Sense and Sensibility: Annotated and Illustrated

Margaret Sullivan, editrix of Austenblog and author of the Henry Tilney and Catherine Moreland mystery, There Must Be Murder, annotated Sense and Sensibility last year in honor of the novel's Bicentenary anniversary.The Jane Austen Centre's website features the book this month, which is illustrated by Cassandra Chouinard. Click here to read about it and ordering information!

Illustration by Cassandra Chouinard

Mr Darcy's Waistcoat on Sale on eBay!

Well, not exactly Mr. Darcy's, but who can resist owning a waistcoat worn by Matthew Macfadyen? He wore it portraying Felix Carbury in The Way We Live Now. In this instance the reserve has not been met!

As any good Jane Austen film fan knows, Matthew MacFadyen starred as Mr. Darcy in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice. Andrea Galer designed the waistcoat, which is made of black and gold damask silk and with six antique buttons. The back is corseted and authentic to the period.

Sponsored by the Jane Austen Centre, a variety of film costumes are available on eBay until March 25th. This means you have five days left to open your wallets! Click here to join the fun. 

The 2009 Jane Austen Festival in Bath - September 18th-27th

The Jane Austen Festival in Bath, England is quickly approaching, opening on September 18th and running for nine days until the 27th. Created by The Jane Austen Centre, this year’s event will be the ninth annual celebration whose aim is “to draw attention to this very popular author whose works were so influenced by the city by holding an annual celebration where Austen fans from all over the world could come and indulge themselves in everything Regency.”

Ranked among the top 12 literary pilgrimages by Mental Floss Magazine, The Jane Austen Festival has certainly earned its reputation as the grand celebration for Janeites and all things Austen.

Jane Austen, despite being dead since 1817, remains one of the most popular writers in the English language. Her works of quiet social satire have inspired countless film adaptations and modernizations, reams of fan fiction (both of the published and of the online variety), and even a weeklong festival in Bath, England, the scene of many an Austen book. This September – just like every September – thousands of Austenophiles will spend a week dressing up as their favorite character from Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice or any of Austen’s other works, engaging in Regency era gossip, partaking in country dances, a wedding, and touring the Pump Room.

The most spectacular of Austen-era finer is exhibited in the Regency Costumed Promenade through the streets of Bath. On Saturday 19th September 2009, The Jane Austen Festival will attempt to gain a place in the Guinness World Records™ for 'The Largest Gathering of People Dressed in Regency Costume'. If you would like to participate, visit the Jane Austen Center website for details on guidelines and to purchases tickets.

The Festival takes place over nine days from September 18th to the 27th at different venues in Bath. In addition to the Promenade opening the Festival, you can attend the 2009 Jane Austen Grand Regency Ball and supper at the Assembly rooms in Bath, September 26th 8pm-12pm.

Additional information about this year’s event can be found at The Jane Center website.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Photos by Owen Benson

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

The Ultimate Mr. Darcy Gift - to give or keep!

Every Darcy fan must be in want of this gift!

Set contains:
- Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange - allow him to tell you how ardently he admires and loves her/you.
- Mr Darcy Bookmark - A favourite and best-selling Darcy item
- Mr Darcy Magnet - with Pride and Prejudice quotation
- Mr Darcy Keyring - So he will be with you wherever you go.
- Mr Darcy Luxury Writting set - Scribe as the mistress of Pemberly
- Mr Darcy Portrait Postcard

Available from The Jane Austen Centre giftshop online!

posted by Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Seen on the Blogosphere: Our Other Blogs

• Jane Austen's World features a favorable review of Lost in Austen, currently shown in mini-series format on ITV.

• Austenprose will follow Virginia Claire Tharrington as she interns at The Jane Austen Centre in Bath England. Look for her posts each Saturday.
  

About the drawing below (Click for a larger view): Follow its development from the rough first draft you see to a more refined image of "Jane" in the information age. Its inspiration was an illustration from the New Yorker, which I found a tad too sexy for my purposes (right). Stay tuned to see how my adaptation evolves.

Posted by Vic, Ms. Place, Jane Austen's World

The Jane Austen Centre's July Newsletter Arrives

The Jane Austen Centre’s July 2008 issue of their newsletter arrived in my mail box this morning, and it has some very interesting links and articles to read at their website and online. Here are a few of the highlights. Check it out!

The Jane Austen Centre Gift Shop has been renovated! Easier, faster and fun. Who could ask for more Jane stuff all in one place?

The Regency Debutante: An online article from their online magazine by Linore Rose Burkard looking at how Regency debutantes are different from other fictional heroines?

What’s in the next Regency World Magazine? A must have magazine for all Janeites. Learn about eating in Jane Austen’s times, the Regency World Awards, and the Jane Austen Festival taking place in Bath in September.

Take the Pride and Prejudice Quotes Quiz: Do you know who said, “If I were as rich as Mr. Darcy…I would keep a pack of foxhounds and drink a bottle of wine every day.”? Test your knowledge of one of the most quotable books in Austen’s oeuvre.

If you love keeping in the know of all things Austen, then you too can receive the complete monthly newsletter by signing up at The Jane Austen Centre’s wonderful website.

Posted by Laurel Ann, Austenprose