Your online source for Jane Austen and her legacy
I have had the pleasure of listening to and reviewing many of the Naxos AudioBooks classic recordings narrated by a variety of talented British actors, but collectively my favorite readings are those by award-winning actress Juliet Stevenson—whose five interpretations of Jane Austen’s novels remain paramount in my personal audio collection. Awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:Â Last month I reviewed the Naxos Audiobooks edition of Pride and Prejudice, read by Emilia Fox. It is my favorite audio edition of Jane Austen's classic novel. I was thrilled to learn that they have also created in honor of this year's bicentenary of publication a clever alert... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: One is humbled to review a book considered a classic of world literature. What could I possibly say about Pride and Prejudice that has not been scrutinized by scholars, exalted by enthusiasts, or bemoaned by students who have been forced to read it and just don’t get what... Continue Reading →
UK readers will be pleased to discover that the entire Jane Austen collection by Naxos Audiobooks is 25% off online until January 31, 2012 at NaxosDirect.co.uk. I adore this collection, many of which are narrated by the Incomparable Juliet Stevenson! That's the entire Jane Austen collection, all six major novel and her minor works -... Continue Reading →
Even though it has been two hundred years since the world was first introduced to sisters Marianne and Elinor Dashwood's financial, social and romantic trials, their story remains for me, as fresh and vibrant as any contemporary story you might read of, experience yourself, or hear tell tale of today. I give full credit, of... Continue Reading →
Mark your calendars for September 29th and return for a blog tour by thirteen Elizabeth Gaskell enthusiasts in celebration of the 200th anniversary of her birth in 1810. In addition to a biography of her life, her novels, short stories and movies will be reviewed, reading resources detailed, and a photographic tour of her home... Continue Reading →
The Jane Austen book sleuth is happy to inform Janeites that many Austen inspired books are heading our way in August, so keep your eyes open for these new titles. Audio The Convenient Marriage, by Georgette Heyer, read by Richard Armitage In honor of historical romance novelist Georgette Heyer’s birthday this month, I am sure... Continue Reading →
The Jane Austen book sleuth is happy to inform Janeites 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) Murder at Mansfield Park, by Lynn Shepherd Mansfield Park is considered (by some) to be the dark... Continue Reading →
Persuasion, Jane Austen’s last completed novel was written between 1815 and 1816, with final chapter revisions in August of that year. Published posthumously in late 1817 with her earlier work Northanger Abbey, each of the novels represents the alpha and omega of her writing career. Even though they are divergent in tone and topic, they each... Continue Reading →
Northanger Abbey is the exuberant lesser-known child of Jane Austen’s oeuvre. Even though it was her first novel to be completed and sold in 1803, much to Austen’s bemusement it was never published and languished with Crosby & Co for thirteen years until she bought it back for the ten pounds that the publisher had... Continue Reading →
To prime myself for Return to Cranford, the new Masterpiece Classic sequel to last year's award-winning mini-series Cranford on PBS, I wanted to read Mrs. Gaskell’s original novel that it was adapted from. Since I am always short of reading time, I chose instead to listen to an audio recording, my favorite pastime during my commute to... Continue Reading →
Jane Austen’s epistolary novel Lady Susan has never received much attention in comparison to her other six major novels. It is a short piece, only 70 pages in my edition of The Oxford Illustrated Jane Austen: Minor Works containing forty-one letters and a conclusion. Scholars estimate that it was written between 1793-4 when the young... Continue Reading →
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