Review by MJ Ryan

If, in casual conversation, you have used the term “Janeite” to describe yourself, then chances are you know everything this book was created to tell you. But, for those that are new to Jane Austen and the Regency period this is a great little book. When I call it a ‘little book’ I’m not being derogatory. The book is small, more of a handbook than anything, accented with lovely drawings by Henrietta Webb.

The chapters are short and well organized, allowing it to be used as a quick reference. Don’t understand why Elinor is so scandalized by Marianne riding alone with Willoughby? Confused about Elizabeth’s horror at Mr. Collins introducing himself to Mr. Darcy? You’ll be able to find the answer to these questions, and others, with relative ease. The author also uses, to great effect, examples from Austen’s work and letters to illustrate her points. I learned quite a bit, but that compliment comes with a caveat: although I love Jane Austen, I’m by no means an expert. The manners and mores of the Regency period are a complete mystery to me. What little I know I’ve learned from the boards at Pemberley, reading Austen Blog and the text of Jane Austen’s novels. As a matter of fact, this book struck me as an essay you might find on the Internet, expanded a bit for publication to cash in on the cottage industry of all things Jane that have sprouted since Colin Firth dove into the waters of the fictional Pemberley.

The book suffers from not being clear on what time period it’s in or who its ideal reader is. Is it a book for the 21st century reader explaining the behaviors of Regency society or is it for the children of the Regency period, helping them learn the ins and outs of current manners? The book would have been more enjoyable overall if it was clearly the latter, and written in Jane Austen’s voice. As it is, the vacillation between past and present tense is confusing.

If you know someone new to Austen then this book will be perfect. For those that are ready to take the next step to becoming a “Janeite” or those already among that esteemed group, this book should only serve to fill out your library.

Jane Austen’s Guide to Good Manners is now available.

We received more detailed information about the activities that will take place on Jane Austen Day, Sunday, October 15, 2006, at Winterthur Museum in Winterthur, Delaware.

• Tapestry Historic Dance Ensemble presentation of dances discussed in Jane Austen’s books at 1 pm
• “Jane Austen: The Mistress of Ironies” lecture by Elizabeth Steele of the Jane Austen Society of North America at 2 pm.
• “Meet Jane Austen” - Claire Golden Drake, an actor from the Vagabond Acting Troupe will appear as the author Jane Austen. Ms. Drake is also appearing as Jane Austen at our Family Day on Saturday, November 4th at “Book Behind the Film.”
• Selections from the works of Jane Austen’s novels will be read at 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm and 3 pm.
• Guests will be able to participate in period dances familiar during Austen’s lifetime (1775-1817) at 3:30 pm.

Throughout the Day

• Letterbox Hunt exploring Winterthur’s beautiful garden inspired by the words of Jane Austen.
• Learn the intricacies of “tea etiquette” in the early 19th century.
• Paper boat making and sailing
• Games; Cup and Ball & Hoop & Stick
• Be sure to visit the exhibit Fashion and Film to see costuming from film adaptations of Emma, Sense & Sensibilibty and Pride and Predjudice.

Admission to the Jane Austen Day events is included in a Gardens and Galleries pass.

Alert Janeite Laurie sent us more YouTube hilarity…Pride and Prejudice as a rap!

They’re not exactly Run-DMC, but it was a’ight (as Randy Jackson would say). But shouldn’t they have thanked JANE AUSTEN in their MTV Awards speech?

Delaware Online has an article about the new exhibition “Fashion in Film” at the Winterthur Museum in Winterthur, Delaware. The exhibition includes costumes from the film of EMMA starring Gwyneth Paltrow, P&P 1995, and S&S 1995.

For her role as matchmaker Emma Woodhouse in the 1996 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel “Emma,” Paltrow was fitted for a simple, cream-colored, high-waisted silk gown with floral-embroidered netting.

The sweet, short-sleeve gown was a faithful reproduction of an 1810 bridal dress. But the camera can add portly pounds — even on pencil-thin actresses — and six inches of fabric had to be taken in at the top, according to Nancy Lawson, a U.S. representative for Cosprop Limited, the British company that makes period costumes for a variety of films.

“The director thought it would make her look fat,” says Lawson, rolling her eyes. “Like she would ever look fat!”

Hollywood makes us itch, really.

Some of these costumes (or similar items) also were featured in the “Jane Austen in Film” exhibition at the Museum of Costume in Bath, which we were fortunate enough to see last year. We rather hope that the stunningly beautiful costumes from Persuasion 1995 are included in the Winterthur exhibit, as they were the highlight of the exhibition for us. (Miss Elliot’s gorgeous yellow velvet spencer with intricately embroidered cuffs and collar and matching hat and the gowns that Elizabeth and Anne wore to the concert were all drop-dead gorgeous. We had to be dragged away from our place in front of the glass case.)

Winterthur also will be having a Jane Austen Day on Sunday, October 15, which will feature Austen-themed activities and a lecture.

We had a request from Chris Lough, who is planning an Austen-themed event and is searching for Jane Austen (or period) cosplay or role-playing groups (not an online group, but a real-life group who dress up and go out) that would be willing to take part in the event. The event will take place in New York City, so the group should be able to easily travel there. If you are a member of such a group or know of anyone who would be interested, e-mail Chris at chris AT firebrandliterary DOT com. (That’s an e-mail address…read it out loud.)

An article in the Toronto Star discusses Jane Austen’s Juvenilia, the stories that she wrote as a young girl.

McMaster, 69, who will be speaking at the conference, says Austen’s early works reveal “something about her cheekiness, her zest, lots of things you really don’t associate with the six novels (which she considers more controlled and decorous) — a kind of chaotic greed and things that are gratuitous fun.”

“The Beautifull (sic) Cassandra,” a 12-chapter long story where none of the chapters is more than three sentences long, is a good case in point.

In the fourth chapter, Cassandra goes to “a Pastry-cooks where she devoured six ices, refused to pay for them, knocked down the Pastry Cook and walked away.”

The article also is about JASNA’s Toronto region, which is having an event focused on the Juvenilia this Saturday.

Lynn Marie Macy, the playwright of NORTHANGER ABBEY that will be produced by Theater Ten Ten later this month, sent us the art for the upcoming production. (Click on the thumbnail to see a larger version.)

Alert Janeite Heather L also let us know that Playing With Canons, the play anthology that includes the script of the play, can be ordered directly from New York Theatre Experience at a special pre-publication price of $20 with free shipping. The retail price will be $26, so this is a great deal. The site also has an interview with the playwright.

ETA: Heather posted in comments that there will be a publication party on October 17 at Theater Ten Ten, with excerpts from four plays (including NA) performed, and the playwrights will be available to sign copies as well.

Alert Janeite Franka wrote to tell us that according to a posting at pemberley.com, the BBC One’s FILM 2006 will feature a visit to the set of BECOMING JANE. The show will be broadcast on Monday, October 9 at 11:15 p.m.

As her latest film opens worldwide, Anne Hathaway is doing lots of interviews, many of which mention the film, but with no real new information; however, we were rather amused by a revelation in an article on an Irish site.

Hathaway’s recent run has, naturally, made her actress mum very proud indeed. Well, she was certainly proud when her little girl got to share screentime with Dame Julie Andrews. And even prouder when she signed up to play opposite Meryl Streep. When her daughter informed her mother that she was about to play the young Jane Austen and one of her co-stars would be Maggie Smith, the reaction went beyond pride. To full-blown jealousy. “I actually got into a little bit of trouble with my mum when I quoted her reaction in an American magazine,” says Hathaway. “I said that her reaction was, ‘I’m f**kin’ jealous’, and my mum just freaked out, because she would never use that word. I had thrown it in to add a little extra spice to the punchline, but I won’t be doing anything like that in a hurry again, I can tell you.”

Now, Anne dear. Don’t be Making Up Stories.