Letters to Mr. Knightley: A New Blog

Letters to Mr. Knightley, a new blog, is filled with advice from Mr. Knightley, our hero from Emma, such as the following:

Dear Mr. Knightley,

I am not a lady to throw myself in the path of other men; on the contrary, I am twice as likely to throw myself off of it…especially when the man is one I admire.

I know this is most impractical. Firstly, however, I am terribly shy. Secondly, I cannot shake the feeling that to pursue the object of my admiration under pretenses of friendship would be dishonest. For I feel, you see, so much more, though I am hardly well-enough acquainted with the gentleman to justify more direct flirtation.

But I tire of hiding in bushes as my gentleman passes by. It is degrading, and further more, I’m beginning to acquire leaf stains on all my favorite frocks. In short, I most humbly beg your advice.

I am yours, etc.

Offroaded Admirer

Dear Offroaded,


Let me begin first by saying that those women who throw themselves so wantonly in the path of men at the blink of an eye are most certainly not acting as any true lady ought to. A lady does herself no favor in so desperately pursuing a man, no matter what his rank may be. For not only will her motives be questioned but she will also find that men take greatest delight in the pursuit of a beautiful woman but when they find their target too readily or too easily, they often lose interest fairly quickly. It is much better to let a gentleman pursue you, giving him small signs and tokens of affection but holding back slightly, as to arouse his curiosity and enhance your own air of mystery. But keep in mind, having a reception too cold, too modest, or too dignified may thwart a gentleman’s suit all together. ... Click here to read the rest of Mr. Knightley's answer

John Mullan's 10 of the Best Governesses includes Miss Taylor in Emma

Love John Mullan's choices of ten best governesses, since Miss Taylor made first choice. And correctly so. Do you agree?

Johdi May as Anne Taylor, Emma, 2009

Emma by Jane Austen Miss Taylor, governess for many years to the headstrong Miss Woodhouse, is contemplating her future as a paid companion when, well into her 30s, she gets a lucky break. An affluent local widower runs to fetch her an umbrella when he meets her in the rain, and soon she becomes Mrs Weston.

Jane Austen Games and Activities

What did families do in the evening before television and electronic games? Why play card games and board games, of course. These links will lead you to the games popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Enjoy

A game of chess, Diana Sperling

Masterpiece Classic: This site describes 10 games that were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Card party

Bullet Pudding: Imagine Mr. Darcy's face covered with flour as he played this game with the Bennet sisters. Not! Still, it is similar to bobbing for apples - messy but fun.

Lottery Tickets and Gaming Fish - Austenonly describes the game played by Lydia Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Enjoy.

A riddle from Mr. Elton, Emma, 1996

Mr. Elton's riddles were easy for Emma but not easy for Miss Smith. Colleen Sheehan writes about the Riddles of Emma.

Jane Austen Character Throwdown

Which Jane Austen secondary character would you be friends with? Part 2. In last week's friend showdown, you overwhelmingly voted for Colonel Fitzwilliam and Eleanor Tilney, with Mrs. Gardiner a close third. Poor Lady Russell came dead last with a little over 5% of the votes. This week you will consider characters from Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Mansfield Park. You may pick as many as you like, or none.

Emma & Mrs. Weston

Emma

Mrs. Weston (Miss Taylor)

Robert Martin

Sir John Middleton & Mrs. Jennings

Sense and Sensibility

Mrs. Jennings

Sir John Middleton

Pug by Gainsborough

Mansfield Park

Pug

Mrs. Grant

Which secondary Jane Austen character would you be friends with?
	Mrs Weston (Miss Taylor)
	Robert Martin
	Mrs Jennings
	Sir John Middleton
	Pug
	Mrs Grant
pollcode.com free polls

The Jane Austen Character I Most Identify With

Gentle Readers, Laurel Anne from Austenprose and I were chatting the other day about this, that, and the other, for we are both a bit Jane Austen nutty (if you haven't noticed.) As you continue reading, you will need to know only one thing:  we are just a wee bit longer in the tooth than Jane's young heroines:

LA: Vic and I were chatting on the phone today. Over the course of our three plus year Austen-inspired friendship we have mostly emailed, so this was a treat. She has the most infectious laugh which made me laugh too. Of course we were talking about our favorite author and she remarked that Austen excelled at humor and the amazing secondary characters she developed. Somehow it just popped out and I boldly asked her what Jane Austen character she most identified with. Without hesitation she replied, Lady Russell from Persuasion. “Lady Russell?” I replied in surprise! “Well, yes.”

Jane Rus.., er, Mrs. Russell

She then revealed that she is often wrong about the advice she gives people. At work she gathers the young-uns around her and freely offers opinions, whether they are solicited or not. When she gives wrong counsel - which she admits is more often than not - she torpedos herself in a most spectacular fashion. “The error of my ways does not go unnoticed by this unforgiving crowd. Unlike Lady Russell, I will own up to a misteak, er, mistake or two, and apologize for having interfered, but I hold the line at groveling.”

Another reason why she identifies with this character is her independence. Lady Russell is a widow with a healthy income and she has no intention of remarrying and being subjugated by a man. “I am a divorced woman who has discovered the joys of living singly on my own terms and by my own schedule. Ah, what total, selfish bliss!”

Vic further admitted that at a party, or when she lets her hair loose, she starts to resemble Mrs. Jennings. You know the type: a bit vulgar, out for a good time, giggling at precisely the wrong moments, and making those with a more composed nature feel uncomfortable with crass jokes and loud language. “Like Mrs. Jennings, I have a good heart. But I can be out there and in your face too. I might seem unseemly to a quieter person like Elinor, and be totally disliked by the likes of a Marianne, but my friends and family get me, and that’s what counts.”

Oh Vic! You are such a card. Lady Russell and Mrs. Jennings? She then turned the tables on me. “Now, who do you identify with in Jane’s novels? Are you like me, a bossy and interfering carouser? Or are your a bit more sedate and ladylike?”

Harriet Smith (Tony Collette) patiently poses for Emma

Vic: “Sedate. A total Harriet Smith,” LA replied. Many years ago a dear Janeite friend tagged her as a Harriet to her Emma. “It seemed appropriate since I was often asking for advice and was very mailable to change.” In her view, Harriet was a bit of a ditz and gullible which she has been accused of too. The thing she liked about being a Harriet is that Austen gave her such a great ending. She is resilient, and after being tossed about in love no less than three times in a year, Harriet gets the man she wanted in the first place and proves Emma, with her self-important airs, was totally clueless about the human heart. “I like having the last laugh, and being right.” ;-)

Sir John Middleton (Robert Hardy) and Mrs. Jennings (Elizabeth Spriggs)

Lately LA thinks she has evolved into Sir John Middleton from Sense and Sensibility. He was the Dashwood’s cousin and landlord of Barton Cottage. He is very gracious and likes to pop in and make sure his tenants are comfortable and entertained. He is a bit of a bore and talks too much about things that are not of interest to his young companions, but he likes dogs, has a good heart and loves to laugh. “As an enthusiastic bookseller, I like to inform customers of their choices and make suggestions. I am also a bit of an organizer and enjoy planning events on my blog, and orchestrating the 23 authors in my anthology. It is like herding cats, but I like being the boss of my own world!”

"One man's ways may be as good as another's, but we all like our own best." - Persuasion, Ch 13

Now our question. Which Jane Austen character do you, estimable viewer, most identify with, or which character are you afraid of becoming? Feel free to leave your comments!

Jane Austen's Novels: Beautiful Emma Cover

Penguin Books has an illustrious design history, and to reinforce its dedication to well-designed covers, it has tapped illustrator Jillian Tamaki to embroider several classics for the publisher’s Threads series. 

You can look at the other beautiful book covers in this link.

Emma, cover designed by Christian LaCroix

Fabulous edition of Emma available in March 2010. The cover was designed by Christian LaCroix. 

Posted by Raquel Sallaberry, Jane Austen em Português

Aisha: Bollywood's Emma

Sonam Kapoor plays Aisha, the Bollywood version of Emma. (Aisha) The film is scheduled to be released on August 6. Click on image to enlarge.

The film is a family production - Sonam's father directs the film and plays Mr. Woodhouse, and her sister produces it.

Click on Strange Girl blog to watch a preview video. (It is spoken in Hindi).

Listen to Emma, Part 1 on BBC iPlayer

One hour of Emma on your iPod with Eve Best and Robert Bathurst. How delightful. Click on this link to go to BBC iPlayer. A series of commercials will pop up before the radio program begins. Enjoy Part One.

This broadcast is available until tomorrow, April 9th.

Robert Bathurst in the recent Emma

Emma's Pretty Ribbons

At “My Penguin”, the website states: “We print the words, you make the covers.” I ordered a book, just as Penguin suggested and created a cover for Jane Austen’s Emma. Ribbons were mentioned so often in the book, that I thought that this motif would fit in very well with Miss Woodhouse!

I covered my book with colorful satin ribbons, as you can see in this image. By the time I completed my project, the site was no longer accepting new covers. No matter, for I liked creating the cover! As I looked at the many Emma submissions, I began to wonder: "Did any Janeites we know submit one of these covers?"

Ribbon quotes from Emma:

Emma would be "very happy to wait on Mrs. Bates, &c.," and they did at last move out of the shop, with no farther delay from Miss Bates than,

"How do you do, Mrs. Ford? I beg your pardon. I did not see you before. I hear you have a charming collection of new ribbons from town. Jane came back delighted yesterday. Thank ye, the gloves do very well—only a little too large about the wrist; but Jane is taking them in."

Mrs. Elton to Mr. Knightley: "That's quite unnecessary; I see Jane every day:—but as you like. It is to be a morning scheme, you know, Knightley; quite a simple thing. I shall wear a large bonnet, and bring one of my little baskets hanging on my arm. Here,—probably this basket with pink ribbon. Nothing can be more simple, you see.

He [Frank Churchill] could say no more; and with the hope of Hartfield to reward him, returned with Mrs. Weston to Mrs. Bates's door. Emma watched them in, and then joined Harriet at the interesting counter,—trying, with all the force of her own mind, to convince her that if she wanted plain muslin it was of no use to look at figured; and that a blue ribbon, be it ever so beautiful, would still never match her yellow pattern. At last it was all settled, even to the destination of the parcel.

"Should I send it to Mrs. Goddard's, ma'am?" asked Mrs. Ford.—"Yes—no—yes, to Mrs. Goddard's. Only my pattern gown is at Hartfield. No, you shall send it to Hartfield, if you please. But then, Mrs. Goddard will want to see it.—And I could take the pattern gown home any day. But I shall want the ribbon directly—so it had better go to Hartfield—at least the ribbon. You could make it into two parcels, Mrs. Ford, could not you?"

Submitted by Raquel Sallaberry, Jane Austen em Portugues

Deconstructing Miss Emma Woodhouse: Vote today!

Who is that spoiled “troublesome creature” that we love to hate in Jane Austen’s classic novel Emma? The handsome, clever and rich Miss Woodhouse of course. Who is your favorite Emma Woodhouse, Jane Austen’s original or one of the several screen interpretations? Join in the deconstruction of Miss Emma Woodhouse and vote for your favorite Emma today at Austenprose.

What others are saying about Miss Woodhouse too!

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

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

Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

A new Emma is being filmed this spring, so we thought we'd ask you to vote whether the casting directors got the male actor right for the lead role as Mr. Knightley. You may leave a comment if your vote is for someone else. Click here and Click here to view two sets of images of the new production on The Republic of Pemberley.

Emma 2009 Lead MaleActor

Mr. Knightley: Jonny Lee Miller

This is Jonny's third role in a Jane Austen film adaptation. Back in 1983, he played Charles Price in the BBC adaptation of Mansfield Park and, as a reader reminded me, as Edmund in 1999's Mansfield Park. You might recall first seeing him in Trainspotting and Hackers, where he acted alongside Angelina Jolie, who became his wife. Jonnie comes from a long line of actors. His great-great grandfather was an Edwardian music hall performer and his grandfather was the British actor Bernard Lee, who played M in the first 12 James Bond films. His father, Alan Miller, worked as a stage actor and for the BBC for 20 years. Jonny has worked steadily since playing Charles Price. Before filming Emma, he played Eli Stone, a man with a brain aneurism who experiences visions in a weekly ABC drama. Is Jonny your perfect Mr. Knightley? Or would you have cast someone else in the role? You decide. You tell us.

Jane Austen Movie Throwdown: Jonnie Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley
	He's right for the part
	I don't care one way or the other
	He's wrong, wrong, wrong
pollcode.com free polls

Another Emma

Emma is receiving an embarrassment of attention these days. Her name has shot up to #1 in the U.S. for girls, a U.K. movie based on Jane Austen's novel, and starring Romola Garay, is being filmed as I write, rumors are that preliminary discussions for Clueless 2 are underway, and now Sonam Kapoor has been hired to play Emma in the Bollywood version. The pretty Indian actress will play Desi Emma in Ayesha, which will be based on Jane Austen's novel. Bride and Prejudice, a Bollywood version of Pride and Prejudice was a charming movie. One wonders if this new film will enjoy equal popularity.

Stay tuned for the latest news as the crowded Emma train keeps chugging along. For the best site about Emma, click on Emma Adaptations by Kali. Everything you ever wanted to know about our heroine sits there.

Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Ruined Outing

Your choice of Mrs. Bennet as favorite comical character is not surprising, though I see that Mr.Woodhouse has quite a few fans as well. Our next question takes you outdoors. Which planned outing backfired the most - Fanny Price's trip to Sotherton or Emma Woodhouse's picnic on Box Hill?

Ruined Outing

Emma's Picnic on Box Hill, Emma

Nothing goes right for Emma on this planned excursion, which leaves her tearful and feeling lower than low when it ends with Mr. Knightley berating her for her cruel comment to Miss Bates. At first, "There was a languor, a want of spirits, a want of union, which could not be got over", then, "She had never seen Frank Churchill so silent and stupid. He said nothing worth hearing—looked without seeing—admired without intelligence—listened without knowing what she said." Feeling peevish, she embarrasses Miss Bates, prompting Mr. Knightley to admonish her: "Emma, I must once more speak to you as I have been used to do: a privilege rather endured than allowed, perhaps, but I must still use it. I cannot see you acting wrong, without a remonstrance. How could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How could you be so insolent in your wit to a woman of her character, age, and situation?—Emma, I had not thought it possible." By this time we doubt that anything Emma ate at the picnic sat well in her stomach.


Fanny Price's One Hour Wait at Sotherton, Mansfield Park

First left by Edmund and Mary Crawford after she became fatigued during their ramble, Fanny waits on a bench for twenty minutes before the arrival of Henry Crawford, Maria Bertram, and Mr. Rushworth, who forgot to bring the key to the gate. As he walks back to Sotherton to retrieve the key, Maria and Henry slip around the gate, leaving Fanny alone. When Mr. Rushworth returns, Fanny has been waiting on and off for over an hour. Both Fanny and Mr. Rushworth wind up feeling ill-used, especially Fanny: "Fanny was again left to her solitude, and with no increase of pleasant feelings, for she was sorry for almost all that she had seen and heard, astonished at Miss Bertram, and angry with Mr. Crawford. By taking a circuitous, and as it appeared to her, very unreasonable direction to the knoll, they were soon beyond her eye; and for some minutes longer she remained without sight or sound of any companion. She seemed to have the little wood all to herself. She could almost have thought, that Edmund and Miss Crawford had left it, but that it was impossible for Edmund to forget her so entirely."

Juliet Stevenson: Jane Austen Reader

Of seven Naxos audio books in my possession, five are read by Juliet Stevenson, the actress who so brilliantly portrayed Mrs. Elton in 1996’s Emma and whose comical performance as Keira Knightley’s cleavage loving mother in Bend it Like Beckham is my favorite character in the film.

Juliet’s vocal readings of Emma, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, Persuasion, and Sense and Sensibility are outstanding. You can hear an 8-minute interview with her about the process at this link:
http://www.audiobooksonline.com/audio/Juliet_Stevenson_interview_Naxos_Audiobooks.mp3

or click here to download the interview to your cell phone: http://beemp3.com/download.php?file=2463503&song=Emma+Interview+Juliet+Stevenson

In the interview, she mentions that her favorite Jane Austen novel is Sense and Sensibility and her least favorite is Pride and Prejudice (read by Emilia Fox, the actress who played Georgianna Darcy in the 1995 film adaptation of P&P). Juliet also enjoyed reading Emma, which she describes as delicious. “The structure is miraculous,” she adds. “[Emma’s] snobbery is completely unforgivable, but miraculously you are on her side.”

A Voice Crafter’s article describes the characteristics of a good audio book reader: A vocal talent suitable for reading a novel has to be able to hold people's attention for long periods of time—hours and hours if need be. They must be able to use their voices to create a certain ambience, to make narration sound different from dialogs, and slightly distinguish between characters without sounding silly, unless, of course, they need to sound silly. They have to have the sort of voice that is not grating, yet not so soothing that it puts people to sleep. They should be able to evoke feelings of warmth, or of anger, or fear. Whatever is appropriate in the course of the tale, or radio drama podcast.

Narrating lengthy text requires excellent story telling ability. Juliet Stevenson has it, as does David Rintoul, who played Mr. Darcy in the 1980 BBC film adaptation. Two of my favorite readers are Maria Burton, Richard Burton’s daughter from his first marriage, and Campbell Scott, the son of George C. Scott and Colleen Dewhurst. A voice talent must be able to perform a variety of roles and use contrasting voices or personality traits to make each character come to life. Reading audio books also requires vocal stamina. A good reader can read up to 10 pages per hour. While short books can be taped in only a few hours, a long book might take weeks to complete. A narrator might work for two to three hours at a time, taking a break every hour or so. Reading speed depends on the narrator, but an average is one and a half to two and a half minutes to record a page or about 40 pages every 90 minutes. A beginning reader might make $40 per finished hour and the best readers can make as much as $300 per hour. - There's Money Where Your Mouth Is, Elaine Clark, p 58

In her interview Juliet reveals why she likes reading for audio book: “You can play anything – an old man, a girl of seventeen. It is really liberating but it is also difficult.” Being able to take liberties with characterizations also attracts her to the medium. In order to be an effective reader she must know the heart and soul of the book, an experience Juliet found enriching.

• View the Jane Austen collection in the Naxos audio book library. Click on the audio sample to listen to Juliet read Emma.

• Naxos has also been featuring audio books of Charles Dickens novels, including Little Dorrit. Click here.

• You can listen to audio readings of Jane's novels at Librivox. While these recordings are free, the vocal readings are generally amateurish. There are some exceptions, Karen Savage is an outstanding example, but generally the quality of the reader is not guaranteed at this volunteer reader site.
  

Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Assembly Ball I'd Like to Attend

Last week's throwdown was one of our closest, with your votes often tallying 50-50. Your choice depended on whether you preferred a racy two-seater carriage or a larger carriage to squire more people about. This week you are asked to consider which assembly ball you'd prefer to attend: the Meryton Assembly where Jane meets Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy snubs Elizabeth, or the ball arranged by Frank Churchill and Emma Woodhouse at the Crown Inn, and where Mr. Knightley acquited himself well with Harriet Smith. As Mr. Knightley told Emma, "Fine dancing, I believe, like virtue, must be its own reward." The following two descriptions are in Jane Austen's own words:

Assembly Ball I'd Like to Attend

The Meryton Assembly, Pride and Prejudice

"The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family. Mrs. Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much admired by the Netherfield party. Mr. Bingley had danced with her twice, and she had been distinguished by his sisters. Jane was as much gratified by this as her mother could be, though in a quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane's pleasure. Mary had heard herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had been fortunate enough to be never without partners, which was all that they had yet learnt to care for at a ball. "

The Crown Inn Ball, Emma

"The ball proceeded pleasantly. The anxious cares, the incessant attentions of Mrs. Weston, were not thrown away. Every body seemed happy; and the praise of being a delightful ball, which is seldom bestowed till after a ball has ceased to be, was repeatedly given in the very beginning of the existence of this. Of very important, very recordable events, it was not more productive than such meetings usually are."

pollcode.com free polls

Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Assembly Ball I'd Attend

Meryton Assembly Ball Crown Inn Ball

Gwynneth Paltrow the Perfect Emma?

Jane Austen wrote about Emma, the only JA heroine to have a book titled after her name,"I am going to take a heroine whom no-one but myself will much like." According to last Sunday's Jane Austen Character Throwdown poll, readers seems to confirm that notion. Miss Woodhouse, although her responsibilities far outweigh those of Miss Dashwood, overseeing a large house, servants, parties, dinners, get-togethers, and charity for the poor, is behind in the poll by a margin of 3:1. Is this because we lack sympathy towards a rich girl who enjoys all the advantages of wealth and who indulges herself by interfering in the lives of others? One can never feel quite chummy, can one, with someone who sets herself up to be better.

Gwynneth Paltrow played Emma with elegance and assurance. The actress's background, that of wealth, privilige and ease, reflects Miss Woodhouse's, so in playing the role she didn't have to reach far inside herself to find her inner Emma. Recently, as a mother of two unfortunately named children, Gwynneth decided to share her knowledge of the fine life on her website, which is named, of all things, Goop.

The Chicago Sun Times' Paige Wiser provides four reasons why this website is accidentally fun to read. I have used Ms. Wiser's categories to make my own observations.

1) It is economically inappropriate. In an age when people are seeing their investments slide to zero and worry about keeping their house or job, Ms. Paltrow recommends that every smart woman's closet should feature a $2,000 cashmere trench coat. (Image at right).

2) The Zen writing. And the zen feel of the site itself. It looks classy and spare and elegant, like Gwynneth herself, but the writing is accidentally funny. I say accidentally because Gwynneth doesn't seem to realize that 99.9% of the world simply cannot follow her precepts. She writes about her father taking her to Paris as a child: "On the plane back to London he asked me if I knew why we had gone, just he and I, to Paris for the weekend. I said no, but I felt so lucky for the trip. He said, “I wanted you to see Paris for the first time with a man who would always love you, no matter what.” From that time on, Paris was and continues to be very special to me. I lived there for five months in 1994 and I have made many trips back. These are the places in Paris I stay and eat and toast my dad." Now my question to those who live across the pond from Europe is, how many times have you returned to Paris to toast anything? How many of you went for the first time as a child?"

3) The tone is smug. I rest my case with the above example. In addition, there's something very empty about the site. Aside from the copious amount of white space, there's not much meat to chomp on.

4) It's painfully obvious. Looking at her site and reading her advice, I can substitute Gwynneth for Paris Hilton or any other privileged heiress. Instead of picking her own movie choices, Gwynneth asked a few director friends to do the honors, directors like Steven Spielberg and Wes Anderson. Lucky Gwynneth.

I don't want to jump on the Gwynneth bashing bandwagon merely to bash, but when a lady's response to recent criticism about Goop is a four letter word that starts with "F", which she did in an interview with Elle UK, then, well, I think I'll take a pass on accepting that lady's words of wisdom.

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World

12 Gifts of Christmas: Jane Austen's Birthday!

Inquiring readers, During this month of holiday celebrations, Laurel Ann and I will be offering the Twelve Gifts of Christmas. Some of the gifts will be giveaways, others will be free offerings online, and still others will be great gift ideas for you to give to others. Every gift will have a special relationship to this blog, us, or Jane Austen. Today in honor of Jane Austen’s Birthday we are happy to present gifts to our readers, all seven of Jane Austen’s major novels on unabridged audio by Naxos AudioBooks. Leave a comment stating why you enjoy reading or viewing Jane Austen by December 31st, and you will be eligible for a drawing for one of the following unabridged audios.

Gift Eight: Jane Austen Birthday Celebration Giveaways!

Sense and Sensibility: Read by Juliet Stevenson

When Mrs Dashwood is forced by an avaricious daughter-in-law to leave the family home in Sussex, she takes her three daughters to live in a modest cottage in Devon. For Elinor, the eldest daughter, the move means a painful separation from the man she loves, but her sister Marianne finds in Devon the romance and excitement which she longs for. The contrasting fortunes and temperaments of the two girls as they struggle to cope in their different ways with the cruel events which fate has in store for them are portrayed by Jane Austen with her usual irony, humour and profound sensibility. 11 CDs • Running Time: 11½ hours • ISBN: 978-9626343616

Pride and Prejudice: Read by Emilia Fox

Jane Austen’s most popular novel, originally published in 1813, some seventeen years after it was first written, presents the Bennet family of Longbourn. Against the background of gossipy Mrs Bennet and the detached Mr Bennet, the quest is on for husbands for the five daughters, beautiful Jane, witty Elizabeth, scholarly Mary, impressionable Kitty and wilful Lydia. The spotlight falls on Elizabeth, second eldest, who is courted by Mr Darcy though initially she is more concerned with the fate of her other sisters. This marvellous account of family life in Regency England is read with vigour and style by Emilia Fox. 11 CDs • Running Time: 15 hours • ISBN: 978-9626343562

Mansfield Park: Read by Juliet Stevenson

When timid, ten-year-old Fanny Price is plucked from her large, raucous and somewhat impoverished family in Portsmouth to live with wealthy relatives in Mansfield Park her life is changed for ever. Immediately forming a strong attraction for her cousin Edmund, she develops into a genteel and mature young woman, whose love for him remains undimmed despite the diversion brought into both their lives by the attractive but morally bankrupt Crawfords. With its suggestion of adultery, and written with all the wit and style of the mature Jane Austen, this is the work of a writer at the peak of her powers. It was published in 1814, and unlike its predecessors, Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility which were revisions of her juvenile writing, Mansfield Park was completely original. Like its heroine Fanny Price, who develops during the course of the story to reach maturity, Jane Austen’s third published novel was a much more mature work from a writer of increasing experience. 14 CDs • Running Time: 17 hours • ISBN: 978-9626344675

Emma: Read by Juliet Stevenson

Arrogant, self-willed and egotistical, young Miss Emma Woodhouse is Jane Austen’s most unusual heroine. Her interfering ways and inveterate matchmaking are at once shocking and comic. She is ‘handsome, clever and rich’ and has ‘a disposition to think too well of herself’. When she decides to introduce the humble Harriet Smith, the natual daughter of who knows whom, to the delights of genteel society and to find her a suitable husband, she precipitates herself and her immediate circle into a web of misunderstanding, intrigue, and comedy from which no-one emerges unchanged. 13 CDs • Running Time: 16 hours • ISBN: 978-9626343944

Northanger Abbey: Read by Juliet Stevenson

When Catherine Morland, a country clergyman’s daughter, is invited to spend a season in Bath with the fashionable high society, little does she imagine the delights and perils that await her. Captivated and disconcerted by what she finds, and introduced to the joys of ‘Gothic novels’ by her new friend, Isabella, Catherine longs for mystery and romance. When she is invited to stay with the beguiling Henry Tilney and his family at Northanger Abbey, she expects mystery and intrigue at every turn. However, the truth turns out to be even stranger than fiction. 7 CDs • Running Time: 9 hours • ISBN: 978-9626344279

Persuasion: Read by Juliet Stevenson

Anne Elliot has grieved for seven years over the loss of her first and only love, Captain Frederick Wentworth. When their paths finally cross again, Anne finds herself slighted and all traces of their former intimacy gone. As the pair continue to share the same social circle, dramatic events in Lyme Regis, and later in Bath, conspire to unravel the knots of deceit and misunderstanding in this beguiling and gently comic story of love and fidelity. Juliet Stevenson reads this unabridged recording with her customary clarity and particular understanding for the words and world of Jane Austen. Running Time: 8½ hours • ISBN: 978-9626344361

Lady Susan: Read by Harriet Walter, Kim Hicks, Carole Boyd, and cast

Lady Susan was the first of Jane Austen’s novels to be completed. An epistolary novel in eighteenth-century style, it tells the story of the recently widowed Lady Susan Vernon, intelligent but highly manipulative, who is intent on gaining financially secure relationships for both herself and her wayward but shy teenage daughter Frederica. Less known than Austen’s six great later novels, it demonstrates the wit and sharp observations of Jane Austen – and is shown at its best in audiobook form, with different actresses presenting real characters as they read their letters. Featuring nineteenth-century chamber music. 2 CDs • Running Time: 2½ hours • ISBN: 978-9626342282

Both Vic (Ms. Place) and Laurel Ann adore audio books and know that each of the winners will be thrilled to listen to one of these quality recordings. You can visit the Naxos AudioBooks web site for detailed information on each of the audio recordings and listen to previews.



Happy Birthday Jane Austen! Pass on the celebration by sharing the news of this giveaway with your friends. A big thank you to the folks at Naxos AudioBooks USA for their generous support in our celebration of Jane Austen’s Birthday.

Happy Holidays from Vic(Jane Austen's World) & Laurel Ann (Austenprose)

Quotable Quote

From: The Back Stories Are the Best Stories, Pop Matters

Bond still remembers introducing her students to her favorite book, “Emma,” and how they had been moved by the story-behind-the-story Bond had pieced together about Austen’s family tragedies, which included a handicapped brother sent away to live with another family, another brother adopted and an aunt wrongly imprisoned for theft.

"The realization was for me that once they came to know Jane Austen’s back story, they began to discuss the reasons that Austen put her characters in certain situations and the reasons that characters reacted certain ways,” Bond says. “The students looked deeper into the book as a work of art created by a specific and special person.”