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.
Jane-iac 
I really liked the Just Jane program. If you hadn’t read the book beforehand after hearing her talk you definitely wanted to buy it. I second everything Ellen told Nancy about what a wonderful job she did on the book. Ellen, if you’re reading this you should try to recap what you said.
I’m not a literary critic, though my friends tell me I have a nice sensibility…(channeling Mrs. Elton here.) What I can say is that I’ve been a member of the Jane Austen Society for twenty years, and in that time I’ve read dozens of critical works and nearly every take-off of Austen that has come along. I’ve got a jaundiced view of modern writers trying to follow up on Austen.
Nancy Moser got it right. She did her research and uses it seamlessly; where many authors plop facts and quotes into the text to stand out awkwardly, her text flows well.
Any life story of Austen has to involve some guesswork, since for much of her life little information survived. Where Moser’s novel fills in these gaps, her conjectures are reasonable and appropriate.
In her afterword, Moser wrote, “I did not attempt to match the unique “voice” of Jane’s writing, only to hint at it.” She did very well with this challenge. Moser avoids the “Ye Olde Englishe” overkill that can ruin an otherwise enjoyable novel. Her novel is true to her subject, and an excellent read.
[…] with seven people at each table. About two days before the program, I called our guest facilitator, Zarrin, and told her I needed a short presentation on her topic, about 15 to 20 minutes, and then she and […]
[…] with seven people at each table. About two days before the program, I called our guest facilitator, Zarrin, and told her I needed a short presentation on her topic, about 15 to 20 minutes, and then she and […]
[…] with seven people at each table. About two days before the program, I called our guest facilitator, Zarrin, and told her I needed a short presentation on her topic, about 15 to 20 minutes, and then she and […]