Note card: Winter at Pemberley with Elizabeth, by Wendy Paul
Tis the season to go shopping, and Janeite family and friends always need suggestions to fill the reticules, stockings, and gifts under the tree for those whose special interest is everything Austen. I have several categories to select from – and I would happily be the recipient of any of these fabulous items!
Books
Persuasion: An Annotated Edition, by Jane Austen, edited by Robert Morrison
Eye candy for any Janeite, this new sumptuous annotated edition of Jane Austen’s last novel is sure to blow off any Janeite’s bonnet. Filled with hundreds of full color illustrations from the era, helpful notes and scholarly insights, every Jane Austen fan needs this to display with pride of place on their coffee table. Read my full review for more details. Several of my Janeite friends will open this for the holiday!
Jane Austen Made Me Do It, edited by Laurel Ann Nattress
I am waving my own flag here, but, being prejudiced about my own book only displays my pride in the twenty-four authors who contributed Austen-inspired short stories to this new collection. Regency or contemporary, romantic or fantastical, each of these marvelous stories reaffirms the incomparable influence of one of history’s most cherished authors. Join the celebration in Austen’s legacy!
Audio Books
Jane Austen – The Complete Novels (Naxos Audiobooks)
Together for the first time, the complete and unabridged audio recordings of Jane Austen’s novels handsomely presented in a boxed set. Counting 69 CD’s and running over 83 hours, this is the Holy Grail of Austen audio book recording as only Naxos could present with superb readings by Juliet Stevenson, Emilia Fox, and Anna Bentinck. Included are Austen’s six major novels, the novella Lady Susan and her unfinished novels Sanditon and The Watsons. This is definitely the essential collector’s item. ‘Nuff said!
Movies
Pride and Prejudice 1995 (Restored)
Five hours and twenty three minutes a pure Janeite bliss re-mastered & restored from the 1995 classic A&E/BBC miniseries.
Few will challenge that this is the most reverent screen adaptation to Jane Austen’s masterpiece. Viewers reveled in British actors Jennifer Ehle’s pert and spirited Elizabeth Bennet and Colin Firth’s dripping with sex Mr. Darcy. The costumes, film location and cast places this production at the pinnacle of screen perfection for Jane Austen fans. I reviewed this edition when it was released in 2010 and still think it is Incomparable. Blu-ray edition too!
Not Regency by a hundred years, but who cares? It is the ultimate bonnet drama that any Jane Austen fan would swoon over! Find out what a weekend is to an Edwardian Lady who does not have a clue about the working class, and why those pesky entails so prevalent in Jane Austen novels, still matter in 1912 England.
Janeites raved about this upstairs/downstairs drama full of characters and plot that Austen would have delighted in. If by some freak accident you missed this miniseries created by a joint production team of the UK’s ITV and the US’s PBS, both sides of the pond where glued to their television screens for six hours that we will never forget. Buy it and gear up for season two that airs in the US in January 2012. Need further details? Check out my preview of this smash-hit series.
Ephemera
What better to don your refrigerator than Jane Austen’s witty and acerbic prose? My fridge never looked so stylish and spoke so eloquently before! I purchased this set of 18 magnets recently on my trip to California at The Huntington Library and Gardens gift shop. You can have your own set by purchasing them online. Which one is my favorite? Why, Catherine Morland’s famous line from Northanger Abbey, “I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible.” Many other pert and profound quotes from our favorite Austen novels are included.
Jane Austen’s Regency World Magazine
The ultimate Austen indulgence, your Janeite friends and family members will huzzah when they receive an annual subscription to Jane Austen’s Regency World Magazine which includes in depth articles on Jane Austen, her world and our modern interpretations. Highly collectable, Jane Austen’s Regency World Magazine offers a great resource and enjoyment to all Austen fans. I proudly own a copy of the first issue!
Jewelry
Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice Saucy Riding Boots Locket Charm Necklace
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy….sigh…..he is an archetype of the aloof romantic hero, and of course the romantic interest of Elizabeth Bennet from the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I am sure any young lady (or older) imagining him in white breeches, leather riding boots and a heaving steed between his legs would come over all peculiar, perhaps even swooning, only to be revived by smelling salts….
Handmade by Hoolala, this necklace is designed for hopeless romantics everywhere. The silver plated locket measures 35mm x 23mm and the chain measures 62cms. The necklace will arrive gift wrapped and ready for gift giving (or keeping ;).
Calendars
Jane Austen’s Amiable Rancor 2012 Wall Calendar
The year would not be complete at Woodston Cottage without my copy of The Republic of Pemberley’s Amiable Rancor Wall Calendar. Filled with witty and acerbic Austen quotes, important dates, and beautiful Regency era fashion plate illustrations, any true Janeite would be tickled to hang this large, high-quality calendar in their home or office.
- Each page measures 11″ x 17″, image measures 11″ x 11″
- Full bleed dynamic color
- 10pt heavyweight high gloss paper, wire-o bound
- January 2012 – December 2012, US holidays marked
Food
From Bingley’s Teas, a specialty tea blended to bring out the sensibility in us all. A blend of lively green and black teas with colorful flowers and passionate fruits that throw themselves together for a passionate combination! Candied fruits along with the vibrant flowers in this blend will entice you to run free and seek your heart’s desire.
Toys
This is the mystery gift suggestion of the season, cuz, the designers have been chatting about its development on Twitter for months, but darn if their website tells us anything. I believe it is a new role playing game, and all the details will be revealed on December 16, 2011, in honor of Jane Austen’s birthday. Developed by Adam Spunberg (Jane Austen Twitter Project) and my crack Austenprose reviewer Kimberly Denny-Ryder, this highly anticipated collaborative project has involved dozens of Janeites and should be quite intriguing, if not addictive!
Miscellaneous
Blue and White Porcelain Tea for One
Any of my friends and family will know that I adore blue and white pottery, so this beautiful rose design, three piece, tea for one set really feeds my need for British porcelain. Janeites can brew one large cup of tea to enjoy while reading your favorite Austen novel or viewing a movie adaptation. Available from the Pemberley Collection online by the wonderful folks at the Jane Austen Centre Giftshop.
Happy Holiday to all of my readers! I hope that Santa brings you a few items from my list!
© 2007 – 2011 Laurel Ann Nattress, Austenprose
Austenprose 
oh, i have david shapard’s annotated versions, may have to put this new one on my list!
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I like your list!
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Some really great things featured here! I’m intrigued about the Austen Games, too. I’m thinking Dec 16 is going to be a really fun day in the JA Blogosphere.
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What a lovely list! I have that annotated edition of Persausion, and it is indeed quite lovely. Now off to find those magnets.
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An excellent list! I am particularly partial to the set of magnets and the teapot – both are going on my Wish LIst immediately. The annotated “Persuasion” and “Pride and Prejudice” were added early on.
In case Santa is reading this – I’ve been very good this year…………….
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LOL Lilyanne! Yes Santa. Janeites are very “nice” people who are well mannered, pedantic and generous. We have all been very good this year!
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Thank you for including us on your list!
The locket and boot jewelry is a new and very appealing addition. I wonder if I could have a miniature made of my husband in Regency style to place in it!
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Thanks, Laurel Ann, for a list of such variety; the only challenge will be to select someone, other than myself, as recipient!
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Great list! Like you, I am very fond of blue and white china. Unfortunately, tea-for-one pots don’t make enough for me–takes at least a tea-for-two pot. Will give serious consideration to that annotated volume and the magnets–for myself, too. I did a “my top picks” for cooks, which of course included some tea accoutrements.
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Do you have an address for the magnets?
I have the Persuasion referenced at the top. I am trying to wait to read it until the 200th anniversary of it but I may not make it.
I’ve been planning to acquire the Pemberley china during 2012. I thought my family might not understand about ordering overseas, especially since I have quite a few teapots. So, I will give myself the gift of them!
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Hi Karen, the link to purchase the magnet is sitting below the image. It will take you to the Huntington Library online gift shop.
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Marianne’s Wild Abandon Tea is DELICIOUS! All of Bingley’s Teas are divine. The descriptions of the Jane Austen Series are spot on with the characters they are named for. Be sure to visit their site and see for yourself!
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This is an awesome list. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for the lovely gift ideas. The Wendy Paul notecards are beautiful! Wish I knew more people who would appreciate such Janeite finery!
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