Can't get enough of Downton Abbey? Then check out Downton Arby's!
Today, December 16, is Jane Austen's birthday! The excerpt reprinted below comes from a special birthday announcement, via email, from our JASNA President Iris Lutz:
 Mrs. Leigh-Perrot. Image @JASA At our September meeting, Regional Coordinator Kim Higgins mentioned an interesting article online about Jane Austen's aunt, Jane Leigh-Perrot, who had been arrested for shoplifting in August 1799. The article was written by author Paul Emanuelli. Despite her personal wealth, Jane Leigh-Perrot was arrested for "grand theft," accused of stealing white lace from a shop in Bath. The lace was valued at four times the five shillings that carried the death sentence at that time! For more on this interesting case, please visit the article, "Law & Order and Jane Austen's Aunt" at the Jane Austen's World web site. The direct link is http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/law-order-and-jane-austens-aunt-by-paul-emanuelli/.
Hello all you JASNA OR/SW Washington Fans! Below is a message/request from our member Debbie Guyol. She is working on a wonderful book project and could use our help!! If you can help her please let her know directly. Enjoy ~ Janet Rohrbaugh  I reported in January that my co-author and I had an agent for our silly book project, Pride and Prejudice and Kitties, or Purr and Petulance [see the Austencats web site plus an earlier blog post about the site]. Well, now we have a publisher! And we have cat-photos to take. Well, I do anyway (my friend is back East). And perhaps some local Janeites could help.
Anyone who'd like to share can respond directly to me. Big thank you! Debbie Guyol dguyol@aol.com  Thanks to member Debbie Guyol, here is an entertaining, and thought-provoking, article by John Mullan in The Guardian on Jane Austen's work and her genius use of details and accuracy. Mullan's book, What Matters in Jane Austen?, will be published in early June. Click here to view the article online in a new window, http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/18/ten-questions-jane-austen. "Jane Austen's admirer Virginia Woolf said that 'of all great writers she is the most difficult to catch in the act of greatness'. It is a brilliant insight. The apparent modesty of Austen's dramas is only apparent; the minuteness of design is a bravura achievement. But it cannot be shown by some grand scene or speech. Accuracy is her genius. Noticing minutiae will lead you to the wonderful interconnectedness of her novels, where a small detail of wording or motivation in one place will flare with the recollection of something that happened much earlier. This is one of the reasons they bear such rereading. Every quirk you notice leads you to a design. If you ask very specific questions about what goes on in her novels, you reveal their cleverness. The closer you look, the more you see. Try these 10 questions."
 Jane Austen is included in this slideshow of analyzing writers' personalities from their handwritten manuscripts. Their insights into Austen's personality? "The slight right slant suggests a writer who is 'compliant' and 'outgoing.' The long lower loops on her letters indicate a 'strong physical drive,' and the defined left margin shows her to have a strong interest in her future, indicating one who is ambitious and 'socially oriented.' Kind of like a lady who would spend all her time writing novels about social events." It's interesting to note that this handwriting analysis comes from Austen's "Plan of a Novel, according to hints from various sources," written in 1816. She wrote this satiric parody of incorporating "helpful" advice from others, after meeting with the Prince Regent's librarian, who had strongly hinted that she dedicate her forthcoming novel, Emma, to the Prince. The complete e-text of her "Plan of a Novel" can be found online here at Pemberley.com.  Here is a soothing dose of home decor, a handmade paper later that "when illuminated ... adds centuries of character to any wing in your manor!" Although the words "Austen" or "Jane" are not included in the product's writeup, wouldn't you agree that the design and feel are most definitely Austen-inspired? Click image or link below for more views. This "Estate of Mind Lantern Shade" is currently available at ModCloth.  A huge THANK YOU from your friendly web manager Jennifer Snoek-Brown. :) The beautiful bouquet of flowers (and accompanying thank you card, see right) I received at last week's meeting makes for a lovely entrance to our home. I smile each time I pass by, and it's truly a delight to take time to "smell the roses." I really appreciate all the great comments and feedback about our new web site. I am so happy to be able to combine my love of Jane Austen with my love of web design. It's been really fun to put together our new site, which I hope continues to reflect the outlook and goals of our friendly region of members. And please let us know about any interesting Austen-related news, links, books, etc. for our home page blog (see our Contacts page to send us an email). One of best things about having an online home for our region is to highlight our shared interests! | JASNA ORSWWAWelcome to the web site of the Oregon & SW Washington Region of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA). We are a friendly and active group dedicated to the appreciation of Jane Austen's life and works. Recent PostsArchivesMay 2013 CategoriesAll |
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