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2.27.2012

I'm happy to announce that we are working with Elsa Solender to come to one of our meetings and present her talk "Jane Austen's Romantic Career."


Jane Austen in Love: An Entertainment
By Elsa A Solender
An Amazon Kindle E-book - $8.99
Fall in love with the gentleman at Sidmouth who won Jane Austen's heart, as Elsa Solender fills in the blanks of Jane Austen's romantic “career.” In this continuation of her prize winning short story, Austen enthusiasts will find the known facts of Austen’s life meticulously brought to life in a narrative that is rich in elegant Austenian turns of phrase and references. The rest of the story— as it might have happened— is told by the only possible narrator, one who knew Jane Austen intimately enough to dare to enter her consciousness and reveal missing and hidden details with a persuasive touch of the novelist’s own wit, style and insight. Sometimes poignantly, sometimes ironically, readers meet colorful characters as they educate, inspire and amuse the creator of six of the world’s most memorable novels. Finally, in her biographical “entertainment,” Solender gives Jane Austen the gift of a true love worthy of her genius.

Past president of the Jane Austen Society of North America, Elsa Solender worked as a journalist, editor and college teacher before turning to fiction. Her writing has appeared in a wide variety of publications including The New York Times, The Baltimore Sun and Persuasions, the Journal of the Jane Austen Society of North America. She was a prize-winner in the first Chawton House Library Jane Austen Story Contest, the only American whose work was included in the anthology of top 20 stories (Dancing with Mr. Darcy). She was a finalist in a Glimmertrain short fiction contest in 2009. As representative of an international women's organization to the United Nations in Geneva, she wrote and delivered the first-ever joint statement of all accredited women's non-governmental organizations on the right of women and girls to participate in the development of their countries. She lives and works in New York City.

2.22.2012

To Emma Sans Love

To Emma Sans Love

To Miss Emma Woodhouse,

As you are aware, the celebration of Valentine’s Day provides an opportunity for expressing our mutual profusions of affection and desire. However, my dear madame, I shall offer you no such sentiments. Your family proves amply that you surround yourself with such ardent admirers that my poor words will have very little merit in your estimation. Hence, I do not join their ranks of unequivocal adoration.

My dear Emma, my qualms with your temperament and upbringing are but a few. First, I find your choice of friends most worrisome. ...

Secondly, Emma, your admirers have puffed up your estimation of your skills in regards to your matchmaking abilities. ...

Finally, I shall continue to offer you my devotion as your true friend, lover. But I cannot reciprocate the false sentiments that will merely lead you to increased vanity. This would be a shortcoming for myself if I allowed myself to contribute to your pride.

Your faithful un-Valentine,

Mr. Knightley


To read the full letter from Mr. Knightly visit Dark Jane Austen Book Club

2.20.2012

Presidents' Day

Today we celebrate Presidents' Day, a day intended to celebrate all of our presidents with emphasis on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Today I thought I would focus on those presidents who were in office during Jane's life and the end of the Regency period.

So what was going on in America between 1775 and 1820?

1775-1783 Revolutionary War
1776 The United States officially declares independence/Creation of the Articles of Confederation.
1788 Constitution Ratified
1789-1779 George Washington
1797-1801 John Adams
1801-1809 Thomas Jefferson
1809-1817 James Madison
1817-1825 James Monroe

2.17.2012

Friday Fun - Animals Who Think They're People


BuzzFeed posted this fun "article" of pictures of 25 animals that were doing things kinda like people. The one I wanted to share is:

15. Rats Who Think They Are Early 19th Century Housewives
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single rodent in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

2.15.2012

Valentine's Day

(So I realized that I didn't have a post for Valentine's Day so I'm stealing the post I wrote for my personal blog yesterday.)

In honor of Valentine's Day I'm going to share Captain Wentworth's letter today. I have great love for the Captain and an even greater love of this letter.


“I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in F. W.

I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible. A word, a look, will be enough to decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never.”
― Jane Austen, Persuasion

Then today I read this article (I can't remember who shared it but thanks!) Valentine's Day: The 10 best love letters - Celebrate Valentine's Day with this rundown of passionate outpourings across the centuries, as chosen by Andrea Clarke, author and British Library curator from The Guardian

It includes shared love from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Charlotte Bronte, and Oscar Wilde. My favorite is Elizabeth Barrett Browning's XLIII.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

If only I could find a love like this. He would write me a letter like Captain Wentworth and I would reply with a poem like Elizabeth.

2.10.2012

Friday Video! - The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.

Inspired, in equal measures, by Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books, “Morris Lessmore” is a story of people who devote their lives to books and books who return the favor. Morris Lessmore is a poignant, humorous allegory about the curative powers of story. Using a variety of techniques (miniatures, computer animation, 2D animation) award winning author/ illustrator William Joyce and Co-director Brandon Oldenburg present a new narrative experience that harkens back to silent films and M-G-M Technicolor musicals. “Morris Lessmore” is old fashioned and cutting edge at the same time.



“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” is one of five animated short films that will be considered for outstanding film achievements of 2011 in the 84th Academy Awards ®.



Film Awards Won by “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore”

To date, “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” film has drummed up fans all over the world taking home the following awards:

· Cinequest Film Fest: Best Animated Short

· Palm Springs International ShortFest: Audience Favorite Award

· SIGGRAPH: Best in Show



To enjoy “Morris Lessmore” and other Moonbot Apps please visit the following links:

www.tinyurl.com/lessmoreipad

www.tinyurl.com/numberlys

www.tinyurl.com/bullseyeapp

2.08.2012

Regency Era-Music

Our first meeting of 2012 is this weekend (Feb. 11) and we will be discussing "Music and influence on Jane Austen." In this month's newsletter Meredith included an article on Regency era music:

To be considered accomplished in Regency England, a young gentle- woman must be proficient in playing an instrument and singing. Evening entertainments often featured a display of the musical talents of the young ladies in attendance.




During the Regency Era, England was the center of pianoforte manufacture. In 1812, “The Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufac- tures, Fashions and Politics” described pianofortes as “instruments of refined entertainment ... an indispensable article for apartments...” They featured a hand-colored print of a pianoforte from the extensive variety in the stock of Messrs. Wilkinson and Wornum of Ox- ford Street. The elegant instrument was six to seven feet in height, three feet nine inches wide, and twenty-one inches deep. This piano- forte was finished in mahogany and highly ornamented but was also available in rosewood and brass. “For touch, it is unrivalled, and in its adaptation to the voice, it is extremely happy, particularly that with two unisons or strings to one note.”


To read more of this article please see our February Newsletter.

2.06.2012

When It Comes to Downton Abbey, We Won’t Be Trifled With: bonappetit.com


When It Comes to Downton Abbey, We Won’t Be Trifled With: bonappetit.com


Some things are so important that we find it hard to talk about them around the office without shouting and losing control of our facial muscles. One of those things is food; another is Downton Abbey.

In case you're not up on your PBS offerings; it's a British TV period drama set in the Yorkshire estate of the Earl and Countess of Grantham (fictional characters, mind you). Think Gosford Park meets Pride & Prejudice meets Days of Our Lives, all dressed up in fabulous turn-of-the-century costumes and imbued with Maggie Smith's unmitigated splendor. The show first aired in the UK a little over a year ago, then journeyed across the Atlantic to win hearts, minds, and Emmys. Even to those poor souls who fall asleep halfway through the phrase "costume drama," we say: Seriously, watch it. Watch it now.

Thus it is with great pride that we introduce the first installment of Dining at Downton, a blog series in which we will explore the exhilarating ups and downs of eating at the Abbey, including but not limited to fork etiquette and The Raspberry Meringue Incident. Although Season Two is already under way, we'll start our column at the beginning of the series, giving stragglers a chance to catch up (on Netflix! Or iTunes!). So if you haven't seen Season One, now's the time. In the words of our web editor Emily Fleischaker, "It will be the best seven hours of your life."

Read More

2.03.2012

Friday Fun - Word Search

Word Search:

Here's a great word search that our friend, author Shannon Winslow (The Darcy's of Pemberley) created. For a better version to print out visit her website.


Unable, of course, to repress your curiosity in so favourable a moment for indulging it, you will instantly arise, and throwing your dressing-gown around you, proceed to examine this mystery. (Northanger Abbey, chapter 20)


N O I S A U S R E P F T H D
P R I D E N E T S U A Z A L
R E G Y A N N E R O N I L E
E D M E M E S I R Y C U L I
J W F B M C I E Z C E I L F
U A K B E I B P A R Z K I R
D R N A V R I K N A R F H E
I D M E A P L N B D J A C H
C M A N S F I E L D P N R T
E J D N A L T G Y V A N U E
P O C A T H Y I M A R Y H N
N O R T H A N G E R K U C H

CLUES:

  1. Author Jane A_____

  2. Her six novels: E____, P_________, S____& S__________, P____ & P________, M________ P___, N_________ A____

  3. The two eldest Miss Bennets, J___ and E________

  4. Home of Mr. Bingley, N__________

  5. Master of Delaford, Colonel B______

  6. The finest estate in Derbyshire, P________

  7. Heroine of MansfieldPark, F____ P____

  8. The eldest Miss Dashwood, E______

  9. S__ Walter Elliot

  10. Miss C____ Morland (inform.)

  11. Mr. Weston’s son, F____ C________

  12. Elizabeth Elliot’s two sisters, A___ and M___

  13. Captain Wentworth’s branch of military service, the Royal N___

  14. Mr. E______ Ferrars

  15. The mischievous Miss L___ Steele

  16. The Dashwood Estate in Sussex, NorL____

  17. A modest equipage, a g__

  18. The Elliot estate, Kellynch H___

  19. Scene of Louisa Musgrove’s accident, the seaside town of L____

  20. The handsome proprietor of Pemberley, Mr. Fitzwilliam D____