Jane Austen Inspired Ephemera

NEW NOTES, ADDRESS BOOK & JOURNAL

This was a letter to be run through eagerly, to be read deliberately, to supply matter for much reflection, and to leave everything in greater suspense than ever. The Narrator, Mansfield Park, Chapter 43

The talented folks at Clarkson Potter Publishers, have created this beautiful set of four Austen inspired blank note cards housed in a keepsake quality box. Designed by Margaret Hinders for Potter Style, each of the note cards contain a pastel coloured vintage Regency era image, graphic embellishments and a quote from one of the novels or letters by Jane Austen.

Also available in the series is a compact journal for those clever on-the-spot writing inspirations that we never remember unless we write them down, and an address book for handy access to important phone numbers and addresses of your Janeite friends who you owe long letters too! These little treasures are light and great for travel, or stuff them in that capacious handbag that your friends and family tease you about.

In the spirit of the lost art of letter writing, you know that instrument of gentile social discourse that every Regency Miss practiced daily, here is one of Miss Austen’s most famous letters from her novel Pride and Prejudice to inspire you. Written by Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth Bennet after her refusal of his marriage proposal, it’s contents transform her prejudices of him, and is a turning point of self discovery for her. 

“Be not alarmed, madam, on receiving this letter, by the apprehension of its containing any repetition of those sentiments or renewal of those offers which were last night so disgusting to you. I write without any intention of paining you, or humbling myself, by dwelling on wishes which, for the happiness of both, cannot be too soon forgotten; and the effort which the formation, and the perusal of this letter must occasion should have been spared had not my character required it to be written and read. You must, therefore, pardon the freedom with which I demand your attention; your feelings, I know, will bestow it unwillingly, but I demand it of your justice.

“Two offences of a very different nature, and by no means of equal magnitude, you last night laid to my charge. The first-mentioned was that, regardless of the sentiments of either, I had detached Mr. Bingley from your sister; and the other, that I had, in defiance of various claims, in defiance of honour and humanity, ruined the immediate prosperity and blasted the prospects of Mr. Wickham. — Wilfully and wantonly to have thrown off the companion of my youth, the acknowledged favourite of my father, a young man who had scarcely any other dependence than on our patronage, and who had been brought up to expect its exertion, would be a depravity, to which the separation of two young persons, whose affection could be the growth of only a few weeks, could bear no comparison. But from the severity of that blame which was last night so liberally bestowed, respecting each circumstance, I shall hope to be in future secured, when the following account of my actions and their motives has been read. If, in the explanation of them, which is due to myself, I am under the necessity of relating feelings which may be offensive to yours, I can only say that I am sorry. The necessity must be obeyed, and farther apology would be absurd.

The entire letter from Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth Bennet continues here. The note cards, journal and address book are available on-line, and through Randon House, Inc.