Your online source for Jane Austen and her legacy
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: A new, glitzy, star-studded movie adaptation of Agatha Christies 1937 novel Death on the Nile opens in theaters in the UK & US today. This high society mystery-thriller reunites the film-making team behind the 2017 adaptation of another Christie favorite, Murder on the Orient Express. Returning in the... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Once upon a time, every young lady who was anyone in British society was presented at court. It involved an official invitation from the Palace, the proper bespoke gown, and a steady, deep curtsey in front of their sovereign. The ceremony heralded in a new crop of debutantes... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Today is Pride and Prejudice’s 209th birthday. Many happy returns of the day to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Jane Austen’s second novel was published in a three-volume set by Thomas Egerton, Whitehall, London in 1813. She sold the copyright for ÂŁ110. Ouch! One can only imagine how... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: It’s time to brush up on your etiquette period drama fans. The Gilded Age premiers on Monday January 24th on HBO. We shall soon be immersed in the 1880s New York social whirl of Mrs. Astor’s elite, “Four Hundred,” along with some of those social climbing upstarts, the... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: I admit to being more than a bit of a Catherine Morland when it comes to historical suspense novels. While Austen’s gothic fiction addicted heroine in Northanger Abbey reads The Mysteries of Udolpho she is compelled to discover what lies behind the mysterious black veil. I got that... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Happy news for historical book lovers. The selection of new novels available in the next two months is so exciting. From forgotten events in history, to deep dives into the social machinations of Gilded Age New York, to feisty heroines and swoon-worthy heroes, the selection is deep and... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:Â Happy New Year's Eve dear readers! 2021 proved to be a fabulous year in the historical book arena. From creative Austenesque variations, to Regency romances upending tropes, to reimagined gender-switched classics, to compelling historical fiction and mystery, we have been duly entertained and enchanted. A big thank you... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: I will state unequivocally that Venetia is my favorite novel by author Georgette Heyer (1902-1974). That is quite an accolade considering the depth of her oeuvre including 26 Regency, 8 Georgian, 6 historical fiction, 4 contemporary, and 12 detective fiction novels. That’s 56 in total, and in my... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Merry Christmas Eve to one and all. Are you ready for the big day? Can you image how the Christmas holiday season was celebrated in England in the early 1700s? Featured today is an exclusive excerpt from Austens of Broadford, by Carole Penfield, sharing a New Year’s Day... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:Â Happy Friday, dear readers. There was a time when I could count the number of Northanger Abbey sequels on one hand. Admitting that may date me and my Austenesque reading terribly, however, it is true. Only in the last few years has there been an uptick of new... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Happy Friday, dear readers. Landing on the blog today is a debut historical romance novel by K. Lyn Smith involving a 19th century scientist and an artist who are friends, and unexpectantly become lovers while working together. The Astronomer’s Obsession is an intriguing title. What could possibly be... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:Â Happy Friday, dear readers. How is your holiday shopping going? I find that when there are so many gift editions of classic novels available, it is difficult to choose. Here's my criteria for narrowing down the field: A beautifully designed cover and interior. Easy-to-read text. An author bio,... Continue Reading →
