If you haven’t already added the Oxford World’s Classics editions to your Jane Austen library, now is a great time to do so: the six novels have recently been reissued, and Lady Susan, The Watsons, and Sandition are all included in the Northanger Abbey volume. Classic, lovely cover art draws in the reader and the work inside is just as appealing. A variety of Austen scholars supply notes to explain each novel’s text and a related bibliography. Appendices covering rank, social class and dancing will also help better understand the world about which Jane Austen wrote. A few special appendices have been included in Mansfield Park and Persuasion: an introduction to the play Lover’s Vows; the original ending of Persuasion; and both volumes feature an appendix about Jane Austen and the Navy.

Oxford World’s Classics has also published an excellent edition of the Memoir of Jane Austen and other Family Recollections by James Edward Austen-Leigh. This edition of the Memoir includes the Austen family tree and a chronology of the family, shorter recollections by Henry Austen, Caroline Austen, and Anna Lefroy, and excerpts from family letters. Explanatory notes, other notes on the text, and a bibliography invite further exploration.

The Oxford World Classics editions are both appealing and informative for the beginner and bring a fresh, vibrant perspective on much-loved favorites to seasoned Austen fans and academics.

We received an e-mail from Gentle Reader Jenn, who wanted to purchase a good annotated edition of Jane Austen’s novels, perhaps with some commentary. We thought it a timely subject for Books Are Nice Week, and decided to share our own favorites and invite our readers to share theirs.

The workhorse of the library at AustenBlog World Headquarters is the Oxford Illustrated Editions of the novels. Not only are these the definitive edition for JASNA and the Jane Austen Society’s publications, they are good solid hardback editions, a great size to easily hold or tuck into a bag, and have well-edited texts as well as invaluable supplemental material such as notes, chronologies, characters lists (with their Christian names, the names of their estates, their education, their fortunes, and their family connections), explanations of period details, excerpts from works mentioned in the novels (such as “Lovers’ Vows” and Catherine Morland’s Gothic reading material), period illustrations of costumes and carriages, and other information. The six volumes of the series include the six novels (Persuasion and Northanger Abbey are combined in one volume) and a volume of “Minor Works” including the unfinished pieces, Lady Susan, and the juvenilia. This set was first published in the 1930s, and we know Janeites with very early editions, carefully kept and full of years of handwritten marginalia. This set, quite plainly, is a keeper.

However, there are more modern editions that also are excellent additions to a Janeite’s library. One of the most recent, and making a determined bid to replace the Oxford Editions in the Janeite pantheon, is the Cambridge Edition of the novels. These books are absolutely jam-packed with information and essays by the most respected Austen scholars in the world today. They are, however, really, really spendy. ($999 for the nine-volume set.) You can pick up individual volumes more cheaply on the used market, but we suspect CUP is not really shooting for the rank-and-file Janeite’s library but for the university library market.

Fortunately, there is a solution for the Janeite who just wants a good, reasonably priced set of the novels or who prefers paperback editions. Oxford World’s Classics has just released refreshed versions of their series, which features scholarly introductions and editing. The series includes a refreshed edition of James Edward Austen-Leigh’s Memoir, and Northanger Abbey includes Lady Susan and the two unfinished works. Cub Reporter Heather L. has reviewed the series for AustenBlog.

Another very popular set of the novels is published by Penguin Classics. They are trade-paperback-size and contain scholarly introductions and notes. We received a recent, inadvertent review of these books from the Editrix’s sister, who is new to Jane Austen. She purchased this edition of Persuasion and raved about how the notes and additions increased her understanding and appreciation of the novel (which she raved about as well!). We immediately purchased P&P and S&S in the same editions for her.

Any of these editions would be an excellent addition to a Janeite’s library. We know there are lots of others; do please share your favorites in comments!

Alert Janeite Laurel Ann let us know that fans of S&S95 who hoped to be married at the same 15th-century church in which Col. Brandon and Marianne took their fictional vows might have some disappointment to contend with.

Since the 1995 film, the church has been busy performing weddings for those who loved the movie; but as of 18 months ago, structural issues with the bell tower have not allowed happy couples to have the bells rung for their wedding, and they went elsewhere. The church is now engaged in rebuilding the tower so that it will be once again safe to ring the bells.

“The Life of Wylie” has an entry on Lost in Austen that gives us–yes! the tar-hearted spinster purist of AustenBlog!–the faintest stirrings of hope.

Before you mention it, the cast claim comparisons with Life On Mars are wide of the mark.

Oh fine, blame the marketers.

I saw episode one of the new four-part ITV1 drama yesterday.

It includes a scene where Amanda, played by Jemima Rooper, sings Petula Clark’s Downtown to Mr Darcy and co.

“It was bizarre – a very odd thing to do,” Jemima told us.

It sounds like it just might be…actual character development. Maybe Amanda’s not as much of a Mary Sue as we feared. Or maybe we’re just a hopeless sucker. But we cannot help thinking that it can’t but be significant–and infuriating–that ITV is giving this four hours and only gave MP, NA and Persuasion 90 minutes EACH.

Thanks to Alert Janeite Patty for the link!

An article in the Daily Mail on general ITV retrenching mentions,

One said: ‘There is no question that content is still key to turning around ITV’s fortunes. But we will have to think carefully about where the money is being spent.

‘Drama is a hugely expensive area - usually costing in excess of £500,000 an hour to make.

‘We will have to look at the plans for big scale productions such as period dramas carefully.’

The broadcaster had some success with its Jane Austen season last year, but has shelved plans to follow it up with another season of classics.

Incidentally, Amazon UK is listing street date for the Region 2 DVD of Lost in Austen as September 29 (Michaelmas!).

We blogged about these a while back, but they quickly sold out. Paper Menagerie’s Etsy shop now has Moleskine journals with covers featuring the Jane Austen silhouette screenprinted onto kraft paper. If that doesn’t quite float your boat, the blog says, “Look for the black and silver version, as well as some lux planners, in the coming days.”

Books Are Nice Week Continues…a day late (we did say we were flying by the seat of our pants)…with an excerpt from Mansfield Park, in which Mr. Tom Bertram amuses us more than he should.

Fanny could listen no farther. Listening and wondering were all suspended for a time, for Mr. Bertram was in the room again; and though feeling it would be a great honour to be asked by him, she thought it must happen. He came towards their little circle; but instead of asking her to dance, drew a chair near her, and gave her an account of the present state of a sick horse, and the opinion of the groom, from whom he had just parted. Fanny found that it was not to be, and in the modesty of her nature immediately felt that she had been unreasonable in expecting it. When he had told of his horse, he took a newspaper from the table, and looking over it, said in a languid way, “If you want to dance, Fanny, I will stand up with you.” With more than equal civility the offer was declined; she did not wish to dance. “I am glad of it,” said he, in a much brisker tone, and throwing down the newspaper again, “for I am tired to death. I only wonder how the good people can keep it up so long. They had need be all in love, to find any amusement in such folly; and so they are, I fancy. If you look at them you may see they are so many couple of lovers–all but Yates and Mrs. Grant–and, between ourselves, she, poor woman, must want a lover as much as any one of them. A desperate dull life hers must be with the doctor,” making a sly face as he spoke towards the chair of the latter, who proving, however, to be close at his elbow, made so instantaneous a change of expression and subject necessary, as Fanny, in spite of everything, could hardly help laughing at. “A strange business this in America, Dr. Grant! What is your opinion? I always come to you to know what I am to think of public matters.”

“My dear Tom,” cried his aunt soon afterwards, “as you are not dancing, I dare say you will have no objection to join us in a rubber; shall you?” Then leaving her seat, and coming to him to enforce the proposal, added in a whisper, “We want to make a table for Mrs. Rushworth, you know. Your mother is quite anxious about it, but cannot very well spare time to sit down herself, because of her fringe. Now, you and I and Dr. Grant will just do; and though we play but half-crowns, you know, you may bet half-guineas with him.”

“I should be most happy,” replied he aloud, and jumping up with alacrity, “it would give me the greatest pleasure; but that I am this moment going to dance. Come, Fanny,’ taking her hand, “do not be dawdling any longer, or the dance will be over.”

Fanny was led off very willingly, though it was impossible for her to feel much gratitude towards her cousin, or distinguish, as he certainly did, between the selfishness of another person and his own.

Share your favorite excerpts…use the Molland’s e-text if you are so inclined.