Your online source for Jane Austen and her legacy
Congratulations go out to author Gwyn Cready, who was awarded a 2009 RITA for her novel Seducing Mr. Darcy in the Best Paranormal Romance category by the Romance Writers of America® (RWA) at last night’s Awards Ceremony held at RWA’s 29th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. We are so happy that Mr. Darcy seduced the... Continue Reading →
Gentle Readers: Today is the anniversary of Jane Austen’s death at Winchester in 1817. She was only 41 years old, succumbing to what most believe was Addison's disease. Here is my tribute to her passing In Memoriam: Jane Austen. Even though this is a day of solemn reflection for Janeites, it is also a day to pay homage... Continue Reading →
This beautiful oil portrait circa 1800 of a lady (Mrs. Walter Learmouth?) is attributed to Sir Henry Raeburn, R.A. (Scottish, 1756-1823). He is one of my favorite artists of the Georgian and Regency era, producing powerful, stark and realistic paintings of his subjects. This portrait of Mrs. Learmouth in a white dress against a dramatic... Continue Reading →
The second episode of the Miss Marple Mysteries aired on Sunday, July 12th on Masterpiece Mystery with Murder is Easy. The new Miss Marple Julia McKenzie continues to improve in her interpretation of Agatha Christie’s amateur detective who may look like a harmless and kindly elderly lady, but is as sharp as her knitting needles. Miss... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: First published in 1950, The Grand Sophy contains one of Georgette Heyer’s most endearingly outrageous heroines. In this newly released reissue by Sourcebooks, you are in for a rollicking good time through Regency era London with Miss Sophia Stanton-Lacy. As one of her many male admirers proclaims, "By all... Continue Reading →
Newsweek magazine has evaluated all the book lists being bantered about and arrived at their own Meta-list of Top 100 Books of All Time. Declaring the best book ever written is tricky business. Who's to say what the best is? We went one step further: we crunched the numbers from 10 top books lists (Modern Library,... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Julia McKenzie debuted on Sunday as the new Miss Marple in A Pocket Full of Rye on Masterpiece Mystery. She’s the actress who played Mrs. Forrester in last season's Cranford who put flannel pajamas on her cow. We shall see if she can also put a memorable spin... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:Â Is there always another chance at happiness? Are we bound to our past, or do "we all have the power to create heaven on earth, right here, right now?" Important questions heroine Jane Mansfield must come to acknowledge and understand in Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict,... Continue Reading →
We are so happy to see that the Everything Austen Challenge at Stephanie’s Written Word blog has had such an outstanding response. As of today, there are over 115 participants ready and willing to read and or watch six Austen or Austen inspired books, or view movie adaptations and spinoffs over the next six months. Sign-ups... Continue Reading →
The Jane Austen book sleuth is happy to inform readers that many Austen inspired books are heading our way in July, so keep your eyes open for these new titles. FICTION (prequels, sequels, retellings, variations, or Regency inspired)Â The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer July is The Grand Sophy month at Jane Austen Today in... Continue Reading →
Who would want to bludgeon to death a humble country charwoman? Suspicions lead Superintendent Spence (Richard Hope) to conclude that her dodgy tenant James Bentley (Joe Absolom) who has fallen on hard times was motivated by theft to commit the crime. After Bentley is convicted and sentenced to die by the gallows, things still do... Continue Reading →
In her fourth book in the Jane Austen in the 21st-century series for young adult readers, (and some older adults who are forever young at heart), author Rosie Rushton tackles Jane Austen’s most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice, retelling the story with a contemporary twist. Her teenage Lizzie Bennet and sisters are still hunting for... Continue Reading →
