Happy New Year!
Check back on New Year’s Day for some actual blog content! Yes!
Happy Holidays!
If you need a last-minute gift for a Janeite…
The ever-alert Baja Janeite’s daughter spotted what might be the ultimate luxury Janeite gift item from Kate Spade. Perhaps a bit spendy, but to misquote Mr. Tilney, the pleasures of late holiday shoppers in this world are always to be paid for, and we often purchase them at a great disadvantage.
We also find we must observe that, since Ms. Spade did not use the obvious choice, Pride and Prejudice, for her handbag (not that there’s anything wrong with that), perhaps she is truly a fan of Miss Woodhouse. Or maybe it’s just the holiday sugar rush (seriously, EVERYONE IS GIVING US CANDY AND WE’RE A LITTLE WIRED) that is breaking through the ice coating our tarlike spinster Janeite purist heart.
We would also like to announce the winners of the Jane Austen’s Birthday giveaway: Sansanee, Suzanne, Nancy Piccione, Julianne Donaldson, Kim, Valerie, Marybeth, haliegirl, Ben M., and Nancy Kelley. You should have received an e-mail from us at the address you left; if not, let us know. Congratulations to all!
Special sales celebrating Jane Austen’s birthday
Just like the title says–here are some retailers celebrating Jane’s Birthday (which should be an international holiday in our opinion) with special sales and offers.
Austentation’s Etsy store – the entire store is on sale, today only–December 16 through midnight U.S. Eastern time.
Girlebooks – 25% off all ebooks (not just the Austen ones) with the code jane2011, December 16 only.
Jane Austen Fankit App for iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch – free today only; regular price is 99 cents, so no great tragedy if you miss it. We wish they would make an app for Android.
Happy Birthday, Jane Austen!
Jane Austen by Cassandra Chouinard
DEAR SISTER,–You have doubtless been for some time in expectation of hearing from Hampshire, and perhaps wondered a little we were in our old age grown such bad reckoners, but so it was, for Cassy certainly expected to have been brought to bed a month ago; however, last night the time came, and without a great deal of warning, everything was soon happily over. We have now another girl, a present plaything for her sister Cassy, and a future companion. She is to be Jenny, and seems to me as if she would be as like Harry as Cassy is to Neddy. Your sister, thank God, is pure well after it.
That is an excerpt from the letter the Rev. George Austen wrote to his sister-in-law on the occasion of Jane Austen’s birth. It is a day we all, as Jane Austen fans, have occasion to celebrate, and there is a lot of celebration going on around the Internets. Last year, we had some fun speculating what we might give Jane Austen for her birthday. We’re sure Jane took good care of those gloves, and doesn’t need a new pair, though we might tat her some pretty earrings. But this year we think we would give Jane a year free of speculation about her personal life. No more media campaigns about what caused her death, with whom she had romances, what she realllllllly looked like; just a year in which people read and enjoyed her books and did not set out to make a show with them. Just read the books; have fun with them, but celebrate the books, and their author, without all this unseemly speculation. We know this is just wishful thinking; there is too much at stake for some people in making a show with our Jane; but that is our wish for her on this day, and certainly in the coming year.
In honor of Jane Austen’s birthday, we are giving away some goodies to our Gentle Readers. First, we have a copy of the JASNA Wisconsin Region’s lovely 2012 calendar, courtesy of the Region, to give away to one Janeite in the U.S. or Canada. The calendar contains incidents occurring in the novels and in Jane’s life for specific dates and is decorated with quotations from the novels and full-color images from the 1898 Brock-illustrated editions of the novels. If you are not fortunate enough to win the calendar, but would like to have a copy, you may purchase a calendar from the region.
In the spirit of our speculative birthday gift for Jane, another lucky reader will win a bookmark designed and tatted by the Editrix, inspired by the lace design that Jane drew in one of her letters.
We also have four copies of the Jane Austen Bicentenary Library Edition of Sense and Sensibility, illustrated by Cassandra Chouinard (the artist who drew the portrait of Jane Austen that decorates this post; her first name being the same as Jane’s sister means it really looks like her–hey, that’s as good speculation as any we’ve seen of late) and with annotations and some “extras” by the Editrix. We have two copies each of the paperback (signed by the Editrix) and the ebook (DRM-free and available in all platforms, and we can also send a signed postcard if the recipient likes) to give away.
AND we also are giving away four copies of There Must Be Murder, our own production and a celebration of our affection for Jane’s novel Northanger Abbey and her delightful hero and heroine. This book is also delightfully illustrated by Cassandra Chouinard (we are particularly fond of her drawings of children and dogs). We also have two copies each of the paperback (signed by the author) and the ebook (we don’t have any cards, but we’re sure we can find something to sign if the recipient likes) to give away.
To be entered in the giveaway, respond to this post, leaving a valid e-mail address (no one but the Editrix will see it, and if you win, we will need it to contact you to find out where to send your prize). Please wish Jane Austen a happy birthday, and let us know what you will do today and in the coming year to celebrate Jane Austen and her work. Also please indicate if you would prefer paperback or ebooks, or if you just want to say Happy Birthday to Jane and do not wish to be entered in the giveaway at all. ETA: Probably should mention that you can enter until midnight U.S. Eastern time on December 20.
For our own part, we are kicking things off with an audiobook relisten to Mansfield Park, which our book group is reading together; in the coming year, we plan to be reading and writing (and blogging!) more about Jane Austen; in the nearer future, we are going to be tatting that bookmark. 
Thanks to Liz Philosophos Cooper and JASNA’s Wisconsin Region for donating the calendar, and to Girlebooks for donating the ebooks for our giveaway.
REVIEW: Murder Most Persuasive by Tracy Kiely
Review by Shelly Quade
When I opened my package in the mail the other day, and removed Murder Most Persuasive from its cardboard envelope, I did not anticipate enjoying this novel to the degree that occurred. The third book featuring protagonist Elizabeth Parker, a young woman who quotes Jane Austen and solves any mystery she can get her hands on, this book was a quick read and a great mystery.
To summarize, this book begins with the funeral of Elizabeth Parker’s great-uncle, a rich man who has been ill for some time. This death merely opens the novel and introduces key characters, however – it is really a much older murder that is the focus of the mystery and plot of this novel. Layered on top of and melting into the murder mystery plotline, like the cheese in a dish of lasagna, are numerous allusions to the plotline of Persuasion.
These allusions are fun, and reminded me that I adore the novel Persuasion, (Same here. –Ed.) and it is probably time to re-read it. Overall, however, the novel is a mystery novel. There are allusions to Austen’s novel, as well as numerous quotes alluding to all of her works, yet this novel is only going to interest those who are avid fans of mystery (of which I am one). If you are one of those individuals who grew up on a healthy diet of Agatha Christie, however, this novel is one that you will thoroughly enjoy.
The plot itself is a solid mystery plot, but the real reason to read this novel is for the clever writing and the awesome characters. This novel does a great job of pointing out the ridiculous that exists in everyday situations. People are funny, and by making her characters plausible while pointing out their flaws in a humorous manner, Kiely has exhibited her skills in a manner that will keep readers entertained for as many sequels as she chooses to write.
The ending might be slightly predictable, particularly for those who frequently read mysteries, but Kiely makes the journey to that ending enjoyable. If you’re an Austen fan and a mystery fan, you will devour this book.
I received a review copy of Murder Most Persuasive free of charge, though my opinions are uninfluenced and my review reflects my true impressions and feelings.
Crafting with Lucy Steele
Ever wondered about this reference to “filigree” in Sense and Sensibility (Vol. II, Ch. I [23])?
“I am glad,” said Lady Middleton to Lucy, “you are not going to finish poor little Annamaria’s basket this evening; for I am sure it must hurt your eyes to work filigree by candlelight. And we will make the dear little love some amends for her disappointment to-morrow, and then I hope she will not much mind it.”
This hint was enough, Lucy recollected herself instantly and replied, “Indeed you are very much mistaken, Lady Middleton; I am only waiting to know whether you can make your party without me, or I should have been at my filigree already. I would not disappoint the little angel for all the world: and if you want me at the card-table now, I am resolved to finish the basket after supper.”
“You are very good, I hope it won’t hurt your eyes–will you ring the bell for some working candles? My poor little girl would be sadly disappointed, I know, if the basket was not finished tomorrow, for though I told her it certainly would not, I am sure she depends upon having it done.”
Lucy directly drew her work table near her and reseated herself with an alacrity and cheerfulness which seemed to infer that she could taste no greater delight than in making a filigree basket for a spoilt child.
[. . .]
“Perhaps,” continued Elinor, “if I should happen to cut out, I may be of some use to Miss Lucy Steele, in rolling her papers for her; and there is so much still to be done to the basket, that it must be impossible I think for her labour singly, to finish it this evening. I should like the work exceedingly, if she would allow me a share in it.”
Filigree, now mostly referred to as quilling, is a craft still done today, as shown in this little craft project provided by JoAnn Fabric and Crafts for making quilled snowflakes. You can buy your papers pre-cut now, which is unfortunate; how else would Elinor have been able to get Lucy alone to interrogate her about Edward Ferrars?
Fan art might not be fan art, but it’s hard to tell
Copyright claimed by Paula Byrne
A few days after the auction, we received a request from someone claiming to represent the buyer. He said the buyer now owned the copyright, and asked us to remove the photo. He also promised that the image was being investigated and we would receive information about it when it became available. We disagree with the claim of copyright, which was owned by the photographer of the portrait, not the owner of the portrait; however, we don’t own the copyright either way, and he asked nicely, and we didn’t care enough about the image to fight it, so we took it down, asked to be updated when the time came, and forgot about it.
Yesterday, we received an e-mail saying we could post the photo again, with a press release about a program(me) to be aired on BBC Two, meaning we won’t be able to see it legally, which gives zero information about the actual portrait other than the usual tiresome claims about THIS IS THE ONLY REAL PORTRAIT OF JANE AUSTEN EXCEPT FOR THAT UGLY TIRED LITTLE THING IN THE NPG THAT DOESN’T COUNT. It all sounds very interesting, but it does us zero good as far as actually learning anything new. It just tells us to watch the TV program(me) that will be broadcast on another continent if we want to know more. We’re feeling a little used here, Gentle Readers. But we present the information, because that is our job, and we think it will be this week’s Wonder Story About Jane Austen. See our previous post about images of Jane Austen. Full press release after the jump. Read more…
So about this poisoning thing
Lots and lots of Alert Janeites (including some old friends who have been quiet as of late, as has the Editrix) have let us know about the spate of recent articles in which Lindsay Ashford, who not at all coincidentally has a new novel (as in, fiction) called The Mysterious Death of Miss Austen (which by the way sounds really interesting), is making the publicity rounds, resulting in a bunch of “news” articles breathlessly asking WAS JANE AUSTEN POISONED? OH MY GOD, WHAT SOCIOPATH POISONED SWEET SPINSTERLY JANE AUSTEN? We exaggerate, as is our custom, but not all that greatly. The Daily Fail’s sensationalistic headline is typical.
Ashford’s claim revolves around the lock of hair currently at Chawton Cottage was tested some years back and was revealed to have some arsenic in it. Ashford says that along with Austen’s comment in a letter about her skin being discolored, this indicates that Austen died of arsenic poisoning. Apparently one of the symptoms of arsenic poisoning is skin discoloration. That’s interesting to us, as some women in Austen’s time ingested small amounts of arsenic, or used skin lotions containing arsenic, to keep their skin white. Ashford points out that many medicines of the time contained arsenic, and perhaps such medications taken over a long period of time built up and poisoned Austen. Ashford is also not too shy to suggest (as apparently she also does in her novel, as in fiction, as in–dare we say it–Made Up Story) that if Austen did indeed die of arsenic poisoning, it could have been administered with malice aforethought.
Okay, so maybe it happened. Maybe Jane Austen quacked herself with medication containing rat poison that eventually built up and killed her. Maybe someone purposely poisoned her over a long period of time. We’ve read this, and we’ve read the other recent claims about What Killed Jane Austen, and all we can say is “maybe.” We will never know for sure what caused Jane’s death (short of digging her up, and then let us tell you the Editrix will be leading the torches-and-pitchforks crowd blocking the entrance of Winchester Cathedral. Not on our watch, Gentle Readers). While we can sympathize with the idea of solving a 200-year-old mystery, what difference does it make? Will it make Jane any less dead? Will it somehow reach back through time to allow her to live another five, ten, twenty years, finish Sanditon and write a dozen more books? No, it will not. So it seems to us that the motivation behind this is little more than bragging rights, and we find it distasteful, and the whole discussion tiresome.
That being said, we think Addison’s disease is as good an explanation as any, mainly because (according to our admittedly non-exhaustive research) critical periods of the disease can be brought on by stress, and Jane suffered two great shocks that caused her health to deteriorate: the failure of Henry Austen’s bank, and the failure of her uncle Leigh-Perrot to make provisions in his will to relieve the financial distress of his sister, Mrs. Austen, and her family, as he had long promised, instead putting his entire estate in the control of his tight-fisted wife. (Insert your own conspiracy theories about Aunt Norris here.) Also, Addison’s disease can cause skin discoloration, and as an auto-immune disease, also manifests in symptoms typical to what she described, which were less pain than fatigue, and seemed to be cyclical–she would get worse, than a little better, than even worse than before, then a little better, on and on. But it is hard for us to get much excited about the subject.
Reading of Musical Emma in Albany
There will be a reading of “The Emma Woodhouse Single Girls Guide,” a musical “stage re-imagination” of Emma, on December 8 at 3 p.m. at the Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany (at least, that’s where we think it is; it’s hard to tell from the article).
In Austen’s Emma, Emma Woodhouse fancies herself to be naturally gifted matchmaker. The story begins when Emma takes it upon herself to find an eligible match for her new friend, Harriet Smith. Emma is convinced that Harriet deserves to be a gentleman’s wife and sets her friend’s sights on Mr. Elton, the village vicar. Meanwhile, Emma persuades Harriet to reject the proposal of Robert Martin, a well-to-do farmer for whom Harriet clearly has feelings. In the process, she finds herself in an unconventional love match with resident “bad boy” bachelor, Mr. Knightly.
Bad boy? Knightley?
The new show sets the classic story in 1964 America. Kennedy will star as Emma Woodhouse, now a relationship advice columnist under the direction of her future paramour, Mr. Knightley. The character of Harriet is positioned as the single girl subject in Emma’s column.
Um…okay.
