"And that," said Mrs. Reynolds, pointing to another of the miniatures, "is my master -- and very like him. It was drawn at the same time as the other -- about eight years ago."Â Â "I have heard much of your master's fine person," said Mrs. Gardiner, looking at the picture; "it is a handsome face.... Continue Reading →
Bookish on Jane Austen
"Oh! certainly," cried his faithful assistant, "no one can be really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her... Continue Reading →
Jane Austen and The Battle of Waterloo
Allied troops entering Paris after the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte "the little bit (two inches wide) of ivory on which I work with so fine a brush, as produces so little effect after so much labour" Letter to Edward Austen, 16 December 1816, The Letters of Jane Austen Today marks the anniversary of the Battle... Continue Reading →
Jane Austen’s Lydia Bennet: Her Life Credo
"Look here, I have bought this bonnet. I do not think it is very pretty; but I thought I might as well buy it as not. I shall pull it to pieces as soon as I get home, and see if I can make it up any better." Lydia Bennet, Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 39... Continue Reading →
Jane Austen Illustrators: Douglas Warner Gorsline
Douglas Warner Gorsline (1913-1985) was an American book illustrator and fine artist whose line drawings and full color paintings were included in the 1949 edition of Pride and Prejudice, published by The John C. Winston Company of Philadelphia. The book was part of a series of the ten greatest novels in the world selected by author W.... Continue Reading →
Breaking News: Tornado Tom Lefroy Hits Austenland
"At length the day is come on which I am to flirt my last with Tom Lefroy ... My tears flow as I write at the melancholy idea" Jane Austen Letter to Cassandra Austen, 16 January 1796, The Letters of Jane Austen My Dear Miss Austen,  Our tears flow too dear Jane. A tornado has hit... Continue Reading →
Jane Austen’s Dearest Friendship with Miss Sharp Still Resonates Today
You would have held the memory of your friend Jane too in tender regret I am sure. - But the Providence of God has restored me - & may I be more fit to appear before him when I am summoned, than I sh'd have been now! - Sick or Well, beleive me ever your... Continue Reading →
Austenesque Author Rebecca Ann Collins Continued Thoughts on Sequels
Sourcebooks has recently released the second novel in The Pemberley Chronicles series entitled The Women of Pemberley by author Rebecca Ann Collins. This is the first North American printing of this novel which had been previously released in Australia in 1998, and is part of a ten book sequel series of Jane Austen's novel Pride... Continue Reading →