Announcing The Grand Sophy

Can anything be more delightful than a lazy summer afternoon stretched out in an easy chair by the sea, pool, or lakeside reading a new book? July is a particularly good month for Jane Austen and Regency romance fans, as you can see with:

The Grand Sophy

The sweet, retiring niece that Lady Ombersley expected as a house guest turns out to be an opinionated and sophisticated Regency glamazon. Arriving in a stylish chaise and four, the well traveled Miss Sophy Stanton-Lacy breezes through the entryway of the Ombersley's elegant London townhouse with dog, birdcage, and monkey in tow. She quickly sizes up the dysfunctional household and determines to set things right. Added to the mix are a stuffed shirt hero with a heart of gold, a jealous fiancee, and an assortment of needy but interesting characters who require Sophy's intervention. Sparks fly the moment Sophy meets Charles, who disapproves of almost everything Sophy does. Their verbal exchanges are among the best that Georgette Heyer has written. In fact, The Grand Sophy's characters, language, plot, and setting are all outstanding. After I turned the last page of this amusing book, I felt a pang of disappointment that this rollicking tale had come to an end.

The Grand Sophy comes out tomorrow, July 1. During this month look for an incredible giveaway contest from Source Books on this blog.

Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

Jane Austen wrote of Emma Woodhouse, “I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.” In this week's movie throwdown, our question is: Whose performance as Emma do you like best? Elegant Gwyneth Paltrow, the earthier Kate Beckinsale, or uber modern Alicia Silverstone? All played the character between 1995 and 1996, a particularly fine period for Emmas.

Favorite Emma

Gwynneth Paltrow, 1996 Emma

To many, Gwynneth is the embodiment of Emma. Tall and graceful, she lends to the character an elegant, haughty, and aristocratic air. Her background as the privileged child of a director and actress resembles Emma Woodhouse's in many ways. Still channelling Emma over 12 years later, Gwynneth dispenses advice to one and all in her new website, Goop!

Her Emma quotes: "Had I not promoted Mr. Weston's visits and given encouragement where encouragement was needed, we might not have had a wedding today," and "One does not like to generalize about so many people all at once, Mr. Knightley, but you may be sure that men know nothing about their hearts, whether they be six-and-twenty, or six-and-eighty."

Kate Beckinsale, 1996 Emma

Amazingly Kate looks prettier these days than when she played Emma 13 years ago. Her interpretation of Emma is earthier than Gwynneth's and more matter of fact. The hats she's forced to wear in the film, although historically accurate, are excrutiatingly ugly, though they lend her character authority and maturity beyond her years. Kate's Emma stands up to Mark Strong's forceful performance as Mr. Knightley. This Emma was written by Andrew Davies, prolific Jane Austen script writer.

Her Emma quotes: "He is very plain, undoubtedly, but that is nothing like his very lack of gentility. I had not expected much but I had no idea he was so very clownish, so totally without air," and "Papa, I have heard that the chicken thieves have returned to the neighborhood. Not two nights ago they broke into Mrs. Weston’s chicken house and stole all the turkeys…would you not be happier knowing Mr. Knightley was in the house?"

Alicia Silverstone, 1995 Clueless

Although Alicia's character was renamed Cher and lives in 20th century LA, Amy Heckerling's adaptation of Emma remains true to the character. Alicia's performance as a rich, spoiled, bossy, materialistic Cher is unforgettable. She's simply perfect as the clueless driver license-challenged Cher. I'm still waiting for her to find another part so richly suited to her talents.

Her Emma quotes:

"Old people can be so sweet," "Isn't my house classic? The columns date all the way back to 1972," and " I am totally butt crazy in love with Josh."

pollcode.com free polls

Whose Emma peformance do you like best?

Gwynneth Paltrow Kate Beckinsale Alicia Silverstone

Seen On the Blogosphere

Georgette Heyer is tweeting The Grand Sophy on Twitter! Follow her as the book is being released. Sample tweet: "He is the kind of odious little toad who kisses the housemaids on the stairs." Click here to read the tweets.

In addition, seen at Wimbledon: Two yummy men. Jonny Lee Miller, our future Mr. Knightley, and Jude Law.

Austen Fest on Brant Flakes

Join the Austen Fest in progress on Brant Flakes, author Marilyn Brant’s literary blog. She will be having four Austen-esque authors as guest bloggers: Syrie James (Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen & The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte), Kim Wilson (Tea with Jane Austen & In the Garden with Jane Austen), Abigail Reynolds (Pemberley by the Sea & more), and Laurie Viera Rigler (Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict & Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict). There are prizes for all the authors’ books, including Marilyn’s, According to Jane, due out this October, and other goodies. Check it out!

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Winners announced in The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy Giveaway

Congratulations go out to Bluestocking and Deb, our lucky winners of one copy each of The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy, by Maya Slater. Please claim your prize by responding by e-mail by July 2nd to Vic and Laurel Ann at janeaustentoday at yahoo dot com with your full name and address. The books will be mailed directly from the publisher.

Many thanks to author Maya Slater who did such an excellent job on her novice author blog event. Well done.

Cheers, Vic and Laurel Ann

Win a copy of Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict

SWAG ALERT!

Today, in celebration of its official release date, we are offering a chance to win a free copy of Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, by Laurie Viera Rigler.

This new novel is the parallel story to her best selling Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, where we met Courtney Stone, a LA singleton addicted to Jane Austen who is mysteriously transported back to Regency era England and into the body of Jane Mansfield. This time around we meet Jane Mansfield, a 19th-century Gentleman’s daughter who wakes up in Courtney Stone’s modern and technically infused LA world.

To qualify, please leave a comment stating why you are a Jane Austen addict and how you feed your need for more Jane. The contest is open through Wednesday, July 1st and the book will be mailed to continental US addresses only. Winner to be announced on Thursday, July 2nd. Good luck and happy reading!

Visit Laurie's website Jane Austen Addict to learn more about her books and view a new book trailer.

Jane Austen's Sewing Box

"My mother desires me to say that she will knit one for you, as soon as you return to chuse the colours & pattern." Jane Austen to Cassandra Austen, 1807.

Jane Austen's Sewing Box by Jennifer Forest is a new angle on Jane Austen – combining the craft revolution with our love of Jane Austen. The author researched the craft worked by Jane Austen, her characters and her circle of friends and family, put the craft in its historical and literary context and used real Regency objects to inspire craft projects for the modern crafty person (for example she uses modern materials and tools which are true to the period but can be easily purchased today).




The book is available online from many stores already and comes out in the UK in July 2009.

Click here to enter the author's site.

Everything Austen Challenge begins July 1st

Stephanie’s Written Word is offer the Everything Austen Challenge starting on July 1st until January 1st 2010. Join the challenge and read or watch 6 Austen related books or movies in 6 months to qualify for a chance to win a copy of the miniseries Lost in Austen. She has supplied an excellent list of suggestions. Anyone can participate. You can read all of the details and capture one of the badges at her blog.

Here are my 6 choices

Movies:
Pride and Prejudice (1995)
Sense and Sensibility (1971)

Books:

Love, Lies and Lizzie, by Rosie Rushton
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, by Amanda Grange
The Other Mr. Darcy, by Monica Fairview
Darcy and Anne, by Judith Brocklehurst

We are very happy to participate – but fear that we shall meet 6 more quickly than we would like to reveal.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

Today is Father's Day and so I should like to honor one of our favorite Jane Austen characters: Mr. Bennet. Which actor depicted him best in recent P&P adaptations? Donald Sutherland, Benjamin Whitlow, or Hugh Bonneville? You decide and let us know who is your

Favorite Mr. Bennet

Benjamin Whitrow, 1995 Pride and Prejudice

Ironic, gentle, but deadly, Mr. Whitrow spoke practically every line that Mr. Bennet uttered in Pride and Prejudice, and stole nearly every scene in which he appeared in this classic 6-hour production. A handsome older gent with a mild, self-depecrating demeanor, I never tire of watching him.

Some of Mr. Whitrow's memorable lines include: I am heartily ashamed of myself, Lizzy. But don't despair; it'll pass, and no doubt more quickly than it should," and "Til you or your sister Jane return, I shall not hear two words of sense spoken together."

Donald Sutherland, 2005 Pride and Prejudice

With his performance as an earthier Mr. Bennet who, while he might aim verbal barbs at his silly wife, still lusts after her body, Donald Sutherland finally erased my image of him as MASH's Hawkeye Pierce. A Canadian who felt quite at ease playing an English gentleman, Donald's been one busy actor since the mid-1960s.

Some of Donald's memorable lines include: "Well, if Jane does die, it will be a comfort to know she was in pursuit of Mr. Bingley," and "Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins... And I will never see you again if you do."

Hugh Bonneville, Lost in Austen, 2007

Three Mr. Bennets, you say? Well, yes, for Hugh Bonneville's Mr. Bennet remained true to Jane Austen's character. This spoof on time travel and Pride and Prejudice provided a satiric romp through Regency England, and Hugh's performance as a more befuddled Mr. Bennet contributed hugely to the fun. I might also add that of the three Mr. Bennets, Hugh was probably closer in age to the character than Mr. Sutherland, who was in his 70's and old enough to be the girls' grandfather, or Mr. Whitlow, who, on reflection, also seemed a tad long in the tooth when he portrayed Mr. Bennet.

Some of Hugh's more memorable and completely made up quotes include: "Happy? That my kindest, prettiest daughter has embarked upon an adulthood of suffication to such a preening Caliban? Happy, Madam - that she should live in subjugation to such an enormity? I would rather sleep in a drain than consent to be happy!," and " [after Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins leave] Tonight Mrs. Bennet, with your permission, I think I shall sleep in our bedroom."

pollcode.com free polls

Favorite Mr. Bennet

Benjamin Whitlow Donald Sutherland Hugh Bonneville

Masterpiece Mystery - Six by Agatha Begins on Sunday

Masterpiece Mystery continues with Six by Agatha – six adaptations of Agatha Christie novels featuring her famous sleuths, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, beginning on Sunday June 21 through July 26 on PBS .

With grey cells firing and knitting needles clicking, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple return to Masterpiece mystery! this summer in Six by Agatha, a half-dozen whodunits by the greatest mystery author of all time, Agatha Christie. David Suchet revisits his signature role as the suave Belgian super sleuth Hercule Poirot, and acclaimed actress Julia McKenzie (Cranford) takes over the iconic role of Miss Marple.

Astute viewers will notice more than a few familiar faces in the cast of British actors populating these mysteries. One of the things I love about Masterpiece productions is the face hunt that gets my grey cells firing. There are many actors you will recognize from Jane Austen adaptations: Harriet Walter (Fanny Dashwood - S&S 1995), Claire Skinner (Fanny Dashwood - S&S 08), Amanda Root (Anne Elliot - Persuasion 95), Mathew MacFadyen (Mr. Darcy - P&P 05), Anna Madeley (Lucy Steele - S&S 08), Joseph Beatie (Henry Crawford - MP 07), Hattie Morahan (Elinor Dashwood - S&S 08), Prunella Scales (Miss Bates - Emma 96), Anna Chancellor (Caroline Bingley - P&P 95), Jemma Redgrave (Lady Bertram - MP 07), Samantha Bond (Mrs. Weston - Emma 96), and Elliot Cowan (Mr. Darcy - Lost in Austen 08).

The production value on these adaptations is outstanding, with great period appropriate locations and beautiful costumes. Mix in a great script and direction and you have a quality adaptation that is sure to please the discriminating sleuth in us all.

Visit the official Masterpiece Mystery website for addition information, cast interviews, local listing and online viewing of each episode the following Monday after airing.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

BBC Sense and Sensibility (1971) Region 1 DVD Available September 29

BBC Video has announced the release of the elusive and never before aired in the US miniseries of Sense and Sensibility produced by the BBC in 1971. Staring Joanna David (Mrs. Gardiner in P&P 95) as Elinor Dashwood and Ciaran Madden as Marianne Dashwood, this three hour miniseries should be a treat for Austen enthusiast in the US who have only heard tales of its existence. Its reappearance on the video scene now requires a re-numbering of Sense and Sensibility movie adaptations, since the 1981 version had been considered the first available - with no hope that this could ever resurface. Now, if the 1967 BBC Pride and Prejudice miniseries pops out of the vault, the fan numbering system will have to be remastered too. Here is the cast listing and some great photos from the BBC website. You can pre-order your copy directly from BBC America online.

John Middleton --- Michael Aldridge
Lady Middleton --- Sheila Ballantine
Mary --- Esme Church
Elinor Dashwood --- Joanna David
Mrs. Dashwood --- Isabel Dean
Edward Ferrars --- Robin Ellis
John Willoughby --- Clive Francis
Marianne Dashwood --- Ciaran Madden
Colonel Brandon --- Richard Owens
Mrs. Jennings --- Patricia Routledge
Charlotte Palmer --- Jo Kendall
Rodgers --- Peter Laird
Palmer --- David Strong
Robert Ferrars --- David Belcher
Steele --- Frances Cuka
Master of Ceremonies --- Mischa De La Motte
Fanny Dashwood --- Kay Gallie
John Dashwood --- Milton Johns
Nancy Steele --- Maggie Jones
Doctor Harris --- Clifford Parrish

Directed by David Giles
Adapted by Denis Constanduros
Produced by Martin Lisemore

Reader Challenge: Describe an Austen Novel in Six Words or Less

One of my favorite websites DailyLit is offering a readers challenge to describe their favorite classic book in six words or less. Of course, I had to give it my best try at Jane Austen’s novels and came up with these ditties.

Sense and Sensibility: Manic and depressive find love!
Pride and Prejudice: Petulance + Perspicacity = bestseller
Mansfield Park: Fanny a prig? No way!
Emma: Clueless, overconfident and offensive in Highbury
Northanger Abbey: Gothic obsession = guy with castle
Persuasion: Never throw away a blue coat!
Lady Susan: Mom schemes - eats daughter 4 lunch

So, Gentle Readers, how would you cleverly describe our favorite author’s novels, or any others in classic literature?

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Penguin Classics On Air Launched: First Up – Jane Austen

I must say that Penguin Group (USA) has their priorities straight. They have selected Jane Austen as the first classic author to discuss on their new online "Penguin Classics On Air." This online radio segment includes the first episode of "Why We Love Jane Austen" in three parts: 1.) an interview with Austen scholar Juliette Wells as she discusses Austenmania, what it means to be a Janeite, etiquette in Austen’s time, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, 2.) Alan Walker, introduces listeners to Excellent Women by Barbara Pym on “Reading the Classics from A to Z,” and 3.) Stephen Morrison offers up the opening to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in his segment, “First Pages.”

Check out what Juliette Wells has to say about Janeites, and why she does not consider herself one. Whatever. Ok -- I will now do my best Jane Bennet impersonation and not pass judgment on that remark. ;-)

Penguin has an excellent selection of Jane Austen’s novels available in tradition book format and the illustrated and expanded Ebook edition that will make a certain Ebook exponents very happy. Being a book purist, I have my eye on their new edition in the queue of Pride and Prejudice due out August 25th with a very interesting new cover design by Ruben Toledo. Jane can now hit the runway in high fashion!

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Giveaway contest for The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy

Hot off the presses this week is the US edition of The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy by Maya Slater. In this retelling of Pride and Prejudice through Darcy's eyes, we are privy to his innermost thoughts, feelings and experiences as a Regency gentleman. Here is the publisher's description:

Have you ever wondered what Mr. Darcy was really thinking? Find out his secrets in this captivating novel of love, pride, passion, and, of course, prejudice. Mr. Darcy's intimate diary reveals his entanglements with women, his dangerous friendship with Lord Byron, his daily life in Georgian London, his mercurial mood swings calmed only by fisticuffs at Jackson's-and, most importantly, his vain struggle to conquer his longing for Elizabeth Bennet.

Read an interview of the author Maya Slater as she shares her insights on Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice and its characters, and how they influenced her new novel. Here is an interesting excerpt.

If I had a conscious aim, it was to be absolutely true to how a man of Mr. Darcy’s age, class and education would have lived in Georgian or Regency times. And his diary was to be an honest, unexpurgated account of his most intimate moments – he had promised as much to his mother before she died. So as my research progressed – and I did do a lot of research for my novel – I found that in his private diary he was revealing a secret life. Being a young man about town, his interests, his pursuits and the company he keeps are not what the young ladies of Longbourn would expect. Furthermore, being a man and writing for himself alone, he is not bound by the proprieties that had to be observed by Jane Austen as a lady novelist. He goes his own way – and as none of his acquaintance sees his diary, nobody will be shocked.

Giveaway Contest: Enter a chance to win one of two copies of The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy by leaving a question for the author here, or at my co-blog, Austenprose before June 24th. Winners announced Thursday, June 25th here at Jane Austen Today.

Read my complete review of The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy and discovery how a skeptical Janeite was won over and enjoyed this novel thoroughly.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Seen on the Blogosphere: Some styles never go out of fashion

The little white dress was as necessary in a well-dressed Regency miss's wardrobe as the little black dress is in the modern woman's closet. Not that the little white dress has ever completely gone out of style, as these two modern design interpretations suggest.

D&H Styles

White Muslin Gown Inspiration

Other items of clothing have remained classic as well. For several years we have seen the chemise worn as a sleeveless top. ( SSense.)

This Sax Fifth Avenue nightgown is Oscar de La Renta's interpretation of the chemise.

Some wedding gown styles never change. This chiffon empire gown was inspired by Jane Austen.


And have corsets ever really gone out of fashion? Charlize Theron in a corset top.

Posted by Vic

Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

In this week's throwdown we ask you to consider two vastly different interpretations of Jane Austen's novels. The smartly written and immensely likable Clueless or Bride and Prejudice, Jane Austen Bollywood style. These two movies prove that Jane's stories trandscend time and cultures. For your consideration, which film is

The Best Reintepretation of a Jane Austen Novel

Clueless, based on Emma

Amy Heckerling's script snaps, crackles, and pops with Valley Girl smarts. And Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz is, like, unforgettable. The plot, set in mid-1990's LA, is filled with absurd situations - Cher learning to drive, debating about violence for a class assignment, endlessly shopping, and helping Daddy with his law briefs. All the important elements of Emma as a bossy and privileged(but clueless) rich girl who interferes in other people's lives are included. And then there's the dialogue: "Can I please give you some advice? It is one thing to spark up a doobie and get laced at parties, but it is quite another to be fried all day." Priceless. Every time I watch this film I laugh. It simply is that good.

Bride and Prejudice, based on Pride and Prejudice

It's fun to see the Bennets transplanted to another culture. The girls are reduced to four, but you still have Lalita (Lizzy) and (Jaya) Jane, and Mr and Mrs. Bashki (Bennet). Mr. (Kohli) Collins is as pompous as ever and Mr. Darcy is downright yummy. Aishwariya Rai, who plays Elizabeth Bennet, has the most striking eyes of all the actresses who have ever played the character. This is Pride and Prejudice Bollywood style, with actors dressed in bright costumes and singing and dancing their way against colorful settings and in exotic locations. Gurinder Chadha, of Bend it Like Beckham fame, directs this movie with a joie de vivre that has you singing "No Life Without Wife" long after the film has ended.

pollcode.com free polls

The Best Reinterpretation of a Jane Austen Novel

Clueless Bride and Prejudice

Tom Hardy – Mr. Darcy Wannabe

British actor Tom Hardy, who recently portrayed the brutishly demented Heathcliff in the BBC/PBS production of Wuthering Heights, has aspirations of classic romantic icon grandeur. Despite his best known performances as bad boy thugs, gangsters and bullies he would actually prefer to play classic archetypes such as The Oresteia, Romulus and Remus, Iago and Othello, Tamburlaine the Great – and Pride and Prejudice’s Mr. Darcy. Yes, Mr. Darcy! In a recent interview for the Telegram.co.uk, he revealed his first failed attempt to convince movie producers that he had the Darcy noble mien.

In fact, Hardy says he very nearly won the part of Darcy in Joe Wright’s 2005 film of Pride and Prejudice, where Matthew MacFadyen in the end played opposite Keira Knightley. And he was gutted when the very powerful Stacey Snider, ex-head of Universal Pictures, now CEO of Steven Spielberg’s company Dreamworks, told him: “Babe, every woman in the world has an impression of who Darcy is and you’re just not it.”

“That hurt, that really hurt,” Hardy recalls now. “I’d worn a blue shirt and jeans and a blue blazer and been doing my best Hugh Grant impression. But now I was back to playing the wonky skewiff-teeth kid with the bow legs.”

Even though the “blue coat” worked for Mr. Bingley as an enticement to the Bennet sisters in Pride and Prejudice, don’t you know that you just can’t make a silk purse out of sow’s ear Mr. Hardy? We admire you in those nasty boy roles. Stick to what you do best and leave by your dreams of Darcy!

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Seen On the Blogosphere: Heyer Better than Austen?

While doing background research for Georgette Heyer, I ran across this statement:

"I don’t quite remember when I started reading this book [Friday's Child], probably at the end of June or beginning of July and I only finished it tonight! I’m already not a fan of romance books but I thought I’d give this book a try as it was sent from Sourcebooks. This was my first Georgette Heyer book and at least, it’s better than Austen."

Let's hope this writer is absurdly naive and young and that she is just beginning to flex her critic's muscles. Heyer, as serious readers will agree, is most definitely not "better" than Austen. Had this young person written that Heyer's books are fun, breezier, and easier to comprehend, I would not have given her statement a second thought. For those who have difficulty reading Jane Austen's 19th century language or understanding Regency customs and etiquette, Georgette Heyer's books provide a rollicking introduction to understanding that bygone time. Sherwood Smith observes:

"If a person has read enough Heyer and others who emulate her, he or she ought not to find Austen's language impenetrable, and will probably be able to comprehend the wit. Anyone who loves, say, Friday's Child ought to laugh out loud at the absurdities of Mrs. Norris, or enjoy the sly selfishness of Isabella Thorpe--or recognize how John Dashwood, so continually worried about his position in society, becomes more servile than his servants."

While Georgette Heyer does not possess Jane Austen's immense literary stature, one can be assured that her novels are historically accurate. An Infamous Army is so true to life (every line uttered by Wellington in the novel is attributed to the real-life man), that it was rumoured to have been on the reading list for the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Sourcebooks has been reissuing Georgette Heyer's frothy regency romances, allowing me to fall in love with the author's works all over again. For my review of The Corinthian, go to Jane Austen's World.

Coming soon from Sourcebooks: The Grand Sophy. I consider this novel to be one of her best and have been Twittering about it at this link.

Seen on the Blogosphere

Scents of Sensibility, anyone? In this age of belt tightening, somebody actually has the chutzpah to charge $28.99 for a spray fragrance of "new book smells". I kid you not. Tired of your Kindle or Sony book reader emitting a whiff of ether? Then spray some attar of classic book smell over the screen. The price is a little steep for a gag gift, but then, as the saying goes, there's a sucker born every minute.

Over two years ago, noted Austen scholar Bruce Stovell died unexpectedly. In honor of his memory Bruce's family recently published book, and a companion CD, titled Jane Austen Sings the Blues. Stovel's widow Nora, also a professor at the University of Alberta where Bruce taught, was the editor of the book, while son Grant and longtime friend and fellow musician Graham Guest produced the 12-song disc. A book of Bruce's essays will be published some time in the near future.

Have you always wanted to own several BBC classics but your common sense stopped you from purchasing the high priced DVD's? Amazon is having a blow out sale of BBC DVDs. Hop on over to take advantage of savings ranging from 37% (odd figure, I know) to 45% on such classics as North and South, 2008 Sense and Sensibility, 1981 Pride and Prejudice, and Cranford.

Image from LA Times Blog; posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World.

Move over Zombies – Jane Austen is Going Paranormal

Yesterday I reported about more zombies. Today it will be vampires.

I’m glad Jane Austen had a great sense of humor! Janeites will have to expand theirs with all the Austen mash-ups, retellings and paranormal happenings going on in the book & movie world!

Last week, Vic reported on the announcement of a new Austen inspired paranormal series entitled The Immortal Jane by author Janet Mullany who has graciously shared all the details in her guest blog on Austenprose. Here’s an excerpt.

I'd been thinking for some time about why historical romance authors consider Jane Austen the granny of us all, and it's because she is a master of subtext. The only way she could express sexual tension, because of her time and place in history, was by inference and subtle clues. It seems now the explicitness of historical romance means we have to find our own subtexts. (I should put in a plug here, so to speak, for the workshop Pam Rosenthal and I give, Writing the Hot Historical, which we're giving at RWA Nationals, where we talk about this sort of stuff, and I urge everyone not to use the term pebbled nub and to read Mansfield Park.) So, I discovered another subtext throughout Austen – vampires.

Read the entire blog: Jane Austen Goes Paranormal and learn all about her upcoming Austen inspired vampire novels for 2010. Janet has also just revealed her newly re-designed website Janet Mullany: Where Wit and Passion Meet. In celebration, she is holding a contest for two lovely 1818 ca prints. The deadline to enter is August 1st.

You can find Janet Mullany on Twitter, every Thursday at Risky Regencies, and occasionally at History Hoydens.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – The Deluxe Heirloom Edition?

Gentle Readers:

More zombies you ask? Yup!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into a bookstore, Quirk Books officially announced today a Deluxe Heirloom Edition of its New York Times bestselling Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, now with 30% more zombie action – yes – that’s 30% more bone crunching and brain eating zombies populating Jane Austen’s gently refined prose.

From our perspective, it appears that zombie fans felt slighted after the text of the first edition only included 15% gore and goo in comparison to 85% classic literature and demanded more gruesome zombie action. To compensate, co-author Seth Grahame-Smith has taken a second crack at it by expanding the story. Let’s hope that none of Austen’s text was whittled out to make room!

In addition to the expanded zombie mayhem, the Deluxe Heirloom edition includes:

• A rich faux leather hardcover with gold foil stamping and a ribbon marker

• All new stunning full-color illustrations—depicting 13 of the most memorable moments in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

• A special preface from living author Seth Grahame-Smith about his experience writing Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

• And an essay afterword by Dr. Allen Grove, Professor of English Literature at Alfred University

Oh my! Just what you need to round out your classics section in your library, right?

The new edition is due out November 1st (just in time for Holiday shopping) and you can pre-order you copy today. Quirk has also invited readers to join its recently launched Quirk Classics Facebook page where on July 15, 2009 at midnight, it will be announcing the next monster lit mash-up in the Quirk Classics series. Oh dear! Who’s next? Charlotte Bronte? Shakespeare? Charles Dickens? We are all anticipation!


One of 13 illustrations in the new Deluxe Heirloom edition of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Charlotte Lucas marries Mr. Collins. She would have to be a zombie to agree to that!

You can catch up on all the zombie bedlam by reading our reviews of P&P&Z. Vic & I thought it a great high concept parody, but purist Austen fans are forewarned!

Vic's review of P&P&Z at Jane Austen's World

Laurel Ann's review of P&P&Z at Austenprose

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose