Your online source for Jane Austen and her legacy
From the desk of Sophia Rose: When one considers classic horror, there are few tales that leap so quickly to the mind as Frankenstein. Published in 1818, the tale was originally spun by Mary Shelley as a campfire ghost tale during a summer gathering of literary giants vacationing along the shores of Lake Geneva. Much... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Amy Louise: It has been 45 years since Agatha Christie’s last Miss Marple novel, Sleeping Murder, was published posthumously in 1976. First introduced to readers in a story Christie wrote for The Royal Magazine in 1927, Jane Marple made her first full-length appearance in the 1930’s novel, The Murder at the... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Detective mysteries set in England during the nineteenth-century are like catnip to me. I have been enjoying C. S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries, and Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell Mysteries for years. It took a beautiful cover and a big hook to get me to try Down a... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Rachel McMillan: “A drop of love sometimes brings an ocean of tears.” (137) After learning that Lynda Loigman’s forthcoming book was about a matchmaker in 1910s New York City, I begged her for any early PDF file. She was kind enough to oblige. After all, I had quite enjoyed the emotional... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Since watching the 1943 movie, So Proudly We Hail, I have always been interested in the story of military nurses in the Pacific during WWII. There are so many movies and books based on the Battle of the Philippines (1941-1942) from the male perspective that I was thrilled... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Katie Jackson: If you’ve ever wished that Jane Austen’s family had preserved more of her personal letters, have I got a surrogate wish-fulfillment for you. It is my pleasure to introduce the gifted nineteenth-century novelists Jane and Anna Maria Porter. Although their copious correspondence remains unpublished—and may always, as the writers... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: With so much uncertainty and strife in the news, I am always ready for a feel-good, fairy tale getaway movie to escape to for a few hours. I have several favorites to call upon in my library: The Princess Bride (1987), Ever After (1998), and Pretty Woman (1990).... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Theresa Smith: “You,” Elisabetta breathes, maliciously, almost delightedly. “You will be blamed. So be careful, Lucrezia. Be very, very careful.” In The Marriage Portrait, O’Farrell gives us a fictional retelling of the short life and marriage of Lucrezia de’ Medici (1545-1561), third daughter of Cosimo l de’ Medici, Grand Duke of... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Happy Monday Dear Readers, The month of October is a favorite of mine with the arrival of fall leaves and pumpkin spice lates. It is also the month to celebrate All-Hallows-Eve with Gothic stories. I am happy to introduce you to a new author to the historical suspense... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Rachel McMillan: I first discovered Molly Greeley’s forthcoming novel Marvelous in a Publisher’s Lunch deal memo. Knowing Greeley was a fan-favourite after her two deliciously engaging re-imaginings of Jane Austen’s world (The Clergyman’s Wife, and The Heiress) I would read anything she wrote. The true story behind the couple from the... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Barbara Rogers: As a huge fan of Catherine Lloyd’s Kurland St. Mary series, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her latest Victorian mystery series, Miss Morton and the English House Murder. A Family Tragedy Changes the Heroine’s Life Lady Caroline Morton, daughter of the deceased Earl of Morton, is... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Happy Monday Dear Readers, Coming your way tomorrow is a gorgeous new curated edition of Jane Austen’s final novel, Persuasion. It includes the complete unabridged text and thirteen pockets throughout containing replicas of items from the story such as maps, pages from newspapers, and recreated correspondence written as... Continue Reading →
