According to BetterHumans.com Jane Austen was suspected of…well, one must read it for oneself.

While never officially diagnosed as having autism, a number of historical figures are highly suspected of having it. Newton, Nietzsche, Einstein, Turing and Wittgenstein are seminal thinkers who all exhibited autistic-like traits. In the arts, Jane Austen [emphasis added], Beethoven, Mozart and van Gogh also likely had autism. And today, prominent figures such as Bob Dylan, Woody Allen, Keanu Reeves, Al Gore and, of course, the poster-boy for high-functioning autistics, Bill Gates, are all suspected of having autism.

The source of this information (if one could call it that) might be the Autistic Society, which shares the opinion. Absolutely no evidence is given.

So Miss Austen, that keen observer of relational interactions between her fellow creatures, was afflicted with a syndrome that, among other things, renders simple facial expressions indecipherable?

Will this comfort parents of autistic children, or simply keep them in Happy Happy Denial Land whilst the early intervention window slips past them?

The official date of release is not until January 12, so you might not be able to find it in your local bookstore (though our understanding is that book release dates are rather fluid in most cases), but we noticed that Jane Austen’s Guide to Dating by Lauren Henderson is available to purchase on Amazon.

Written Voices Radio has an excerpt from the book and we are informed that an audio interview with the author will be posted there soon.

The Editrix was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of the book and will be posting a longer review in the next day or so. (We liked it, more than we expected to, frankly, and want to go out for tea or perhaps something stronger with Ms. Henderson.) In the meantime, here is some information from the publisher. (more…)

The 1999 adaptation of MANSFIELD PARK is being re-released on DVD on Tuesday, January 4, 2005. The DVD includes an audio commentary and a “Making of” featurette. There do not seem to be any additional features than on the first release of the DVD.

A press release from the Derbyshire County Council summarizes PRIDE AND PREJUDICE filming activity in the area.

Locations for the current film starring Keira Knightley, Matthew MacFadyen and Dame Judi Dench include Chatsworth - Jane Austen’s model for Mr Darcy’s Pemberley country seat; the National Park’s Eastern Moors Estate, including Stanage Edge and North Lees Hall, which is also featured in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre; and land off the Snake Pass.

North Lees Hall is thought to be the model for Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre. Since Chatsworth is serving as Pemberley, Burghley House as Rosings Park, Groombridge Place as Longbourn, and Basildon Park as Netherfield, we can only assume that North Lees Hall plays a minor role in the film.

Stanage Edge appears to be the rock formation from this photo of the filming. What are men to rocks and mountains, indeed.