Silent Monday: Stylish Jane Austen Items

Just in time for the holidays, Longbourn's Laundry offers these Regency related items on Etsy.

Regency Writer Tee

Lady with Parasol bag

Silent Monday: Jane Austen and Anna Chancellor

Cassandra's portrait of Jane Austen

Today's Silent Monday is not so silent:

Anna Chancellor, the actress who portrayed Caroline Bingley in 1995's Pride and Prejudice is related to Jane Austen. (Jane is 8 times her great aunt through Jane's brother, Edward.)  I was particularly struck by the family resemblance when these icons appeared side by side below a previous post. Both women are described as being tall and slender and having high cheekbones and striking eyes. Viewing Frances Austen's portrait below (he is Jane's brother), one sees the similarity of eyes, mouth, and chin.

Liberty of London Evening Dress

I know, I know. This is an 1880's dress from Liberty of London, not a Regency dress. But I SWOON. What a perfect color for fall.

Evening gown, 1880s
Attributed to Liberty of London (British, founded 1875)
Yellow China silk

Read more about the dress at:Liberty of London: Evening gown (1985.155) | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Silent Monday

Click on the image twice to read the full size. Thanks, Jim @dzhimbo (Twitter) for providing today's feature.

Silent Monday

This year marks the 199th anniversary of the publication of Sense and Sensibility. Jane Austen showcases her wonderful dry wit over and over in this novel, as exemplified in the following passage:

After breaking up with Willoughby, Marianne grieves his absence quite publicly. She,  Elinor, and Margaret wander about the village of Allenham when they unexpectedly encounter Edward Ferrars, who has arrived for a visit. Marianne asks how dear, dear Norland looks.

Fall in Missoula. Photo from @The Uprising

"Dear, dear Norland," said Elinor, "probably looks much as it always does at this time of year. The woods and walks thickly covered with dead leaves."

"Oh!" cried Marianne, "with what transporting sensations have I formerly seen them fall! How have I delighted, as I walked, to see them driven in showers about me by the wind! What feelings have they, the season, the air altogether inspired! Now there is no one to regard them. They are seen only as a nuisance, swept hastily off, and driven as much as possible from the sight."

"It is not every one," said Elinor, "who has your passion for dead leaves."

Image from I Love Fall in Shelley's The Uprising. She has contributed book reviews to Jane Austen Today and Jane Austen's World.

Silent Monday

I took this walk yesterday along the James River with my dog, The last few scenes are of my front and back yards. Can you believe I live within the city limit? I deliberately kept in the sounds of Cody's feet rustling dead leaves, the leaf blower, and bird song.

Not to be outdone, Tony Grant sent me a snapshot of Wimbledon Commons, where he runs.

Tony's Wimbledon Commons run

Autumn plants in the woods

Silent Monday: My Jane Austen Desktop Image

Emma 2009 image: Picnic on Box Hill

Curious minds want to know: What's your desktop image?