Radio Times readers have voted Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s wedding No. 3 on their list of all-time favorite television weddings, behind Charlene and Scott of NEIGHBOURS and Ross and Rachel of FRIENDS.

An essay in today’s Los Angeles Times on busy boomers finding time to read (or listen to) books, including those written by Jane Austen.

Covetous of everyone else’s book clubs, Howard, my neighbor at work, suggests we start one of our own. Like me, Howard is an English major gone awry; 35 years out of college, we miss our books. “What’s the most important book you’ve never read?” Howard asks one day, leaning in the door of my office. I pause a moment, wondering if I should tell the truth, then blurt out “Pride and Prejudice.” He shakes his head. “That needs to be rectified right away.” A week later, we stand around the water cooler, assessing whether we had known all along that Elizabeth Bennet would marry Mr. Darcy. I admit I wasn’t sure; Howard admits to having seen the “Masterpiece Theatre” version on TV, so the plot was fresh in his mind.

We linger a while, reluctant to go back to work. Then Howard says shyly, “Let’s do ‘Northanger Abbey’ next.” How to account for this midlife reading fever? My theory is that, like so many other crises that beset us as we approach the threshold of old age, it’s a struggle to cram as much experience as possible into the time that’s left. The expectation is that people shut down as they get older — they grow crotchety, conservative, intolerant. But just as often they open up, becoming more curious, more observant, more eager to learn. By the time we reach late middle age, we no longer have anything to prove. We’re free.

The Editrix has decided upon a summer reading program of Books Jane Austen Would Have Read (inspired by a cyber-acquaintance’s *waves to Robin* suggestion that she read Pamela) that will include works by Mr. Richardson, Mme. d’Arblay and Mrs. Radcliffe and possibly Mr. Scott–sorry, Sir Walter–and Miss Edgeworth, if we can squeeze them in.

In related book club news, the Reader’s Circle of the thestate.com will be concentrating on books inspired by Jane Austen’s work. April’s selection is The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler and May’s will be Such A Girl by Karen Siplin.

A stage production of NORTHANGER ABBEY will be presented at the College of William and Mary on April 8, 9 and 10, 2005. The show will be staged at the Little Theatre, located in the basement of the Campus Center building at the corner of Jamestown Road and South Boundary Street in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The performances will be on Friday, April 8, and Saturday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 10 at 1:30 p.m. There is no charge for the show, but donations are accepted to pay for costumes and advertising.

We’ve been receiving reports of the production as it has progressed and it sounds like a most charming and memorable show. The director/adapter/star is most enthusiastic about the project and the subject matter.

For more information, call Amy at (757) 221-4322.

EDITED TO ADD: The venue location for the Saturday performance has changed. The performance will take place in Andrews 101, which is attached to Phi Beta Kappa Hall (online map). The performance will still take place at 7:30, and the details of the other two performances remain unchanged.