Understanding the subtle nuances behind formal introductions and customary greetings during Jane Austen’s lifetime is a lot of fun, and it can provide a unique level of insight into her books. The reason: Austen uses breaches of etiquette and manners as commentaries on her characters. In her book Those Elegant Decorums, Jane Nardin says, “In […]
Search Results for 'rachel dodge'
Greetings and Gestures in Austen’s Novels, by Rachel Dodge
Posted in Jane Austen's World, Manners, Regency Etiquette, Regency society, tagged Rachel Dodge on June 4, 2017| 44 Comments »
New Beginnings at Chawton Cottage
Posted in Jane Austen's World on January 11, 2021| 12 Comments »
One might say that Austen herself was living in her own ideal setting at Chawton: As she wrote to Anna Austen in 1814, “You are now collecting your People delightfully, getting them exactly into such a spot as is the delight of my life;—3 or 4 Families in a Country Village is the very thing to work on.”
Merry Christmas to All: A Jane Austen Christmas
Posted in Christmas, Regency Christmas Traditions on December 25, 2020| 19 Comments »
A link to Yale Books blog post entitled “A Jane Austen Christmas”
Comfort and Compassion in Sense and Sensibility
Posted in Jane Austen's World on December 14, 2020| 12 Comments »
When Marianne Dashwood falls ill in Sense and Sensibility, she is “afflicted” in both body and heart. She doesn’t just need the physical “pangs of disease” assuaged; she needs comfort for her broken spirit.
Thankfulness and Marriage Proposals in Jane Austen’s Novels
Posted in Jane Austen Novels, Jane Austen's World, Manners, Marriage, Regency Customs, tagged gratitude, jane austen, love based on gratitude, marriage proposals, reasons for love, thankfulness, Thanksgiving on November 23, 2020| 12 Comments »
In Austen’s novels, love often began with gratitude. And marriage proposals almost always were received with gratitude.
“Improve her mind”: Female Education in Jane Austen’s Novels
Posted in Jane Austen's World on November 9, 2020| 11 Comments »
For the women of Jane Austen’s position in society, female education was formed mainly at home. While Austen and her sister Cassandra spent a short time away at school, the bulk of their education occurred in the Austen home. In Austen’s novels, we find an interesting variety of educational practices, depending on the home and […]
Jane Austen’s Regency Women: A Day in the Life, Part 2
Posted in Jane Austen's World on October 12, 2020| 10 Comments »
In Part 1 of this series, we learned about the “morning” portion of a Regency woman’s day including pre-breakfast activities, breakfast foods and drinks, social calls, midday refreshments, and dressing for dinner. Now, we’ll explore the evening portion. Evening: As we said last time, the typical Regency day consisted of two parts: “morning” and “evening.” […]
High Tea and Afternoon Tea in the Age of Austen
Posted in Jane Austen's World, Regency Customs, Regency Life, Tea in the Regency era, tagged Afternoon tea, food in the Regency era, High tea, Kim Wilson on September 22, 2020| 19 Comments »
Inquiring readers, I once enjoyed afternoon tea in Fortnum and Mason’s in London. It was an exquisite, elaborate, and unforgettable experience. It was so elegant that I thought of it as high tea, but its presentation and intent had nothing in common with high tea in Jane Austen’s day, or in our present time. This […]
Jane Austen’s Regency Women: A Day in the Life, Part 1
Posted in Jane Austen's World on September 14, 2020| 24 Comments »
I find Jane Austen’s daily routines inspiring, don’t you? She was well-rounded and enjoyed a variety of activities to keep her body, mind, and spirit healthy and balanced. She wrote newsy letters, played the pianoforte, prayed with her family, sewed beautifully, and loved brisk walks. Austen’s evenings at home were spent reading, sewing, and talking […]
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner: A Review by Vic Sanborn and an Audio Book Giveaway
Posted in Austenesque novels, Book review, Jane Austen audio books, Jane Austen Fan Fiction, Jane Austen's enduring popularity, Jane Austen's World, tagged Audio book giveaway, Natalie Jenner, The Jane Austen Society on June 14, 2020| 14 Comments »
Last summer I received an uncorrected manuscript of The Jane Austen Society to read with a request for feedback and any thoughts I had before a final printing. (I assume many other readers also received this request.) Natalie Jenner’s name was not on the cover. Not wanting to be influenced by preconceived notions, I read […]
Jennifer Ehle Reads Pride & Prejudice and More
Posted in Chawton Cottage, Jane Austen audio books, Jane Austen's World, Pride & Prejudice 1995, tagged Jennifer Ehle, Peabody Institute, Susan Branch on April 24, 2020| 12 Comments »
Thank you, Ellen Moody, for posting this information on my Jane Austen and Her Regency World Facebook group page. Isolation has just become a little better. Jennifer is still my favorite Lizzie Bennet. Armchair Travelers: In other news, visit Chawton Cottage on Susan Branch’s site. See this site’s previous post, which also includes Chawton visits […]