The Independent has a report on Jane Austen Weekend in Lyme Regis. Unfortunately the piece smacks a little of let’s-mock-the-weirdo-Janeites. Surely there were some reasonable, ordinary Jane Austen fans who wanted to hang out together in Lyme?

Shervington speaks of the unflinching realism of Austen’s observations (”If you have wealth, it doesn’t mean you’re virtuous! Not at all!”), the radical nature of her authorship (”Until then, novels had been just on one subject! They were not respectable!”) and the courtesies afforded her by persons of distinction (”The Prince Regent invited her to Carlton House – which wasn’t open to the public at all!”).

She says that Austen’s few but pointed comments on the Peninsular War have been praised by historians. She then spreads out her treasures – the rose-coloured cockade of egret’s feathers that Austen wore to celebrate Nelson’s victory at the Nile, a thimble in an ivory case, and a collar in white cotton lawn, embroidered by her very own fingers.

Is it really that difficult to believe that seeing such artifacts would be incredibly interesting to a Jane Austen fan?

Whether their appreciation goes very deep, however, is another question. The man to whom I mention my dislike of Mr Bennet for his selfishness and irresponsibility is startled and says: “I think you’re being a bit postmodernist there.”

Why is that not deep? He disagrees with you. He’s allowed. The Editrix is a strong defender of Mr. Bennet in Janeite circles; though we acknowledge he’s not Father of the Year, we enjoy him as a character, and don’t think he is meant to be utterly condemned.

At one point there is music behind his words, as the memorial parade approaches with its marching band – an obbligato like that of the wars being fought at the time of the Austen heroines’ teatime flirtations. They file along the next street, visible through a gap in the houses. And as we glimpse them, we are reminded that some aspects of the world of Jane Austen are still with us and, sadly, always will be.

That’s not bad, but don’t think Jane Austen or her characters were unaware of the war, just because they did not talk of it much.