Jane Across and Down
January 29, 2008
It’s not as easy as it looks. You’ll need a thorough grounding in all the character names, locations and even a quote or two. You don’t even have to do it in ink. Fill in the squares from the comfort of your PC while watching this past Sunday’s penny dreadful Mansfield Park. (Still waiting for a review of that from our own Jane-nut Gallery. General consensus is MP was duller than listening to Miss Bates talk.)
Austen on Film
January 28, 2008
Did everyone watch Mansfield Park last night? I’m undecided on my feelings. I think I need to watch it again.
If you ever need to see how many movie versions of the books there are the Jane Austen Society of North America has all of that on their website. You just click on the book title and there are all the movie versions. http://jasna.org/film/index.html
What are your feelings on Northanger Abbey? It’s only been made into a movie one other time. I wish they had all been mini-series. I liked Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park but I think they need to be longer to get the whole story. I would also love to see Persuasion done as a mini-series. One of my problems with the 2005 Pride and Prejudice is I don’t think you get a sense of how much time passes. I think it’s easier to accomplish when it’s a mini-series.
Weekend with Jane
January 27, 2008
Local Jane-enthusiast Zarrin Reynolds brought plenty of insight into the thematic overlays of all the novels and then broke the crowd of 30+ attendees into tables for more intimate chat. 
Reynolds’ remarks made Austen more intriguing for readers familiar with some or all of the works and made room for those readers who are new to Austen. The crowd cheered when Reynolds admitted she had “probably read every Austen novel and watched every movie in the past two weeks multiple times.”
After “See Jane Write” many in the crowd grabbed a quick lunch and returned for the afternoon showing of Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen.
Today, at the Trails West Library, visiting author Nancy Moser donned Regency garb to discuss one of her latest novels, Just Jane, a fictional retelling of Jane Austen’s life leading up to the peak of her writing career.
Moser addressed a large crowd, as can be seen at right, and provided many entertaining anecdotes gleaned from her extensive research into the life of Jane Austen. The crowd roared with laughter when Moser compared Austen’s family’s move to Bath as the “equivalent of retiring to Miami.”
As important as Jane is the to the production of her books, Moser pointed out the contributions made by Jane’s older sister, Cassandra. Cassandra was described by Moser as “Jane’s champion.” Cassandra knew Jane had talent and did everything she could to nurture and encourage Jane’s writing, from taking on extra household tasks to cajoling Jane to take up her pen again after the move to Bath and the subsequent move to Chawton House in Hampshire.
Audience members had plenty of questions for Moser, ranging from the lives of Austen’s siblings after Austen’s death to Jane’s final resting place to Jane’s love of music, before descending on the table of books Moser had brought to sign and sell.
For Moser, and most of the audience, Jane Austen more than the author of classic and enduring works of Regency era fiction, she is the sort of person one could have a delightful conversation with over a cup of tea.
It’s Jane’s Web, we just surf it
January 24, 2008
If I cared to compare the statistics, I think I would find that Jane Austen has a greater web presence than Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan combined. It’s certainly a more respectable one. Although Jane A. probably isn’t racking up the web hits like Jessica/Ashley S. because, well, Jane has talent, brains and manners. Jane does not have a publicist, drinking problem or fashion faux pas that go beyond accidentally dropping a handkerchief.
Those of you looking for a quieter, gentler, more thoughtful community of like-minded Janeites, should hop over to The Republic of Pemberley. The Pemberlians freely admit to an obsession with Jane Austen and boldly point out there are other more destructive things to be obsessive about, thankyouverymuch, and if you do not like their site, well, then, there are plenty of places on the Internet for people “just like you.”
Their mannerly way of telling visitors this is their world, you’re welcome to it, and if you don’t like it, please allow us to show you to the door and thank you for your visit, is refreshing. There’s no name calling, forum locking, or flaming. Everyone must use their true name and be accountable for all content in posts submitted.
The Republic of Pemberley is a font of Jane information ranging from the six original books, to Jane’s life, to literary continuations and sequels, to academic examination of literary allusions in the Austen novels.
For Jane Austen with a dollop of sass and wit, drop in on the AustenBlog and answser the question “one lump of snark or two?” The six Jane-o-philes who make up the staff collect all the information referencing Jane that ijust fit anywhere else. Tidbits such as Jane Austen celebrations nationwide, TV shows that namecheck Jane (looking at you, CSI), commentary on literary critics who feel the need to comment on Jane’s perennial appeal and its affect on their lives, and LOLJane. If you don’t know what that is, you really need to clicky the linky. Have a laugh, why don’t you?
The House that Jane Built
January 22, 2008
We all know that Jane didn’t build anything except charming little worlds peopled with loveable heroines, romantic heroes, despicable cads, cunning villainesses, and a cleric or two, to say nothing of the dog.
This is Jane’s last known residence before settling into eternal rest at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire, England. She has a weekend retreat in Westminster Abbey’s Poet’s Corner as well.
The Jane Austen House Museum, or Chawton House as the Jane-o-philes refer to it colloquially, is also located in Hampshire. Jane Austen spent the last eight years of her life at Chawton House and wrote Emma and Persuasion seated at a very small writing table and carefully dipping a delicate feather quill in a small bottle of ink.
Jane’s brother, Edward, a supporter of her writing, owned the “cottage” as part of his estate in Chawton and offered it to his sisters and mother rent free. The family moved to Chawton from Bath in 1809 and Jane spent the rest of her days here, revising existing works and creating whole new ones.
New favorite Austen heroine
January 21, 2008
My new favorite Jane Austen heroine is Catherine Moreland. How can anyone not love a gal who fancies herself a heroine in a gothic novel and keeps casting these romantic fanasies with herself and the gentleman du jour in the leading roles?
Last night’s KCPT presentation of Northanger Abbey was a frothy concoction with delightful characters, a likeable heroine and plenty of exaggerated drama to keep viewer interest.
Besides, the production opens with this musing by one of the older female characters regarding Catherine: “I wonder if it can be good for her to read so many novels?”
Answer: Of course. All the most fascinating women read.
Jane Austen as Hot Film Property
January 18, 2008
Who went to this program? I want comments/reviews/recaps. I missed it because we got 5 inches of snow where I live. I really wanted to go but when it came time to leave my house to drive to KC for the program it was snowing like crazy.
Better than a Bond Girl
January 17, 2008
No one writes virtuous, feisty, impoverished spinster-heroines better than Jane Austen. But just try getting those gals up on the silver screen. Noted scholar Sheryl Craig discussed how difficult it is for Jane to make the leap from print to movie. All the internal dialogue, class distinctions, numerous scenes and characters make adapting Jane Austen a challenge at best and a period mess at worst.
Ms. Craig paid particular attention to the film adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. She pointed out the obvious change in the time period in the 1940 version (popularly known as the “Olivier” version). Many of the costumes were borrowed from the blockbuster film of the year before, Gone With the Wind and it was obvious to all viewers that Greer Garson was a little too old to be playing Elizabeth Bennett.
The “Colin Firth” version of the BBC miniseries Pride and Prejudice is noted for the BBC telling screenwriter/adapter Andrew Davies to take no notice of the broadcast time constraints and produce the most accurate and entertaining screenplay possible.
Interestingly, the 2005 version of P&P is referred to as the “Keira Knightley” version. Craig pointed out that most P&P films are differentiated by the actors who play Darcy, not the actresses who portray Elizabeth. Craig also explained the dire circumstances of the Bennetts’ in the first scenes in the 2005 movie. Noting that Americans have difficulty discerning between classes, she said, “Americans understand money.” This is the reason for the vast gulf between the Bennetts and the other characters.
Become a cine-Jane expert by catching the rest of the BBC productions on Kansas City’s local public television station, KCPT or the free films at Kansas City Public Library. The next one will be the “Keira Knightly” Pride & Prejudice on January 26.
Journey to the Center of Jane
January 16, 2008
Take a closer look at that photo and you will easily see that Jane Austen is the center of the world. Now, this is not news to the over 100 Janeites in the audience last night.
It wasn’t news to keynote speaker, Dr. Dorice Elliott either, who happily went through the films and books of Jane Austen to show us all her perennial appeal and discuss Jane’s relevance in the 21st century.
Dr. Elliott laughingly showed the attendees Jane’s write up in People magazine as one of the most Intriguing People of the year; Jane’s Newsweek cover; and pointed out that Jane wouldn’t have to worry about the current writer’s strike as she makes more than all those other screenwriters. When she works.
Dr. Elliott dispensed plenty of entertaining tidbits about Jane Austen and her works, but the one item participants were still talking about the next night was Jane Austen’s deft mix of third person omniscent and first person narration. Audience members buzzed and whispered as Dr. Elliott magnified a passage from Emma for all to read and pointed the subtle shifts in narration that advance and explicate the story at the same time.
Heady stuff for a room full of Jane-ophiles and we couldn’t get enough.
Jane-iacs unite
January 15, 2008
Tonight is the KCPL Jane-uary kick-off event in Helzberg Auditorium with visiting local Jane Austen scholar, Dorice Elliott.
If you haven’t made your reservation for this informative and entertaining program, it’s not to late. Click here to RSVP. Showtime is 6:30 pm. Bring your parasol and spinnet.
Here’s a description:
The Perennial Appeal of Jane Austen
Dorice Elliott, an English professor at the University of Kansas, explains the qualities that have kept these canonical Austen works alive – and the reasons they will breathe easy through the next century. Elliott is a specialist in women’s literature as well as British literature.
