David Copperfield: Coming to Masterpiece Classic

In March PBS Masterpiece Classic will air David Copperfield filmed in 1999 with Bob Hoskis, Maggie Smith, and a young Daniel Radcliffe. If you have not read the novel recently and would like a turbo review of the story, click on the link below. It will lead you to an entire edition of a Classics Illustrated comic book that is over a half century old.

• David Copperfield: Classics Illustrated

Jane Austen on Audio Tape

Need your Jane Austen fix? Too busy driving the kids to their functions, or taking long commutes back and forth to work to read Pride and Prejudice? Too exhausted at night to tackle anything more than light reading? Have no fear. Naxos Audio Books provides a solution. You can purchase Jane's books two ways: in digital format or as an audio CD. Beautifully packaged and read by the incomparable Juliet Stevenson and Emilia Fox, you will receive hours of listening pleasure. I've discovered that Jane's novels translate beautifully into the spoken word. For those who have difficulty with her writing style, you might prefer to "read" her books in this manner.

Click here for a description of her six novels. You can purchase them abridged or unabridged. I, of course, recommend the unabridged novels. When you visit the Naxos Audio Books site, you can listen to a sample of the novel.

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World

Team Bennet Struts the Runway in the new Pride and Prejudice Comic Book

Marvel Comics have given us a sneak peek at five pages from the new comic adaptation of Pride and Prejudice which includes this portrait of the five Bennet daughters. They are so pretty they could pass for supermodels; even Mary Bennet who is not a looker in the original novel but appears to of had quite a makeover! I had a good laugh at this glamification since Jane Austen only described Jane Bennet as a real beauty. Check it out and give us your decided opinion! Don’t miss out on Marvel’s subscription offer of all five of the Pride and Prejudice comics adapted by Nancy Butler and illustrated by Hugo Petrus for a limited time until March 9th. It should be great fun to see our favorite novel transformed into graphic format.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

In the Mood with Jane Austen

ICONS
Several months ago this blog featured a post on Jane Austen mood list icons.

Here's another site, which features the mood icons sitting on the right. If you use these icons, the creator asks that you attribute them to Carmelo Icons and to not hotlink to the images.

QUIZ
Have you ever wondered "Who's Your Jane Austen Mother?" Hurry over to this link to take a quiz. I scored Lady Russell, which was a bit of a surprise, for my mom would never try to influence my decision. Whose mom did you score?


Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World

Mr. Darcy's Dream Giveaway

Author Elizabeth Aston has a new book that has just been released for Austen inspired sequel readers entitled Mr. Darcy’s Dream. Here is the publisher’s description.

When Phoebe, a young niece of Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Darcy, is shattered by an unhappy romance, she retreats to Pemberley and is joined by kind-hearted Louisa Bingley, unmarried after three London seasons. Once the young ladies are situated in the house, several handsome strangers also arrive — all hopeful of winning the girls' hearts. As preparations for the ball which Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are to give at Pemberley gain momentum, mischief and love triangles abound, making life as difficult as possible for anyone connected with the Darcy family.

Populated with authentic characters firmly rooted in Jane Austen's mores and stylistic traditions, Mr. Darcy's Dream has an unforgettable combination of romance, societal scandals, friendship, family, and marriage.

Aston may be one of the most successful Austen sequel writers ever and her five former popular novels are a testament to her talent and vision. I enjoyed Mr. Darcy’s Dream and you can read my review at Austenprose.

Giveaway!

To qualify for a free copy of Mr. Darcy’s Dream leave a comment before March 3rd stating either what you think Mr. Darcy’s dream might be or what YOU want it to be! Good luck to all.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Favorite Library

Miss Jane Fairfax's superior singing and talent at the pianoforte won the throwdown for her against Mary Crawford and her harp. We wonder what the outcome would have been had we pitted Jane against Georgianna Darcy? The next Jane Austen Character Throwdown compares a Jane Austen fictional character for the first time to an actual person. This week we ask: Whose library do you prefer? Mr. Bennet's inner sanctum, which helped to develop Lizzy's fine mind, or Rev. Austen's influential library, which inspired Jane Austen's creativity?

Favorite Library

Mr.Bennet's Library, Pride and Prejudice
When we think of Mr. Bennet we think of him reading or answering his mail in his ground floor library, surrounded by a quantity of serious books. He stayed there most of the day regardless of time, coming out only for dinner or appointments. Mr. Bennet liked to have the library to himself, though Lizzy and Jane were always welcome. He was also willing to conduct business within his sanctum, especially in regard to seeing his daughters settled, and spoke most willingly to Mr. Bingley and with some surprise to Mr. Darcy. Mr. Collins, however, was another matter: "Mr. Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, and have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followed him after breakfast; and there he would continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquility; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room of the house, he was used to be free from them there"

Rev. Austen’s Library, Steventon Parsonage
Jane Austen grew up in a bookish family. Rev. Austen was a great reader (and writer of sermons) and he read aloud to his children.When her family moved to Bath, Jane's father sold or gave away over 500 books from his vast library, which must have crammed the parsonage in Steventon. Under her father's direction, Jane read English, classical and foreign literature by such authors as Samuel Johnson, Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, Alexander Pope, George Crabbe, William Cowper, and William Shakespeare. Jane was also encouraged to buy subscriptions to the popular novels written by Frances Burney, Sarah Harriet Burney, Maria Edgeworth and Ann Radcliffe. Rev. Austen's library at Steventon provided inspiration for the short satirical sketches Jane wrote as a girl and with which she entertained the family. To entertain each other, the close knit Austen family would also read to each other, play games, and produce plays. One imagines that Rev. Austen's library played an important part in devising these amusements.

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Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Favorite Library

Mr. Bennet's Rev. George Austen's

During the Georgian era, serious private libraries were expected to showcase a variety of rare volumes, classics, topics, and great authors in a number of languages, including Latin, Greek, and French. Thomas Jefferson's library is representative of the great libraries of the world. His extensive collection formed the basis for The Library of Congress in the United States. View a list of his books at this link. One imagines that Rev. Austen and Mr. Bennet collected many of the books listed by Mr. Jefferson.

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World

Tired of Pride and Prejudice and Time warps and Zombies and Aliens yet?

With all of the recent Internet overkill of Pride and Prejudice remashes, I offer up this book as a antidote.

If you have been visiting another planet the last month and missed all of the millions of blog posts and media blitz over all the remakes and mashups of Pride and Prejudice, here's an update.

Lost in Austen is a time travel parody of Pride and Pejudice that aired in the UK last fall as a miniseries and will now be a major motion picture.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a new book due out in April that takes the original story and adds Zombie bone crunching mayhem. It may be a major movie too!

Pride and Predator is a new movie in which an alien drops into Pride and Prejudice for tea and annihilation.

If you are as over all this hoopla as much as I am, you might enjoy some humor generated by other Janeites trying to keep it real via AustenBlog at Television without pity.

And if all else fails, just read the book. There is no subsitute for the original.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

The Women of Oliver Twist

The second installment of Oliver Twist will air on PBS Masterpiece Classic this Sunday at 9:00 PM EST. While most of the tale centers on the male of the species - Oliver, the Artful Dodger, Bill Sikes, Fagin, Mr. Brumble, and Mr. Monks - the women also play a prominent role. They are in no order of importance:

Mrs. Corney, Sarah Lancashire

You last saw her as the never aging Nelly Dean in Wuthering Heights, and now as the coldly calculating and unfeeling Mrs. Corney in Oliver Twist. Her portrayal as the avaricious workhouse matron who looks out for her own benefit is spot on. Born in 1964, Sarah shot to stardom as Coronation Street's popular Raquel Watts. After leaving the role in 1996, she starred in Clocking Off, Rose and Maloney, the BBC TWO drama The Rotters' Club and as a guest star in the fourth series of Doctor Who.

Learn more about Sarah at this link.


Nancy, Sophie Okonedo

Sophie was unforgettable in Hotel Rwanda and won an Oscar nomination for her portrayal as Tatiana. In Oliver Twist she plays Nancy with an unromantic and realistic bent. The prostitute with a heart of gold, she is conflicted between her loyalty/love for Bill Sikes and her sympathy for Oliver, which puts her life in danger. Nigerian-Jewish actress Sophie Okonedo has enjoyed a splendid and versatile career. Born in 1969, she trained at RADA after attending Cambridge. Her most recent theatrical films were The Secret Life of Bees, Skin, and Father and Son. Read about her career in IMBd and more about her in aProfile and Interview with Sophie


Rose Maylie, Morven Christie

Morven Christie made a big splash as Jane Bennet in Lost in Austen. She was born in 1979 in Glasgow and trained at the Drama Centre in London, where she graduated in 2003. Morven's career is so new, very little information about her sits online. After working as a ski instructor, her work on stage, and in film and television drama since 2003 has become more varied, and has included an increasing number of leading roles. She will play the lead in ITV's Monday Monday, and a supporting role in The Young Victoria. Morven is currently part of the first Bridge Project company, playing Anya in Tom Stoppard's new adaptation of The Cherry Orchard, and Perdita in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. The productions will play in repertory at The Old Vic in London from June 2009, after an international tour. Her movies include The Flying Scotsman and House of 9.


Mrs. Bedwin, Anna Massey

We last saw Anna Massey's familiar face in Tess of the D'Urbervilles as Mrs. D'Urbervilles, the blind woman who loved her canaries more than her son. It was a minor role, as is her role as Mrs. Bedwin. One of Britain's most respected actresses, Anna has been in the business for over 50 years. She has won an Olivier award, a Bafta, two RTS awards and she is also a CBE. It is too bad that actresses of her age are given such short shrift in films. This role as Mr. Brownlow's housekeeper is almost non existent and does little to move the story forward. Nevertheless, she plays the part beautifully. Anna is the daughter of famed actor Raymond Massey. She made her film debut in 1958, appearing in Michael Powell's Peeping Tom in 1959 and in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy in 1972. Read more about her in this link.

• See the men of Oliver Twist in this link.

• Vic's review of Part One of Oliver Twist sits here; LA's review of the film can be read in this link.

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World

Join in the celebration of Jane Austen Week at Barefoot Mama!

The Barefoot Mama blog is declaring next week a national blog holiday to celebrate Jane Austen Week, February 23rd - 28th!

Stop in daily for your dose of Jane, including challenges and other fun stuff. There will be a special culmination celebration on Saturday, February 28, so stay tuned!

Join her in celebration by displaying this banner to the left (right-click to save). She promises it will be a most diverting experience!

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Seen on the Blogosphere: Sites of interest

Jane Austen.NL is a new blog about Jane Austen. Created by a Dutch woman named Karin, this beautiful blog is written in Dutch, a language that I speak and understand, and many of the links lead to English resources. To our Dutch friends, check it out!!

Enchanted Serenity in Period Films offers a fun post entitled Matchmaking 101. You'll recognize many of your favorite films and characters.

Examiner.com mentions Pride and Prejudice twice: As representing one of the 5 most romantic literary romances and one of the 5 most annoying ones. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are among the most romantic couples, while Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins are among the 5 most annoying literary romances. Poor, poor Charlotte.

Books from Jane Austen's era: Girlebooks offers free downloads of Evelina by Frances Burney (1778) and The Coquette by Hannah Webster Foster (1797) at this link.
You will find other books that Jane read on this site, like The Mysteries of Udolpho by Anne Radcliffe and Cecilia, also by Fannie Burney.

Last but not least, here's a link to Devian Art and a 2007 cartoon for Jane Austen for NooBs. Hah! Click on the bottom title in the image, then click on the + sign at left for the full view for easier reading.


Jane Austen for N00Bs by ~kyetxian on deviantART

Artist's comments include: Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet's encounter at Hunsford parsonage in the language of the youth of today. As evidenced by the ending, Lizzy needs to get a better contract.

Apparently, UG2BK means "you've got to be kidding" (is it good or bad that I had to look that up?). TLMINTWICEBPOTM means "The last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry." Yes, I am a geek.

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World

Crystallized Beauty: Music to Accompany Your Enjoyment of Jane Austen

Phillip Sheppard is a composer who specializes in film and television soundtracks. A while back he wrote a piece called Crystallized Beauty for solo piano, which has become quite popular. If you listen to it on this Jane Austen trailer you will realize that you have heard it before:



Listen to the full length track of Crystallized Beauty on Phillip's blog. In this post he also offers another beautiful piece of music based on the idea of an empty drawing room at night. Phillip is soliciting names for this as yet unnamed piece, the more literary the better.

Sigh! I could listen to these two lovely musical piano pieces over and over as I reread Jane Austen's books.

Jane Austen Character Throwdown

Last week you preferred Meryton over Highbury. I wonder how much the militia's presence influenced your choice? Here's the situation for the next throwdown: You've finished a tasty 3-course meal with fine company and are looking forward to after-dinner entertainment. Who would you prefer to listen to: Jane Fairfax at the piano or Mary Crawford at the harp? Both women are talented and well educated, and you really can't go wrong choosing either one. So, please vote for your

Favorite performer

Jane Fairfax, Emma
Jane was not only educated in the ways of a lady (and eminently suited to become a governess), but she had a fine voice and extraordinary talent for playing the pianoforté. One day, a large-sized square pianoforté arrived from Broadwood's to the great astonishment of both Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax. Its arrival was entirely unexpected, and there was speculation as to who was responsible for its appearance. Later Mrs. Weston observes to Emma about Mr. Knightley that he was "Such an admirer of her performance on the pianoforté, and of her voice! I have heard him say that he could listen to her for ever." I think we could too.

Mary Crawford, Mansfield Park
Miss Crawford is described as a young woman, pretty, lively, with a harp as elegant as herself. Well educated, with a sharp wit and lively mind, she made an elegant figure near the window playing a harp: "Miss Crawford's attractions did not lessen. The harp arrived, and rather added to her beauty, wit, and good-humour; for she played with the greatest obligingness, with an expression and taste which were peculiarly becoming, and there was something clever to be said at the close of every air. Edmund was at the Parsonage every day, to be indulged with his favourite instrument: one morning secured an invitation for the next; for the lady could not be unwilling to have a listener." The sight and sound of Mary playing was "enough to catch any man's heart."

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Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Favorite Performer

Jane Fairfax Mary Crawford

PBS gets twisted with new Oliver this Sunday

Last season Masterpiece Classic gave us The Complete Jane Austen and our world was all propriety, parlor room drama and romance. Life was good. Our happily-ever-after was complete. That was before the economic downfall.

How appropriate that PBS has turned its tenor to the darker side of life with The Tale of Charles Dickens, four new adaptations of the Victorian author's famous works. Beginning the season will be a new production of Oliver Twist, a bleak look at the economic woes of early Victorian England that could soon match our own spirits. How timely of them to know so far in advance that this classic story would mirror our own troubles. It’s not all doom and gloom though. The famous story of the young orphan Oliver Twist is as compelling as ever and the cast shines. Here’s a look at a few of the major male players.

Eleven year old William Miller (Oliver Twist) beat out 700 other Oliver hopefuls to win the part of classic literatures most endearing waif. The son of actress Janine Wood and director Sam Miller, he is a relative newcomer to acting and if given a choice he is uncertain about continuing, preferring football. What young boy would not?



Timothy Spall (Fagin) is a self professed Dickens fan and a regular on Masterpiece Classics as of late featuring in last seasons A Room With (2008) and Nicholas Nickleby (2002). He may be most recognizable in his role as Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter films. Watch an online interview of Timothy Spall about his interpretation of Fagin for a modern audience.



Tom Hardy (Bill Sikes) returns to Masterpiece after portraying Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights last month and in The Virgin Queen (2005). Some of Hardy’s other films include Band of Brothers (2001), Marie Antoinette (2006) and Sweeney Todd (2006). Playing the sinister Bill Sikes should be an easy role for him and fun for us to watch.

Check out the Oliver Twist website at Masterpiece Classics and sign up for a free drawing for a copy of the book. Be sure to tune in this Sunday February 15th at 9:00 pm (check your local listing) and concluding on the 22nd.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Erm, So Soon Already? Did You Know That a Theatrical Hollywood Version of Lost in Austen Is Under Development?

It seems like Lost in Austen was just recently filmed and aired. Wait, it was! And it's still being shown in parts of the world.

So guess what the studio powers of be have decided? To film a theatrical version of this VERY recent ITV special. "A movie version is now being developed for Sony Pictures, the Hollywood studio behind James Bond movie Quantum of Solace and the forthcoming Angels and Demons, by the TV show's original UK independent producer Mammoth Screen."

Sam Mendes, the light-hearted director of this year's top fluffy comedy, Revolutionary road, will be one of the producers of this time travel parody of Pride and Prejudice. Ah, the power of Jane Austen's name in today's entertainment market! Too bad she's not available to cash in on her own fame.

Tell us what you think. Is it too soon to film a new adaptation of Lost in Austen, or was the recent 2008 film not good enough to stand the test of 12 months time?

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What do you think about a new Lost in Austen adaptation?

They should wait until I've seen the 2008 ITV version I hated the light satire. Sam Mendes will give it the serious weight that this story line deserves. Make it more sci fi-ee. Those time travel effects were hokey. No thanks. I'll wait to see the new flick when it's available on NetFlix Nooooo! What are they thinking? I just purchased the DVD!!!

PRIDE & PREJUDICE Now Available from Marvel Comics

Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice is a comic book! Now available for a limited time, you can purchase all five (5) issues of Marvel’s comic adaptation online and shipped right to your door!

Here's the scoop from Marvel:

Marvel is proud to announce two-time Rita Award-Winner Nancy Butler and fan-favorite Hugo Petras faithful adaptation of the whimsical tale of Lizzy Bennet and her loveable-if-eccentric family, as they navigate through tricky British social circles. All orders must be placed by March 9th, 2009.

Faithfully adapted from the adored Jane Austen classic the whimsical tale of Lizzy Bennet and her loveable-if-eccentric family, as they navigate through tricky British social circles. Will Lizzy's father manage to marry off her five daughters, despite his wife's incessant nagging? And will Lizzy's beautiful sister Jane marry the handsome, wealthy Mr. Bingley, or will his brooding friend Mr. Darcy stand between their happiness?

A note from the writer/adapter Nancy Butler:


This is one of Marvel's first attempts to woo a mostly female readership, and if all goes well, you might be looking forward to more romance-driven Marvel Illustrated books. The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Sheik, Jane Eyre, The Curse of Capistrano (Zorro) and Phantom of the Opera have all been discussed as possibilities. And, of course, other books in the Austen canon, as well. So if you'd like to see more romantic classics done as illustrated comics, please give Pride and Prejudice a try.

It sounds like fun. Hey, doesn’t the Lizzy Bennet on the cover look like a certain actress? We have our opinion, but want to hear yours. Here’s one hint. She was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal her in 2005.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Oliver's Cold Gruel World is Coming to PBS's Masterpiece Classic

"Please sir, I want some more". These immortal words were spoken by young Oliver Twist when his hungry stomach ruled over this common sense. Charles Dickens, the author of this bleak but unforgettable novel, was born in 1812 in Portsmouth, the year that Jane Austen published Mansfield Park, a novel she partially set in that city and where Fanny Price's family lived in poverty. Dickens experienced hunger and dire poverty first-hand, having worked in the poor house from the age of 12 when his father was thrown into prison.

This recipe for workhouse gruel is taken from the January 1837 edition of the Champion and Weekly Herald:

Take ten quarts of ditch-water, and stir it well with the body of a farthing rushlight, till it boils. Season it to your liking with old tea leaves, and it will be ready for use. The wick, which will not dissolve, is a delicious relish, and may be bottled whole, and, if [you] should want dessert, suck your fingers. - From the Masterpiece Theatre Archives

A new adaptation of Oliver Twist will be shown on PBS's Masterpiece Classic this Sunday, February 15, 2009. Watch a preview clip here.

• A more palatable recipe for gruel sits in this link: Gruel World

• Think you know your Charles Dickens classics? At this link find several Oliver Twist Games: Matching Game, Word Search, and Cross Word

• More information about the series on BBC
  

Seen on the Blogosphere

Our other blogs Jane Austen's World and Austenprose have been reviewing Masterpiece Classic's second airing of Sense and Sensibility, and a new book tentitled Jane Austen Ruined My Life, which has been getting positive buzz and is now available in book stores.


Check our reviews out at these links:

• Jane Austen Ruined My Life: Vic's Review; LA's Review

• Sense and Sensibility, 2008: LA's Review; Vic's Review

Reading Jane on the Go

For those who are lucky enough to own Iphones or phones that can download just about anything, including ebooks, you are in for a treat. Google has released 1.5 million free ebooks that are in the public domain for download. Now you can read your Jane Austen where ever you go. If you're a techie, this article explains how the process is done and how you can skim over reams of pages.

Cranford

Nigel tells us that our friends Down Under are being treated to Cranford, a must-see adaptation of three of Elizabeth Gaskell's novels. For our Aussie friends, please click here to read our reviews.

• Jane Austen's World: Cranford is a nice place to visit
  

• Austenprose: Reflections on Cranford
  

Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Which Village Do You Prefer?

Oh, dear, Mary Musgrove irritated you more than Mary Bennet, whose idiosyncracies you forgave. This week we turn our attention to two famous Jane Austen villages: Meryton and Highbury. So, which village do you prefer? Meryton with its militia and milliner's shop or Highbury with its fine neighbours for evening societies? Both villages feature public assembly rooms for dancing, and of course, we would have the opportunity to meet either the Bennet or Woodhouse families.

Meryton, Pride and Prejudice

Meryton has an assembly hall and is within walking distance of Longbourn. As Jane writes: "The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton; a most convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually tempted thither three or four times a week, to pay their duty to their aunt, and to a milliner's shop just over the way. The two youngest of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were particularly frequent in these attentions; their minds were more vacant than their sisters', and when nothing better offered, a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish conversation for the evening; and however bare of news the country in general might be, they always contrived to learn some from their aunt. At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighbourhood; it was to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the head quarters."

What village is the real Meryton based on? Read this post from Austenblog.

Highbury, Emma

Emma Woodhouse made her rounds of visits in Highbury, a habit which kept her occupied throughout the week. The assembly hall was the setting for a memorable scene, especially the one in which Mr. Elton declines to dance with Miss Smith. Jane describes Highbury society as thus: "[Mr. Woodhouse's] horror of late hours and large dinner-parties made him unfit for any acquaintance, but such as would visit him on his own terms. Fortunately for him, Highbury, including Randalls in the same parish, and Donwell Abbey in the parish adjoining, the seat of Mr. Knightley, comprehended many such. Not unfrequently, through Emma's persuasion, he had some of the chosen and the best to dine with him, but evening-parties were what he preferred, and, unless he fancied himself at any time unequal to company, there was scarcely an evening in the week in which Emma could not make up a card-table for him."

Want to know more about Highbury? Visit the Emma Adaptations page in this link.

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Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Which Village Do You Prefer?

Meryton Highbury

Masterpiece's Sense and Sensibility Concludes on Sunday

Don't miss the dramatic conclusion of Masterpiece Classic's presentation of Sense and Sensibility (2008) on Sunday, February 8th at 9:00 pm.

Elinor Dashwood wanted viewers to know that after the conclusion of Sense and Sensibility she has a new gig at The Jane Austen Centre in Bath as a stand-in double for the Jane Austen statue. You can find her most days filling in for Miss Austen during her lunch breaks and book signings.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Ruby Bentall – A Most Memorable Mary Bennet

British actress Ruby Bentall’s portrayal of Mary Bennet in the recent miniseries Lost in Austen is by far the most interesting interpretation of the sanctimonious middle Bennet daughter of Pride and Prejudice yet. Not only was she given more lines by the screenwriter Guy Andrews, she was actually allowed to be interested in other things than scripture, reading and singing at the pianoforte by showing concern for her sisters and participating in the conversation. Ms. Bentall’s wide eyed and often stunned expressions served her well, adding to the impact and humor of this delightful time travel parody of Pride and Prejudice.

Recently interviewed about her role as Mary Bennet for Jane Austen’s Regency World Magazine, this young actress has made a solid start portraying interesting characters. She made her stage debut in 2008 as Lea in The National Theatre’s production of DNA and as Veronica in The Miracle in London, and also played Tish in Sister Agnes Investigates on BBC Radio 4 the same year. Born in London in 1988, Ruby has solid theatrical roots - she is the daughter of actress Janine Duvitski (Vanity Fair 1999 & Little Dorrit 2008) and actor Paul Bentall (Vanity Fair 2004 and Silent Witness 2007). If you are lucky enough to live on the other side of the pond, you can catch her as Minnie the hopeless housemaid in the second season of BBC One’s production of Lark Rise to Candleford, which stars Julia Sawalha (Pride and Prejudice 1995).

Be sure to catch her performance as Charlotte in this month’s Masterpiece Classic presentation of Oliver Twist (2007) which begins on Sunday February 15th on PBS and concludes the following Sunday the 22nd. You might just notice some other familiar faces in the production also: Morven Christine who plays Rose was Ruby’s sister Jane Bennet in Lost in Austen (and is also in the soon to be released The Young Victoria), Anna Massey as Mrs. Bedwin (Mansfield Park 1986), and Tom Hardy as Bill Sikes, who just portrayed Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights (2008).

Ruby has a bright career ahead of her. She is one to watch.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer Available for Free at Girlebooks

Inquiring Readers, In December we offered The Black Moth as an e-book and audio book as the first of the 12 Gifts of Christmas. Girlebooks now offers Georgette Heyer's first book to download on your mobile ebook readers, be they Kimble or Sony or ...? Below is Girlebook's ad for the novel. My only quibble is with the image Girlebooks used for the book. The Black Moth took place during the Georgian era. Here's what the cover hero should look like:
The Black Moth may be downloaded for free from our ebook catalog.

What qualities identify a hero? What qualities identify a villain? Since you read a lot (as your interest in Girlebooks indicates), you feel fairly confident that you can spot one or the other, even when one may be traveling somewhat incognito.

If so, Ms.Heyer’s approach to heroism and villainy may surprise you. The first novel in a four-part series including These Old Shades, Devil’s Cub, and An Infamous Army, The Black Moth comes disguised as an amusing but uncomplicated romance. The story appears so straightforward that you may be inclined to read it with half a mind. As I learned the hard way, that would be a mistake. I read all the way to the end of this fairly lengthy novel and got dropped into a denouement that was anything but uncomplicated. As a result, I reread the whole novel, this time with rapt attention.

When (notice I didn’t say “if”) you read this novel, it is very important that you make note (written, if possible) of the names, appearances and motivations of the various male characters. Since two of the main characters have aliases, it is easy to pigeonhole each character into a “hero / villain” category that may or may not suit his true nature. One of the strengths of The Black Moth is that the characters are multifaceted, making it hard to totally like or dislike any of them.

The Black Moth himself has three aliases, and only once does the novel hint at who The Black Moth really is. Interestingly, it is easy to miss this, because this he appears as somewhat of a peripheral character. Consider the character of The Black Moth to be a puzzle that must be put together. And a puzzle he is. His motivations defy rationalization. At times he is a guardian angel, other times he lives up to his nickname, which is anything but angelic. From descriptions of his countenance, I pictured someone very much like the actor Alan Rickman—not exactly a romantic hero, but an attractive and compelling character who usually manages to upstage the romantic hero and other characters as well.

Hints for more pleasurable reading of The Black Moth: bone up on your fencing terms. The story is pleasurable without knowing the terminology, but with two very interesting fencing matches, it would have been nice to know exactly what was taking place. Also, read the prologue with care. It may seem irrelevant when you start reading the text of the first chapters, but it contains some skillful foreshadowing.

Another Black Moth image more in keeping with the Georgian era. (From Blakeney Manor)

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World

Thank You, Readers

Today marks a milestone of sorts - Jane Austen Today just attracted its 100th follower, which is a new feature offered by blogger (see sidebar). Thank you faithful readers, as your visits and comments make writing this blog rewarding. We started small and began the blog out of devotion to our favorite author, but it is nice to be noticed.

In that light, we would like to point your attention to former JASNA president and Jane Austen scholar, Joan Klingel Ray, who is the President's teaching scholar in the English Department at the University of Colorado. She has also discussed Jane Austen's life on A & E and other specials. Joan will answer your questions about Sense and Sensibility in Ask the Austen Expert at this Barnes & Noble book club disscusion forum until February 13th. Simply go to this link and type in your question.

Both Laurel Ann and I reviewed Joan's book, Jane Austen For Dummies, and gave it high marks.

Click here to read Vic's review, and here for Laurel Ann's.

In addition, after Sense and Sensibility has aired and after Joan has finished answering your last question, PBS Masterpiece Classic will turn its full attention to Charles Dickens for the rest of the year.


It seemed like the best of times, before it turned into the worst of times. Credit flowed like champagne on New Year's Eve, until the inevitable economic hangover. Wall Street in 2008? No, London in the 1820s in Charles Dickens' eerily prophetic novel Little Dorrit. MASTERPIECE CLASSIC presents this timely story, along with three of Dickens' other great works, on "The Tales of Charles Dickens," airing Sundays, February 15 to May 3, 2009, at 9pm ET on PBS (check local listings).

Oliver Twist
Sundays, February 15 and 22, 2009
This bold and gripping adaptation breathes new life into the much loved Charles Dickens story about the young orphan Oliver who is sent to the workhouse where children are raised on a diet of hard work and thin gruel. But we all know the story doesn't end there. Acclaimed newcomer William Miller is Oliver, character actor extraordinaire Timothy Spall (Harry Potter) is Fagin, the prince of thieves, British heartthrob Tom Hardy (Wuthering Heights) is Bill Sikes, Fagin's cruel accomplice, and Sophie Okonedo (The Secret Life of Bees) is Nancy, Bill's lover and Oliver's guardian angel.

March, David Copperfield; March - April, Little Dorrit; May - The Old Curiosity Shop.

Another Austen Blog

Have you noticed Jane Austen Books? This blog points the way to where to purchase Jane's novels and find related items.

Vic, Jane Austen's World and Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Announcing the Jane Austen Today - Excessively Diverting Blog Award

The aim of the Excessively Diverting Blog Award is to acknowledge writing excellence in the spirit of Jane Austen’s genius in amusing and delighting readers with her irony, humor, wit, and talent for keen observation. Recipients will uphold the highest standards in the art of the sparkling banter, witty repartee, and gentle reprove. This award was created by the blogging team of Jane Austen Today to acknowledge superior writing over the Internet and promote Jane Austen’s brilliance.

Congratulations to the seven worthy recipients of the Excessively Diverting Blog Award presented by Jane Austen Today

1.) AustenBlog: Mags, or Margaret Sullivan, the editrix of this blog and the doyenne of all Austenesque blogs (she began Austenblog in 2004, an eon in terms of the blogosphere), puts her rapier wit and knowledge of Jane Austen’s novels to good use in her frequent and informative posts. We can think of no better blog as the recipient of our first award.

2.) The Duchess of Devonshire Gossip Guide to the 18th Century and

3.) Marie Antoinette’s Gossip Guide to the 18th Century are sister sites that offer insights about England and France over two hundred years ago. Lauren and Heather, two art historians, enliven and expand our knowledge about the worlds the Duchess of Devonshire and poor headless Marie lived in. Included in the mix are an assortment of scandalous and famous women of the era, and an analysis of paintings, fashions, and social history that are sure to please the discerning reader.

4.) Versailles and More: This beautifully designed blog covers art, history, music, and sociology. Catherine Delor’s knowledge of French history and life in the 18th century is unparalleled. Not only is her blog informative and impeccable, it is gorgeous to look at as well.

5.) Factual Imagining: Lady A. Byron’s energy and eye for design caught our collective eyes, and her penchant for writing about news items and historical topics related to the sort of history, literature and the cinema that interests us warms the cockles of our hearts.

6.) Risky Regencies: This blog, written by a group of sharp lady writers is right up your alley if you like romance and regency novels. Known for interviews with best selling authors, guest bloggers, reviews, historical details, and writing tips, this blog is never, ever boring.

7.) Ripple Effects: Arti reviews books, movies, and concerts with panache and style. Her knowledgeable point of view - regardless of the topic or era – is as refreshing as it is informative.

Recipients, please claim your award by copying the HTML code of the Excessively Diverting Blog Award badge, posting it on your blog, listing the name of the person who nominated you, and linking to their blog. Then nominate seven (7) other blogs that you feel meet or exceed the standards set forth. Nominees may place the Excessively Diverting badge in their side bar and enjoy the appreciation of their fellow blogger for recognition of their talent.

Best wishes and happy writing from Jane Austen Today

Jane Austen Character Throwdown: This Sister Makes Me Cringe

Last week Beechen Cliff edged out Box Hill as the best climb by quite a few walkers. We now turn to Jane's characters again and think about family. Which sister appalls you more - Mary Bennet or Mary Musgrove? In other words,

Whose Behavior Makes You Cringe More?

Mary Bennet, Pride and Prejudice

Always pontificating and stating the obvious, Mary is a bore with a capital B. Although she reads prodigiously, she possesses as little intellect as talent. At Netherfield, Mary sings and plays the piano in such an excrutiatingly bad way that Lizzy begs her father to put an end to her "performance." Mary's judgement is so poor that she actually admires Mr. Collins, proving without a doubt that Colleen McCullough's premise for The Independence of Mary Bennet is a complete and utter joke. Jane Austen, Mary's creator, observes: "[Elizabeth] was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display. Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she had reached."

Mary Musgrove nee Elliot, Persuasion

Mary Musgrove is full of the Elliot pride, which is the only thing this complaining, often hysterical hypochondriac has going for her. An inattentive mother, she will pawn her children off her sister or husband. Mary imagines slights where there are none, and is quite vocal about what is due to her, even when she is completely wrong. '... any indisposition sunk her completely; she had no resources for solitude; and inheriting a considerable share of the Elliot self-importance, was very prone to add to every other distress that of fancying herself neglected and ill-used. In person, she was inferior to both sisters, and had, even in her bloom, only reached the dignity of being "a fine girl." She was now lying on the faded sofa of the pretty little drawing-room ... and, on Anne's appearing, greeted her with, "So, you are come at last! I began to think I should never see you. I am so ill I can hardly speak. I have not seen a creature the whole morning!"'The Musgroves wish that Charles had married Anne instead of Mary. To give him his due, Anne was his first choice for a wife.

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Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Whose Behavior Makes You Cringe More?

Mary Bennet Mary Musgrove