Mockingbird, among others.

Brick Lane author and champion of Pride and Prejudice Monica Ali said: “If ever we wished to identify with a character, it must be Lizzie. (sic)

“She’s quick witted, lively, self assured and yet so infallibly human and she takes us on that most important journey - the path to self knowledge”.

As an aside, we would like to mention that Harper Lee, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the Editrix’s favorite non-Jane Austen book, To Kill A Mockingbird, is a Friend of Jane.

Miss Lee believes “that there is something universal in this little world, something decent to be said for it, and something to lament in its passing.” Her chief literary debt is to Jane Austen, “writing, cameo-like, in that little corner of the world of hers and making it universal.”