Little-known fact about Jane #10

Up to 75 columnists a week introduce a note of erudition into their articles by beginning them with the phrase "It is a truth universally acknowledged that..." Recent examples include, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that the new two-door Ford Capri is an absolute dream to handle" (Jeremy Clarkson, Sunday Times) and, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that my so-called ex is an insufferable prat, whinger and serial shagger" (Liz Jones, Mail on Sunday) and, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that there were times when King Henry VIII could be a right royal bastard" (Dr David Starkey, Monarchy Today).
By Craig Brown The Telegraph 26/01/2008 www.telegraph.co.uk

Little-known fact about Jane #9

The first filmed adaptation of a Jane Austen novel came with Emma in 1937, starring the young Margaret Rutherford as Emma and Charles Laughton as Mr Knightley. This adaptation did not escape the censors: a 10-second sequence in which an incautious Harriet, attending a ball at Donwell Abbey, performs a suggestive lap dance for Robert Martin, has only recently been reinstated.
By Craig Brown The Telegraph 26/01/2008 www.telegraph.co.uk

Every savage can dance...

Do you anticipate the next ball as eagerly as Lydia and Kitty? Are you breathless as the thought of holding hands and being so near a potential beau that only a country dance will do? Well, then check out the English Country Dancing Societies in our state--a special section is on the left in the link column.

In the meantime, here are some important dates: In Ridgewood on Saturday July 26, 7:00-10:30, in the Unitarian Church. Check out http://www.maxellute.net/njecd.html for more details.

In Lambertville, the first Friday of each month throughout the year, 8-10:45 p.m. country dances are held. See http://www.lambertvillecountrydancers.org/ for more details.

And English Country dances are held on 2nd Saturdays, from 8-11pm in Princeton. See http://www.princetoncountrydancers.org/ for more details.

Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine

Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine is offering a subscription discount of twenty percent to members of the Jane Austen Society of North America. You can read about it on this preview page: http://www.janeausten.co.uk/regencyworld/page.ihtml?id=12

JASNA has a 2-page article in each issue of the magazine, and favorites Maggie Lane and Sheryl Craig are also regular contributors.

Grounds for Sculpture

Grounds for Sculpture is a wonderful place to spend a day rambling through the gardens and looking at the sculptures. Last year we spent our Box Hill Picnic day at this lovely spot. To check out the grounds go to http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/

New York Book Festival--JASNA Booth

JASNA-NY will have a booth at the New York Book Festival in Central Park on June 28th 10am to 4 pm. They will be selling books and distributing information about JASNA. For more information click on the JASNA-NY link under Favorite Austen Links on the left or follow this link for the Book Festival http://newyorkbookfest.brinkster.net/portal/

Catching up on old times...

I never knew what sad work the reading of old letters was before that evening, though I could hardly tell why. The letters were as happy as letters could be—at least those early letters were. There was in them a vivid and intense sense of the present time, which seemed so strong and full, as if it could never pass away, and as if the warm, living hearts that so expressed themselves could never die, and be as nothing to the sunny earth. --Elizabeth Gaskell, Cranford

Searching for your very own Capt. Wentworth...

"The pleasure of reading is doubled when one lives with another who shares the same books."Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923)

Just in case you were searching for your very own Elizabeth or Capt. Wentworth, well at any rate someone to share more than your books with in life, and those other online dating sites just aren't providing a trove of well-read candidates...

SINGLE BOOKLOVERS is a membership service that helps intelligent and cultured single men and single women connect with each other. http://www.singlebooklovers.com/home.html

In case you're in the area: Gettysburg

August 1 Girlfriends Night Out 6:00 p.m.

Apple Blossom Tea Room Gettysburg, Pennsylvania


Join your girlfriends for a night of camaraderie, fun, and relaxation. A full evening tea will be served by candlelight in the Apple Blossom Tea Room’s calming and feminine atmosphere. After the tea service, reconnect with the women who are special to you over a glass of wine or sparkling cider and a few rounds of the teatime bingo game TEAGO.



For more information, call 717-334-0904, or visit http://www.appleblossom-tearoom.com/

Little-known fact about Jane #8

Jane Austen has never been more popular in America. Candidates on both sides of the political divide are now vying with one another to quote her in their speeches. "And you know what?" Republican candidate Mitt Romney told a group of his supporters last Thursday. "Jane Austen loved Iowa every bit as much as I do". On the Democrat side, Hillary Clinton is just one challenger who has shown herself eager to invoke Austen's name. "If Jane Austen can win the heart of Minnesota, then so - with your help - can I!" she told a gathering yesterday.
By Craig Brown The Telegraph 26/01/2008 www.telegraph.co.uk

Looking for some free literature...

There are lots of audiobooks out there that one can purchase, however if you are like me and feeling the pinch, you may want to check out http://librivox.org/ for free versions of Jane's books. They are a little amature but well worth it for the price.

Beatrix Potter spotlighted in Victoria Magazine

One hundred years ago, Beatrix Potter created the beloved tales of Peter Rabbit that, to this day, continue to grace the bookshelves of children all over the world. These porcelain miniatures by Frederick Warne and Wedgwood allow us to pass on to new generations the traditions Potter created so many years ago. For more on Beatrix Potter and her children’s tales, see “The Gift of Beatrix Potter,” on page 44 of the July/August issue of Victoria magazine. http://www.victoriamag.com/favorite_things/classic_collectibles_july-august08.php

Language of flowers

In the language of flowers, a spray of long-stemmed roses tells the recipient, “I will remember you always.”

Elizabeth Lefebvre's watercolors of Austen characters

Perhaps no artist defines style and grace yet with whimsy and social satire like Jane Austen. Generations have welcomed these characters into their homes. Stanton & Lee Publishers is pleased to offer these prints based on original artwork inspired by the works of Jane Austen and the illustrators the Brothers Brock by the artist Elizabeth Lefebvre. Each piece was lovingly created with various media from watercolor to ink and then carefully recreated for your own personal collection. Capturing key moments from Jane Austen’s masterpieces; these prints would be the perfect gift for the Austen fanatic or dilettante in your life. http://www.stantonandlee.com/Gallery.htm

Little-known fact about Jane #7

A number of recent movies, such as Clueless (1995), have placed the plots of Jane Austen novels in contemporary settings. Martin Scorsese introduced an unexpected note of violence into his version of Mansfield Park, re-shot as Goodfellas (1990), but, as he pointed out in a talk at the National Film Theatre recently: "To me, there's an underlying violence in every word Austen wrote." Experts have now begun to realise that the longrunning series EastEnders is in fact an extended version of Sense and Sensibility, with Barbara Windsor as Mrs Dashwood and Phil Mitchell as John Willoughby.

By Craig Brown The Telegraph 26/01/2008 www.telegraph.co.uk

Tips for living a virtuous life, from Benjamin Frankin in 1793.

As he records in his Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin "conceiv'd the bold and arduous Project of arriving at moral Perfection." From his reading, he came up with a catalogue of thirteen moral virtues, and he drew up a graph on which he scored his successes and failures each day.
Here's his list:
Temperance. Eat not to Dulness. Drink not to Elevation.
Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling Conversation.
Order. Let all your Things have their Places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time.
Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
Frugality. Make no Expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e., Waste nothing.
Industry. Lose no time. Be always employ'd in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary Actions.
Sincerity. Use no hurtful Deceit. Think innocently and justly; and if you speak, speak accordingly.
Justice. Wrong none, by doing Injuries or omitting the Benefits that are your Duty.
Moderation. Avoid Extreams. Forbear resenting Injuries so much as you think they deserve.
Cleanliness. Tolerate no Uncleanness in Body, Cloaths, or Habitation.
Tranquility. Be not disturbed at Trifles, or at Accidents common or unavoidable.
Chastity. Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dullness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another’s Peace or Reputation.
Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2006/10/this_wednesday__1.html