This is seriously cool. Alert Janeite Lorraine wrote to tell us about a new computer font based on Jane Austen’s handwriting. There’s also a complex analysis of Jane Austen’s handwriting from a technical point of view–the creator of the font seems dismissive of placing psychological traits on it. So even if you’re not interested in the font, we recommend checking out the link.

Oh, the fun we will have with this.

Download the font at Ms. Frauss’ site or here.

(The inspiration for today’s title will soon become clear. Bear with us.)

Alert Janeite AmandaJ wrote to tell us about a review of P&P3 from the Australian ABC network; the film opens there next week.

DAVID STRATTON: I think it’s a fine adaptation. Brenda Blethyn is not my favorite actress, but she’s really good in this. I think on just about every level it succeeds really well. I’m giving it four and a half.

MARGARET POMERANZ: Oh, I feel a bit mean only giving it four.

AmandaJ tells us, “These two are very respected reviewers here - and can be hard markers. So this is a fine score!” She had a chance to see the film at a preview and enjoyed it very much.

The Christian Science Monitor chooses the film as one of its “Picks” - five things they think “you’ll really like,” though we think it the sort of compliment that must disarm reproof:

Prejudiced (and proud of it)

Seinfeld may disdain puffy shirts, but even he would have to concede that they look rather fetching on Colin Firth in his career-defining role as Darcy in the 1995 BBC/A&E adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Word is that next month’s film version, ghost-written in part by Emma Thompson and starring Keira Knightley, is very good, but we doubt it will improve upon the mini-series, now available on DVD.

Gee, don’t get carried away with your enthusiasm there.

And it appears that Keira Knightley’s portrayal of Domino Harvey has become a gay icon. While we found this news as amusing as Miss Knightley herself seemed to, our No Six Degrees of Separation Rule normally would preclude reporting it on the weblog, except for this tidbit:

Knightley herself says she would duck the historians who’d come in to give lectures and etiquette lessons on the Austen set to perfect Harvey’s kickboxing routine with a trainer.

No. Comment. Not sayin’ nothing. Nope, nuh-uh. Mouth resolutely shut, keyboard under control.

Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange (which the Editrix recently reviewed) is available for preorder from barnesandnoble.com. The authoress tells us that it should be available from Amazon.com soon as well.

Alert Janeites Kirsty and Maureen wrote to tell us about Scotsman.com’s report that Mr. Darcy has topped a poll of readers’ favorite literary hero, beating out Harry Potter.

Fitzwilliam Darcy made his entrance in Jane Austen’s romantic novel Pride and Prejudice, which was published in 1813 and has remained a favourite for almost two hundred years.

The story sees the wealthy, upper-class Mr Darcy overcome his inflated personal pride to marry the spirited Lizzie Bennett, who comes from a far less privileged family.

An article in the Guardian about a literary festival in Wells poses a question that many Janeites have had:

Over lunch the present warden, Geoffrey Crossick, an urban historian by trade, described giving a talk to a school in Essex about the story of towns and cities. At the end, he asked for questions, and a young girl asked, apropos nothing, “What did they wipe their bums with?”

Geoff didn’t know the answer then, and still doesn’t. As my brother pointed out, Jane Austen is silent on the subject. It is hard to imagine Elizabeth Bennet going to the privy with a handful of wet moss, but that may be what happened. Perhaps readers could help?

We think you have your pick of two answers: the first being rational and Janeish, the second for history wonks.

1. Fictional characters don’t pee.

2. Most likely, yes.

What a delightful turn of phrase, and what a great description of Mr. Wickham!

The Chicago Sun-Times recommends the Northlight Theatre’s production of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

At the heart of Pride and Prejudice (which is, incidentally, this year’s “One Book, One Chicago” pick) is the genesis of four new marriages and a brilliant quick-sketch of one long-term marriage. And there can be little doubt that the author’s deft analysis of how people pair up may just be the key to why she has become something of a one-woman multimedia industry in the nearly two centuries since she wrote her novels.

Just about every time we posted about this play, some reader has posted a positive review in the comments. Sounds like a winner.

…almost as much as we love being patronized by film reviewers. (Yes, Roger Ebert, we’re looking at you.)

Michelle Buonfiglio of the Hometown Channel schools us purists Janeites, oh yes she does. That is, if your definition of “purist” is someone who can read and has a functioning frontal lobe. Dear.