New 250th Birthday Edition of Jane Austen at Home, by Lucy Worsley — A Preview

From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:  Don't you love Saturday mornings? I find that they are my favorite day and time of the week—mostly because I can indulge in doing things for myself. Such a luxury. This morning, I made banana muffins and started listening to an audio recording of Jane Austen at Home,... Continue Reading →

A Jane Austen Year: Celebrating 250 Years of Jane Austen, by Jane Austen House Curators — A Preview

From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:  Next year we celebrate a milestone in Jane Austen’s life — the 250th anniversary of her birth on December 16, 1775, at Steventon Rectory in Hampshire. There will be many events and books throughout the year to commemorate her special year. I am thrilled to present to you... Continue Reading →

Chatting with Michael Thomas Ford, author of Jane Bites Back & a Giveaway!

When I read the announcement in June of 2008 about Michael Thomas Ford’s new novel Jane Bites Back, my jaw dropped and I stared at my computer screen in astonished disbelief! Jane Austen is a now a vampire? No. What next? Darcy and Elizabeth on Mars? As I read further about his concept of Austen... Continue Reading →

Jane Bites Back – An Excerpt

Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford, a new Jane Austen contemporary vampire novel will be released for sale on 29 December 2009. Vic and I have both chatted about this book before on Jane Austen Today: first when the initial sale was announced in June of 2008, and recently in September when the cover... Continue Reading →

Jane Austen Biographer: Mary Augusta Austen-Leigh

Was Jane Austen a Moralist? No! many of her fervent admirers will exclaim - 'Thank Heaven - that she was not!' Her mission was to amuse, to delight, to refresh us - but neither to reprove nor to condemn us! Those who want 'Moral Tales' must seek them elsewhere; they are not to be found... Continue Reading →

In the Garden with Jane Austen, by Kim Wilson – A Review

"To sit in the shade on a fine day, and look upon verdure, is the most perfect refreshment." Fanny Price, Mansfield Park  It seems quite fitting that a quote from Jane Austen's character Fanny Price, who is an astute observer of natural beauty, should open this book with such a succinct statement expressing her delight... Continue Reading →

Oxford World’s Classics: Emma, by Jane Austen – A Review

"I will keep my ill-humour to myself. I have a very sincere interest in Emma . . . There is an anxiety, a curiosity in what one feels for Emma. I wonder what will become of her!" Mr. Knightley, Emma, Chapter 5  For me, reading Jane Austen's  Emma is a delight. However, not all readers have... Continue Reading →

Oxford World’s Classics: Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen – A Review

"Me!" cried Fanny..."Indeed you must excuse me. I could not act any thing if you were to give me the world. No, indeed, I cannot act." Fanny Price, Chapter 15 In a popularity poll of Jane Austen's six major novels, Mansfield Park may come close to the bottom, but what a distinction that is in... Continue Reading →

Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen (Naxos AudioBooks), Read by Juliet Stevenson-A Review & Giveaway

I adore audiobooks and always have one playing away in my car during my commute to work; -- so when I went hunting to purchase a new unabridged audio edition on CD of Jane Austen's novel Mansfield Park, I was quite surprised to learn that my choices were very few at exactly two; a Blackstone... Continue Reading →

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