JASNA has received permission from the Modern Language Association to offer a recording of the “What’s the Word?” radio program on Pride and Prejudice, broadcast this past week (and which will be broadcast on other public radio stations throughout the U.S.) featuring Austen scholars Marcia McClintock Folsom, Rachel Brownstein and Susan Staves. The program is 30 minutes long and discusses the plot and social context of the novel. Do check it out–it’s quite good. (As the site points out, only those with broadband should attempt to stream it–but those with dialup and lots of time can try downloading it.)

The JASNA Web site is becoming a really impressive resource for Jane Austen fans! (And the RSS feed is keeping us up to date on the latest additions!)

After being generally disappointed by the first two selections in ITV’s Jane Austen Season, as an eternal optimist (stop laughing) we are looking forward to Persuasion, airing tomorrow. From the beginning there has been an air of trying to get it right about this production rather than attempting to recreate it.

Alert Janeite Holly alerted us to a couple of articles about the film which only serve to increase our optimism. The Manchester Evening News has an interview with Sally Hawkins, who comes off as an intelligent and thoughtful woman. The article, unsurprisingly, discusses The Snog up front and center:

She adds: “I think the purists will have something to say about that but I hope they’re forgiving and understand that we’re appealing to a modern audience who expect it now.

Sally, seriously: if it’s not out of place, we Middle-Aged Austen Whores have no objection to a nice smooch. Really! (more…)

As part of the “Beyond the Book” events currently going on in Florida, the Little Bookworms bookstore in Lakewood Ranch will hold a Pride and Prejudice Mother-Daughter Tea Party this afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be a reading from the novel and monologues performed by teenage actresses from Suncoast Youth Theater. The Bradenton Herald has more information.

Reading this, we become somewhat resigned to the “teen edition” of Pride and Prejudice that Bloomsbury has put out (we hasten to add that the book is not abridged in any way–just has a supposedly “teen-friendly” cover and supplemental material). This sounds like a great event.

We think this is just online and not in stores, but Tesco has The Jane Austen Collection–a boxed set of DVDs of the BBC Jane Austen adaptations from the 70s and 80s except for P&P and Persuasion, which are the 90s versions–on sale today for £49.99, a savings of £50.

Becoming Jane has been released in Australia, and the media is right on top of it. The Courier-Mail has the perhaps inevitable article about why anyone would want to make an Austen biopic.

Austen wrote beautifully romantic stories but away from the novels she appeared to be more of a novice, dying, aged 41, never having married.

Not that she didn’t have a chance. Some people believe she received three proposals.

Three? We can think of one definite, and one possible (her sister-in-law’s gormless brother). Someone remind us of the third. (One hopes they don’t mean Tom Lefroy!) (more…)

Considering the AP article about the Christie’s auction of the so-called “Rice portrait” contains some of what is called “mushy language” at the Editrix’s travail du journée, we are delighted to see that JASNA has published more extensive information about the portrait on their Web site.

Elsa Solender, past JASNA president, has written a short overview of the situation with more information about the auction: it will take place on April 19, 2007 at 2 p.m. 10 a.m. (please note change in time), and there will be free viewings of the portrait at Christie’s Rockefeller Center galleries on April 15-18 (see the article for details on time). The auction itself also is open to the public.

JASNA also has uploaded a PDF of the article from the Summer 2004 issue of JASNA News about the portrait, which we referenced in our previous post on the portrait. (The Editrix wrote a long essay about the article on her personal blog.) The article contains more extensive information about the claims of the painting as a portrait of Jane Austen.

There also is a link to the Christie’s listing, which has extensive information about the provenance of the painting and how it passed through the Austen and Rice families to the present owner as well as information about the various details that Christie’s took into account in deciding upon the painting’s authenticity.

Singer/songwriter Rosie Bell decided that Jane Austen’s female characters need jobs, and did a little career counseling for the ladies.

Elizabeth Bennet is of course the most attractive young woman in English fiction – witty, intelligent and outspoken. She can play and sing, though not brilliantly (”more pleasing than capital”), that is, she can project her personality in performance. She can be lead singer of a rock band and will give great chat between the songs and wow them at interviews.

Of her four sisters, there is Jane Bennet who believes the best of everybody so she can be a much put upon social worker, who is careful not to be “judgemental”; Mary Bennet who mistakes jargon for knowledge so can teach Cultural Studies somewhere; while the noisy and flirtatious Lydia Bennet is a pole dancer in a club; and the insipid Kitty Bennet, always following her sister, runs the club’s cloakroom.

Rosie makes inspired choices for all the ladies in each of the novels. Do check out this hilarious post!

The Page 99 Test blog recruited Deirdre Lynch, editor of the Oxford World’s Edition of Persuasion and the book Janeites: Austen’s Disciples and Devotees, to give Persuasion the Page 99 Test: “Open the book to page ninety-nine and read, and the quality of the whole will be revealed to you.” (Ford Madox Ford) Professor Lynch used the Oxford World’s Edition of the novel for the test.

As it happens, p. 99 takes us straight to the opening of the novel’s second volume and so to a moment when, as seasoned readers of early-nineteenth-century fiction, we are expecting to gear up for transition. We’re at chapter 1 again, and primed for a fresh start. Persuasion, however, investigates the situation of a woman who — older than is the norm for an Austen protagonist — feels as if change is no longer possible. Persuaded to break off her engagement with Captain Wentworth eight years before the novel opens, Anne Elliot looks initially to be a heroine who already may have missed her only chance at a story, who is forced accordingly to live off and in memory. With the end of a long war, Wentworth returns to England and back into her social circle, but Anne won’t let herself re-open the book on the past and let herself hope: “Now they were as strangers; nay, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted. It was a perpetual estrangement.” Still, Volume 1 ends with signs of change. The characters visit the seaside, Anne, revived by the change of scene, seems to start to live in the present — and then, suddenly, there comes an accident of unexpected, frightening seriousness: Louisa Musgrove (the woman Wentworth appears to be courting) falls from atop a breakwater. As careful readers, witnessing this accident, we will have noticed how at this moment of panic, Wentworth, usually in command, now helpless, turns to Anne for assistance.

We wonder what Page 99 was in the little duodecimo volumes of the original? Hmmm.

(Hey, they mention Buffy, and the references suggest themselves.) Alert Janeites Ann and Kirsten sent us a link to a conversation with David Shapard, the editor of The Annotated Pride and Prejudice, on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation,” discussing the historical context of the novel and how the footnotes illuminate the text. Follow the link to listen to the conversation online.

Jay Handelman reviews the Asolo Repertory’s production of Pride and Prejudice, currently on stage in Sarasota, Florida. First he points out a common problem with just about any literary adaptation:

There have been more than a dozen stage adaptations of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” and none of them has ever approached the popularity of the book. This sweeping story of romance in early 19th century has so much to tell that it’s nearly impossible to get it all onto the stage in any way that matches the grace of Austen’s classic novel. Transforming all the wonderfully expressive, internal thoughts of the characters into something dramatic on stage represents a formidable challenge.

Tell us about it, bubba.

Catherine Sheehy’s new version, commissioned by the Asolo Repertory Theater, gets in most of the major plot lines and some minor subplots, but relies too heavily on narration. The audience is told what happened rather than seeing events unfold. And director Mark Rucker, Sheehy’s longtime collaborator, tends to have his cast members line up to have conversations, diminishing any sense of natural exchanges.

[. . .]

The three-hour running time gives the playwright a chance to deal with a lot of the story, but Sheehy has not found a way to also get the audience to really care about Austen’s characters.

Well, it’s early yet. We hope some of our Gentle Readers get to see this production and send us a review!

All the excitement over the reveal of the cover art for the last Harry Potter book prompted Alert Janeite Sarah O. to send us a note pointing out an interesting tidbit from J.K. Rowling’s author photo from the “adult edition” of the book.

It may be a common promo picture, but I was looking at the new adult cover art for the final Harry Potter book, and noticed JK Rowling has a copy of Jane Austen’s letters on her book case (Above her left shoulder, i.e. on the right of the pic). When I think about it, Rowling has used letters in some very important ways in her books; perhaps she learned this from Austen?

An excellent point! Discuss!

*sigh* Guess we’ll have to make a category for this, though every feeling revolts! Alert Janeite Elizabeth sent us a link with a little more information about the upcoming ITV program (not sure if it’s meant to be a one-off or a series), Lost In Austen.

ITV is to turn Pride and Prejudice into a time-travel saga. The broadcaster wants to emulate the success of the BBC One series Life on Mars, in which a detective is catapulted back in time, and build on the triumph of a run of Jane Austen adaptations, featuring stars such as Billie Piper.

In Lost in Austen, Amanda, a chardonnay-swigging West London girl, discovers a bonnet-wearing woman in her bathroom who introduces herself as Elizabeth Bennet. Through a series of accidents, Amanda is transported to Regency England, where she melts before Mr Darcy’s brooding glare. Miss Bennet, meanwhile, breathes life into the modern girl’s useless boyfriend.

It’s official. They’re filming fan fiction.

Alert Janeite AmandaJ sent us a link to ABC’s “Margaret and David” review of Becoming Jane, which has just opened Down Under.

DAVID: Margaret?

MARGARET: It seems like a retrograde version of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

DAVID: Sort of, yeah.

MARGARET: Doesn’t it, because, I mean, we just had Keira Knightley striding through the fields, getting mud-splattered and realistic in the last version, and this seems to me terribly cliched and rather unimaginative, particularly in its casting.

DAVID: Yeah, it’s a case of deja vu, isn’t it?

MARGARET: Yes. It’s sort of a shame that they broached this subject that should have been really interesting and really just tried to regurgitate what we’ve seen quite a few times before.

I’ve been sitting here trying to think of an appropriate way to introduce this, but words fail me. I think I’ll let it speak for itself:

Who people (and animals) trusted before the Gorton’s Fisherman

And now we know how dear old Jane invested the profits from her novels. Thanks to Alert Janeites Lynne and DeeDee for the heads up!

“Dear creature! How much I am obliged to you; and when you have finished Udolpho, we will read the Italian together; and I have made out a list of ten or twelve more of the same kind for you.”
“Have you, indeed! How glad I am! What are they all?”
“I will read you their names directly; here they are, in my pocketbook. Castle of Wolfenbach, Clermont, Mysterious Warnings, Necromancer of the Black Forest, Midnight Bell, Orphan of the Rhine, and Horrid Mysteries. Those will last us some time.”
“Yes, pretty well; but are they all horrid, are you sure they are all horrid?”

– Northanger Abbey, ch. 6

If you were recently introduced to Northanger Abbey through the ITV film, or if you’ve already read the book, you may be curious to know more about the Gothic novels Catherine and Isabella planned to read together.

The Castle of Wolfenbach was written by Eliza Parsons and published in 1793. Our heroine is a “wretched Matilda” as per Henry Tilney’s Gothic pastiche, and we meet her in flight from her lecherous uncle, seeking refuge in the suitably ancient and haunted Castle of Wolfenbach. As in Northanger Abbey, Matilda explores a forbidden wing of the castle, and makes the very discovery Catherine Morland had hoped for: the horrifying mystery of the missing Countess of Wolfenbach. But when Matilda’s uncle tracks her down, can she escape his despicable intentions? Will she ever discover the secret of her parentage? And what must and will happen to throw a suitable hero in her way? (more…)

Philip Sheppard, composer of the ITV Jane Austen season trailer and web site music, writes to tell us that Crystallised Beauty is now available on his MySpace profile, so you may link or add it to your own pages if you wish. The sheet music is being prepared and will also be available from his web site as a free PDF. Last, an iTunes release for the complete set of ten piano pieces is in progress, release date to be announced.

Thanks for the update!

We are very fond of Bath; we call it “The Happiest Place on Earth” (except after 6 p.m. when one cannot get a bloody cup of tea). It’s so beautifully preserved (and rebuilt where necessary) that one is constantly seeing reminders of Jane Austen’s life or novels. Perhaps this is ironic, as it is an accepted truth that Jane was not fond of Bath, or at least did not like living there, but the city nonetheless is a treat for any Janeite. Jane Austen in Bath: Walking Tours of the Writer’s City is a beautifully-presented little book that is an excellent companion for travelers, including those of the armchair variety.

Ms. Reeve is a Bath resident, and the book shows her familiarity with and pleasure in the city. The walks are quite short, and one could take two or three in a single day, though visitors with more time can ramble, visit shops, and read the information in the book about Jane Austen’s life and works related to that area of Bath as well as history of the city. The walks hit all the main tourist spots, and anyone who follows them will be as familiar as Jane herself was with the geography of this compact little city.

Period illustrations and maps give a real feel for the city, and travelers will enjoy seeing how little (or how much) Bath has changed since the 18th century.

Jane Austen in Bath is a beautiful little book, an excellent gift for any Janeite or even for oneself.

We were not really moved to review ITV’s adaptation of Northanger Abbey, but several of our syncophantic minions, er, Gentle Readers seem interested in our opinion, so here it is. We found it a mildly diverting amusement but hardly great. It was obviously done on the cheap (did they think we wouldn’t notice that every outdoor scene in “Bath” was shot in front of the same arch?), shoehorned into 90 or so minutes so there’s plenty of time for adverts. Not that we think ITV unentitled to make money from its presentations, but if they’re really serious about this Quality Television thing, they might want to think about spreading these things over a couple of nights. It’s television, after all, you can do that, and then the Evil Austen Bloggers might not get all snarky on you. No promises, though. (more…)

Review by TeresaAF

I am reminded of a story: young woman meets handsome though unpromising young man whom she promptly abandons for what she assumes is a sure thing, only to discover soon after that the sure thing was more to her detriment than to her benefit.

The above is not from Jane Austen’s Persuasion; it is a story out of my own life, and I would certainly never presume to fancy myself as having the sweetness of temper of Anne Elliot or that my hopeless young man even remotely resembled in Frederick Wentworth in word or deed.

Yet Paula Marantz Cohen gives us a good balance in Jane Austen in Scarsdale or Love, Death, and the SATs by replicating a similar Persuasionesque situation, though not necessarily feeling obligated to fashion her heroine into the identical image of Sir Walter Elliot’s second daughter. (more…)

Not too much fussing in the press after NA07. While AustenBlog visitors seem mostly pleased with it, the newspaper writers are not as impressed.

The Times didn’t hate it, but thinks they missed the point.

Some say that Jane Austen cannot be trusted in Davies’s hands, that her two inches of ivory (as she described her canvas) get crushed in his ape-like mitts. This underestimates the robustness of masterpieces and misjudges Austen, who wielded a pen so sharp that it could hit Davies where it hurt.

[. . .]

Davies was not wrong to source her wanton imagination in a wannabe libido. He overegged it, of course, because he is Andrew Davies. While we never exactly see her reading one-handed, there is no doubting why she is so annoyed when her sisters interrupt her alone with a book in the long grass.

Oh dear Jane. Poor, dear, sweet, naïve Catherine. What has been done to you? (more…)