I would ask you to Edward Street, but that once he forced from me a kind of promise never to invite you to my house; nothing but my being in the utmost distress for money should have extorted it from me. I can get you, however, a nice drawing-room apartment in Upper Seymour Street, and... Continue Reading →
On the Trail of Lady Susan: The History of the Manuscript
In 1805, Jane Austen transcribed a fair copy of an untitled manuscript that would later be named Lady Susan by her nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh and published in 1871 in the second edition of his book A Memoir of Jane Austen. This was the first publication of an Austen early manuscript. The text however, was... Continue Reading →
Lady Susan: Group Read Letters 1-11: Summary, Musings & Discussion
We are now in a sad state; no house was ever more altered; the whole party are at war, and Manwaring scarcely dares speak to me. It is time for me to be gone. Lady Susan, (Letter 2) QUICK SYNOPSIS Lady Susan accepts her brother-in-law Charles Vernon’s invitation to Churchill. She will deposit her daughter... Continue Reading →
Lady Susan, Group Read: Introduction & List of Characters
Welcome Over the next two weeks we shall be delving into Lady Susan, one of Jane Austen’s most surprisingly wicked novels. Often overlooked by scholars and readers, Lady Susan has lately become the bonus novel tacked on by publishers eager to entice buyers into purchasing yet another edition of Jane Austen’s Complete Novels, now beefed up... Continue Reading →
Ransome’s Honor, by Kaye Dacus – A Review
Men in blue. Need I say more? If Lydia Bennet was condemned as the most determined flirt to make her family ridiculous in Pride and Prejudice for her fixation on any officer in a red coat, then I am as guilty as changed for a Royal Navy man in blue. Besides pictures of my father... Continue Reading →
A New Haute Couture Pride and Prejudice Cover by Fashion Illustrator Reuben Toledo
I think that Jane Austen just might approve of this new cover design that fashion illustrator Rueben Toledo has created for her novel Pride and Prejudice. Her fondness for finery is confirmed in her letters to her sister Cassandra as she chats about her shopping expeditions to linen-drapers, silk-mercer’s and milliners in London and Bath,... Continue Reading →
Lady Susan Group Reading Schedule & Resources
The group read of Lady Susan begins right here on Austenprose on September 1st with an introduction to Jane Austen's wicked funny novella and list of characters. To prime readers for the group read which starts the next day on Wednesday September 2nd, here is the group reading schedule and some great reading and listening... Continue Reading →
Some Thoughts on Julie & Julia & Jane & Blogging – in No Particular Order
I saw the new movie Julie & Julia this weekend and loved it. The movie follows the real life story of Julie Powell a young woman working as a drone in a government job in New York by day and cooking adventuress by night. Inspired by her favorite chef Julia Child, she embarks on attempting... Continue Reading →
I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith – A Review
I know of few novels - except Pride and Prejudice - that inspire as much fierce lifelong affection in their readers as I Capture the Castle. - Joanna Trollope This fall, UK audiences will be treated to a new adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Emma, starring Romola Garai as the irrepressible handsome, clever and rich... Continue Reading →
Columnist Jonathan Yardley: His Personal Pride, Prejudice & Perfection, Are My Passion
Gentle Readers: I will confess all right up front. Being a bibliophile, I have more than a passing fancy for Washington Post book critic Jonathan Yardley. Having followed his career and read his column for years, I do not think you could find any booklover more smitten. He is my Mr. Chips and Mr. Darcy... Continue Reading →
An eBook Neophyte Takes the Plunge with Barnes & Noble’s New Application
I am a bookseller by profession. I sell books. You know, the paper things that have words printed in them. Paper is the operative word here. So having heard Mags at AustenBlog sing the praises of eBooks for years, and years, I was still skeptical about a hand held contraptions that one could read an... Continue Reading →
Prada & Prejudice, by Mandy Hubbard – A Review
When fifteen year old heroine Callie Montgomery purchases a pair of red Prada pumps with sky-high heels she thinks her life will change from high school geek to A-list fashionista in one smooth step. She’s out to impress her savvy classmates while traveling on a school trip in London. Not only is Callie socially awkward,... Continue Reading →