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Devoney Looser on Feminism in the 1995 Sense and Sensibility film in The Atlantic

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Sense and Sensibility and Jane Austen’s Accidental Feminists

This is a great article and you should read it. We disagree, of course, with the quoted assertion by Louis Menand that Colonel Brandon is dull in the book. Dude: he comes thisclose to running away with his teenaged love; he finds her in a spunging-house, rescues her and her illegitimate daughter, is with her “in her last moments,” and he adopts and raises the daughter; he fights a duel for pete’s sake. How is that dull? Is it the flannel waistcoat? Marianne Dashwood is supposed to be scornful of the flannel waistcoat because she is 17 and silly. What’s your excuse?

Incidentally, we saw the People’s Light stage production of Sense and Sensibility yesterday and enjoyed it very much! If you are in the Philadelphia area, we encourage you to check it out.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/howaboutthat/12147299/most-romantic-quotes-film-tv-books.html

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Except Jane Austen didn’t write that line… and honestly, as romantic declarations go, it’s very, er, Edward Ferrarsish.

Also laughing at No. 10. “In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

Yes, Jane wrote that, but it’s not really that romantic. If it were, Mr. Darcy wouldn’t have had a struggle, or needed to repress his feelings. Just saying. (We much prefer “dearest, loveliest Elizabeth.”)

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We wonder what he means by “structural control.”

‘Jane Austen has mattered more to me than Irish folktales’

“There’s no one to touch Jane when you’re in a tight place.”

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In honor of Veterans Day and Armistice Day, a link to the text of Rudyard Kipling’s story “The Janeites,” about a group of British World War I soldiers who loved Jane Austen. Thanks to all the men and women of the armed services of the U.S., the UK, Canada, Australia, and all our allies for their service. And thanks to Alert Janeite DeeDee for posting a link on Facebook and making us think of it!

‘Well, as pore Macklin said, it’s a very select Society, an’ you’ve got to be a Janeite in your ’eart, or you won’t have any success. An’ yet he made me a Janeite! I read all her six books now for pleasure ’tween times in the shop; an’ it brings it all back—down to the smell of the glue-paint on the screens. You take it from me, Brethren, there’s no one to touch Jane when you’re in a tight place. Gawd bless ’er, whoever she was.’

Edited because the U.S. is not the only country commemorating this day.

Rare Jane Austen Book Discovered in Charity Shop

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http://m.portsmouth.co.uk/news/rare-jane-austen-book-discovered-in-charity-shop-1-6874968

“Originally the hunters thought they had stumbled on a first edition signed copy.”

LOL. Oh, Austen Muggles, never change.

Why “Clueless” is the Best Jane Austen Adaptation

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Why “Clueless” is the Best Jane Austen Adaptation

“…read all of Northanger Abbey…as a commentary on fangirl culture” YES.

Stephen King has never read Jane Austen

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Horror author Stephen King admits he’s never read Jane Austen.

I don’t have much interest in “relationship” novels or romance. I’ve never read Jane Austen. I do not say this with either pride or shame (or prejudice, for that matter). It’s just a fact.

We are moved to quote the film Miss Austen Regrets:

If that’s what you think they say, my dear, perhaps, you should read them again.

Free eBook: Furniture and Draperies in the Era of Jane Austen: Ackermann’s Repository of Arts

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Free on Amazon. The link is for Amazon U.S. Check your local site if you can’t get it. Sorry, the book is no longer free.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UTVCYE0/