An Op-Ed in the New York Times about a tortoise with a Very Personal Problem.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, at least among humans, that a giant tortoise in the possession of the last sperm of his species must be in want of a wife.

Poor Lonesome George.

We have been corresponding off and on with Blair Rogers, a descendant of Harris Bigg-Wither–yes, that Harris Bigg-Wither. The Harris Bigg-Wither (sorry, we love typing that name) who proposed to Jane Austen, was accepted, and then the next morning rejected. Poor fellow! One might feel sorry for him, except that had Jane gone through with it, she most likely would not have written her books, and besides, Harris made a love match with a nice young lady less than two years later, and they had many children and lived happily ever after. Their youngest son, Charles, emigrated to New Zealand, and Blair is his descendant. They are very proud of their almost-relationship to Jane Austen, and Blair has set up a genealogical site for his family that includes information about Harris and some of his famous relatives. Just think, Jane could have been related by marriage to Sir William Blackstone, W.V. Awdry (creator of Thomas the Tank Engine), and even the Duchess of York! Check it out, it’s fun to click around and find out so much about the family of Jane’s friends and her spurned suitor.

More Lion Pride and Prejudice, actually. We posted a shorter version of this previously, but the longer version is really fun.

Thanks to a Mysterious Benefactress for the tip!

Only a couple of things, actually, but always enough to snark.

Alert Janeite Franka sent us a link to a New York Times article at a James MacAvoy fan site in which Mr. MacAvoy discusses his approach to the character of Tom Lefroy.

I didn’t like the script, I was afraid Lefroy would be too Darcy

Gee, ya think?

The payoff comes in a scene featuring the rich uncle with whom Lefroy lives in London. Played by Ian Richardson (in what turned out to be his last performance), he’s a hanging judge who reveres property and takes satisfaction in eliminating the poor, one neck at a time. Lefroy is expecting a visit from Jane. When the door knocker sounds, Mr. McAvoy expresses Lefroy’s exuberance by sliding down the banister to answer it. Whereupon Mr. Richardson, perfectly in character, looks at him as if he has suddenly become some sort of unidentifiable but repellent insect.

Hee!

Alert Bigg-Wither Descendant Blair (more on that later) sent us an article from New Zealand Listener magazine called The Bluffer’s Guide to Janemania that made us laugh.

Becoming Jane starts this month. That’s the film based on the book that extrapolated an entire affair and broken heart out of a couple of letters she wrote to her sister?

*snick*

Modern critics are likely to take issue with the fact that she didn’t address her geopolitical times - the Napoleonic wars, slavery and whatnot. Isn’t that a bit like criticising the Wiggles for only ever singing children’s songs?

Excellent snark, Kiwis!