Your online source for Jane Austen and her legacy
My favorite detective series Inspector Lewis begins again on Masterpiece Mystery this Sunday, August 8th with the encore presentation from Series II of Allegory of Love. Why do I love this series so much? Let me count the ways. It’s smart: Yes. I’m an intellectual snob. It’s wise: Laced with literary references, it makes me... Continue Reading →
Mystery fans were treated to the opening of season X of Poirot on Masterpiece Mystery last Sunday with a new episode of Murder on the Orient Express, one of Agatha Christie’s most famous novels. Amazingly, this new production is only the second time it has been adapted for television and follows the famous and glitzy... Continue Reading →
Spinster sleuth Miss Marple returned to Masterpiece Mystery last Sunday with her sensible shoes and ingenious deductions in one of Agatha Christie’s venerable warhorses, The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side. What true classic mystery aficionado has not seen one of the movie adaptations of this wonderful 1962 book of the same name? It has... Continue Reading →
Prejudice and bigotry permeate Killing Time, episode two of season VI of Foyle’s War on Masterpiece Mystery PBS. Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen) is faced with the unpleasant reality of American vs. British solutions to racial tension in post war England. While attending a local civic meeting, segregation between the black GI’s stationed at a... Continue Reading →
The game is afoot as crime season begins again on Masterpiece Mystery on PBS this Sunday, May 2nd. The 2010 line-up offers the best in British mysteries presenting a great selection of super sleuths to feed any whodunit addict’s desire for murder and mayhem. Returning in new episodes will be Michael Kitchen in Foyle’s War, Julia McKenzie... Continue Reading →
There is a lot of pride and prejudice in the story of Small Island, the new Masterpiece Classic two-part adaptation of Andrea Levy’s award winning 2004 novel. Not the Jane Austen kind of pride and prejudice, but the kind experienced by millions of people whose countries were colonized by Great Britain during the 18th and... Continue Reading →
  "And-oh yes-there was a Miss Bates; just an old maid runnin' about like a hen with 'er 'ead cut off, an' her tongue loose at both ends. I've got an aunt like 'er. Good as gold-but, you know." Humberstall, Janeites, Rudyard Kipling, (1924) Did any gentle readers catch My Boy Jack on Masterpiece Classic... Continue Reading →
"Emma," said Mr. Knightley presently, "I have a piece of news for you. You like news -- and I heard an article in my way hither that I think will interest you." "News! Oh! yes, I always like news. What is it? Why do you smile so? Where did you hear it? Mr. Knightly &... Continue Reading →
NONSENSICAL In vain did Elizabeth endeavour to check the rapidity of her mother's words, or persuade her to describe her felicity in a less audible whisper; for, to her inexpressible vexation, she could perceive that the chief of it was overheard by Mr. Darcy, who sat opposite to them. Her mother only scolded her for... Continue Reading →
It was a union of the highest promise of felicity in itself, and without one real, rational difficulty to oppose or delay it. The Narrator,  Emma, Chapter 53 Jane Austen enthusiast were summoned to celebrate the delights of their favorite authoress at, "An Evening with Jane", at the Alderwood Barnes & Noble in Washington on Thursday... Continue Reading →
  about the biopic Miss Austen Regrets. #10.) Anne Hathaway was not available for a reprise cuz she got a better gig playing Agent 99. #9.) The costume designer passed on hoop skirts and hourglass silhouettes. #8.) Even though she was a country girl at heart, she got all edgy dancing a waltz. #7.) They... Continue Reading →
 GENTLENESS The gentleness and gratitude of her disposition would secure her all your own immediately. From my soul I do not think she would marry you without love; that is, if there is a girl in the world capable of being uninfluenced by ambition, I can suppose it her;  Mary Crawford on Fanny Price,... Continue Reading →
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