Jane Austen Throwdown: Dances

Jane Austen loved to dance, and she included many dancing scenes in her novels. In which of her gatherings would you have liked to dance?

Bingley and Jane at the Meryton Ball, P&P 2005

The Meryton Assembly: Lizzy's first impression of Darcy wasn't the best, but Jane fell in love with Bingley there and the Bennet ladies enjoyed themselves immensely in this relaxed and public gathering.

Netherfield Ball, P&P 1995

The Netherfield Ball: Lizzy finally danced with Darcy, but her family made fools of themselves. The private setting must have been splendid and the supper ball truly delicious.

Emma having fun at the Crown Inn, Emma 2009

The Ball at the Crown Inn: Emma and Frank Churchill arranged this ball, where Emma discovers just what a knight Mr. Knightley is when he comes to the rescue of her friend, Harriet. The Crown Inn offered a ball room for such assemblies, and I am sure that Emma spared no expense and overlooked no details to make the event a success.

Fanny dances with Henry, Mansfield Park, 1999

Fanny's Coming Out Ball: Not only did Fanny price receive two necklaces for the amber cross that her brother William gave her, but she was the star of the night. Mansfield Park must have been a most beautiful setting for this special evening.

Catherine speaks to Henry Tilney in the lower rooms

The Lower and Upper Assembly Rooms in Bath: After Catherine Morland is introduced to Henry Tilney, his sister Eleanor, and the Thorpes, she can dance to her heart's delight in impressive rooms designed for social gatherings.

Dancers, Rowlandson. 1799

(I have not included the dance at the Musgroves, where Anne Elliot played the pianoforte and watched her Captain Wentworth flirt with the Musgrove sisters, or the party the Dashwood sisters attended with Lady Middleton in London, where Marianne was snubbed by Willoughby. Both scenes were too painful for words.)

In which gathering would you have liked to dance"
	Meryton Asembly
	Netherfield Ball
	Ball at the Crown and Inn
	Fanny Price's Coming Out Ball
	The Lower and Upper Rooms in Bath
pollcode.com free polls

Jane Austen Throwdown: Mrs. Ferrars' Parenting Style

Mrs. Ferrars, Jean Marsh

While aware that almost all of Jane Austen's parents have their character flaws, I have chosen one parent who has been on my mind lately: Mrs Ferrars from Sense and Sensibility. Which child was the most negatively affected by her lack of parenting skills, whether by personality or economic circumstance or choice of mate?

Which sibling was most affected by Mrs. Ferrar's motherly style?

Fanny, Claire Skinner

Mrs. Fanny Dashwood

As snobbish as her mother, Mrs. Dashwood thinks only of her own consequence and comfort. She convinces her husband to disregard his promise to his dying father of making sure his step family is financially secure, and is manipulative and cruel in her actions towards the Dashwood women after Mr. Dashwood's death. Fanny echoes her mother's sentiments about Edward's choices in life, and favors Robert,  Meanspirited, self-absorbed, and myopic about her own fortune, this bitter nut did not fall far from the matriarchal tree.

Edward, Dan Stevens

Edward Ferrars

As eldest son, Edward is commanded to do his mother's bidding. He felt that had he been given some employment and something useful to do in his earlier years, his 18-year-old self would not have had the time to pursue his romantic inclinations towards Lucy Steele, and that he would have soon gotten over his tendre towards this most unsuitable woman. He is disinherited by his mother when she learns about his engagement to Lucy, and must make his own way in the world on a barely livable income, watching his brother reap the financial rewards that were his by right. Imagine what good deeds Edward and his thrifty Elinor might have accomplished had his mother approved of his marriage to a more worthy woman than Lucy ( which she failed to see) and provided him with a larger income.

Robert, Leo Bill

Robert Ferrars

Robert, an effete snob if ever there was one, is as mean-spirited as his sister. Although he is recipient of his brother's fortune, he lack of empathy for Edward's situation. He also lacks his sister Fanny's instinct for self-preservation, and makes the mistake of marrying Lucy Steele. After sitting in his mother's proverbial doghouse for a while, he and Lucy are welcomed back with open arms and her full support. But Lucy is as calculating and manipulative as ever and makes his life hell, so that soon all the couple does is quarrel. In Robert's case, beware what you wish for.

Which sibling was most affected by Mrs. Ferrars' motherly style?
	Fanny Dashwood
	Edward Ferrars
	Robert Ferrars
pollcode.com free polls

Jane Austen Throwdown

We are in the throes of winter. During the Regency period, people moved around on the snow in sleds/sleighs, horse-drawn sleighs, or on skates. Which activity would you prefer?

Skating Lovers, 1800, After Adam Buck

 A. d'Arnaud, The Sleigh. 1776. Image @Marie Antoinette's Gossip Guide

Horse-drawn sleigh. Image @Super Stock

Winter Activity
	Skating
	Sledding sleigh
	Horse-drawn sleigh
pollcode.com free polls

Jane Austen Throwdown: Meeting Jane Austen

Because so little is known about Jane Austen's life compared to other great authors, much information about her life and character remains a mystery. A wish has been granted to you, and you have been given one opportunity to meet Jane. During which stage of her life would you choose to meet her?

Juvenilia stage
Jane was a precocious young girl, always telling stories, writing them down, and reading them to her family. She loved her brothers and sister, who amused themselves by putting on plays and charades. Bright and sparkling, she loved her life in Steventon Rectory and had looked forward to a promising future, which included meeting the right man and starting her own family. She wrote her juvenilia, which included Love and Freindship and a History of England, a cheeky account of English monarchs. Would you like to meet this precocious and talented young lady?

Young womanhood
Jane loved to walk and dance and spend time with her friends. She was tall, graceful, and outgoing, and was reckoned to be a pretty, flirtatious girl by those who knew her. She even had a two-week summer romance with a dashing young Irishman named Tom Lefroy. During this period, Jane never stopped writing, producing Susan (Northanger Abbey), First Impressions (Pride and Prejudice) and Sense and Sensibility. Would you like to meet this promising and engaging young woman?

Mysterious middle years
After moving to Bath, Jane's life becomes largely a mystery. She began The Watsons , which remains a fragment, and perhaps rewrote her first three novels. Susan was also sold during this period of her life, but this book languished on the shelves and would not be published after her death. During this time her father died and her financial circumstances were severely reduced. Would you like to learn more about these lost years and why Jane's creative juices seemingly stopped?

Productive last years
When Jane and her family moved into Chawton Cottage, her creativity reemerged. During this time she published Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, and wrote Mansfield Park, Emma, and Persuasion. She had taken to wearing caps and had become a confirmed spinster, but her wit was as lively as ever, and she spun glorious tales for her nieces and nephews, none of which have survived. Jane's books began to be noticed by the public, and she was in full command of her writing talent when illness felled her. As she struggled with her health, she wrote about the more ridiculous side of hypochondria in the fragment of her last novel, Sanditon. Would you like to meet Jane while she lived in Chawton Cottage?

During which stage of Jane Austen's life would you like to meet her?
	Early precocious years
	As a young woman
	Mysterious middle years
	Productive later years
pollcode.com free polls

Jane Austen Duel

This week's post asks you to examine the weapon Willoughby would have preferred when Colonel Brandon challenged him to a duel. The practice was already out of favor when Jane Austen wrote Sense and Sensibility, and outlawed in England in 1840. Colonel Brandon was quite cryptic in his description of the event to Elinor:

Pistols being readied

... when he returned to town, which was within a fortnight after myself, we met by appointment, he to defend, I to punish his conduct. We returned unwounded, and the meeting, therefore, never got abroad."

Duels were fought in isolated areas at the break of dawn

And so we ask you, which weapons do you think Willoughby chose? Sword or pistol? Did he want closeness during the fight, or distance?

Which weapon did Willoughby choose to fight Colonel Brandon in a Duel?
	Sword
	Pistol
pollcode.com free polls

Jane Austen Throwdown: The Holiday Table

The holiday season is upon us. From now through New Year's we will all be faced with attending one fattening dinner gathering after another. Which meats familiar in Jane Austen's time would you be willing to cook, serve, or eat? You may choose as many as apply. Or leave a comment if your choice is not listed.

What meats would you serve at your regency style holiday table?
	Braised hare
	Pork Loin
	Mutton
	Venison
	Roast beef
	Guinea fowl
	Salmon
	Goose
	Wild boar
pollcode.com free polls

Jane Austen Entertainment Throwdown

Which casual entertainment described in Jane Austen's novels would interest you most?

Card games, with food and drink and oonvivial company.

Card Party, Pride and Prejudice 1980

A musicale, with local musicians and singers from among the group.

Emma (2009) plays piano at the Coles

Afternoon tea or dinner with friends

At the Woodhouse's for dinner

A carriage outing to a point of interest.

Box Hill, Emma

Garden party with lawn games.

Lawn bowling

An afternoon walk with friends.

Walking along the Cobb at Lyme Regis, Persuasion 1995

Which casual entertainment described in Jane Austen's novels would interest you most?
	Card games, with food and drink and convivial company.
	A musicale, with local musicians and singers from among the group.
	Afternoon tea or dinner with friends.
	A carriage outing to a point of interest.
	Garden party with lawn games.
	An afternoon walk with friends.
pollcode.com free polls

Jane Austen Throwdown: Ministers

"Let deceitful lips be made dumb.." Mr. Elton, Emma, 2010

Of all the men in Jane Austen's life and novels, whose Sunday sermon would you be willing to sit through?

David Bamber as Mr. Collins, Pride and Prejudice 1995

Whose Sunday sermon would you listen to?
	Rev. George Austen, Jane' father
	Rev. James Austen, Jane's oldest brother
	Rev. Henry Austen, Jane's favorite brother
	Mr. Collins, Pride and Prejudice
	Mr. Elton, Emma
	Dr. Grant, Mansfield Park
	Edward Ferrars, Sense and Sensibility
	Henry Tilney, Northanger Abbey
pollcode.com free polls

Jane Austen Throwdown

Earlier this month, Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy) and Hugh Grant (Edward Ferrars) turned 50 within one day of each other. Can you believe it? Give me some of the pickling juices these men are drinking! In celebration of this happy occasion, we ask you to vote for your favorite films in which these men played leading roles. You may only choose one film per actor. After you have voted for Hugh Grant scroll down to vote for your favorite Colin Firth film.

Hugh Grant as Edward Ferrars

Hugh Grant

Happy Birthday, Hugh! My favorite movie is...
	Love Actually
	Two Weeks Notice
	About a Boy
	Bridget Jones's Diary
	Mickey Blue Eyes
	Notting Hill
	Sense and Sensibility
	Four Weddings and a Funeral
	Impromptu
pollcode.com free polls

Colin Firth as Mr.Darcy

Colin Firth

Happy Birthday, Colin! My favorite movie is...
	A Single Man
	Mamma Mia!
	Bridget Jones's Diary
	Love Actually
	Girl With a Pearl Earring
	The Importance of Being Earnest
	Shakespeare in Love
	Pride and Prejudice
	Valmont
pollcode.com free polls

Jane Austen Throwdown: How Do You Compare to an Accomplished Regency Lady?

Mr. Elton admires Emma's pale drawing

"A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word [of an accomplished lady]; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved."

"All this she must possess," added Darcy, "and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading."- Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice

As Mr. Darcy pointed out, single young ladies had to learn many accomplishments during Jane Austen's day. Which of the following skills have you mastered? Pick as many as apply.  (Note: the code has been fixed. I apologize for the inconvenience to those who already voted.)

Do You Share A Regency Lady's Accomplishments?
	I do gardening or flower arranging
	I have an extensive knowledge of the classics
	I speak a foreign language
	I plan and oversee large house parties
	I embroider, crochet, or knit
	I can sew, alter, or mend clothes
	I draw, paint or sketch
	I play cards or parlor games
	I ride horseback
	I play a musical instrument
	I decoratively paint furniture, or make purses or other crafts
	I have taken singing or elocution lessons
	My posture is straight and correct
	I go for a daily walk or constitutional
	I dance the most recent and popular dances
	I possess a thorough knowledge of etiquette and manners
	I am active with at least one charity
pollcode.com free polls

• If you clicked 15 or more of the above, you would even satisfy Mr. Darcy's strict definition of the minimum skills a lady needs to earn the title of "accomplished".

• If you clicked 10 or more, Mr. Bingley would be wholly satisfied with your ladylike skills.

• If you clicked 5 or more, you are probably a tomboy and will fit in very comfortably with Catherine Morland and her set.

• Fewer than five? Oh, dear. But there is hope for you yet. Remember, Regency ladies learned these skills superficially at Mrs. Goddard's school, for example, or from their governesses. They couldn't figure out how to use an iPad if they tried.

Jane Austen Throwdown

The settings that Jane Austen chose for her characters were important to her plot. Much of Northanger Abbey was set in Bath, Elizabeth and the Gardiners traveled to Derbyshire where Pemberley lay, Lydia got into trouble in Brighton, and Box Hill, where Emma was so rude to Miss Bates, is set in Surrey.

We now ask you to choose two of your favorite Jane Austen locations. Bath or London? Steventon Rectory or Chawton Cottage?

Two of Your Favorite Jane Austen Locations

Bath, an ancient city, whose Roman Baths and drinking waters attracted rich and poor alike. It was said that more doctors and apothecaries were licensed in Bath than any other city in Great Britain.

London, the largest city in Europe in Jane's day. She would visit her brother, Henry, who lived in town and acted as her agent. Jane most particularly liked London's parks and gardens, and would frequent the shops, bringing back items for her family.

pollcode.com free polls

Bath or London?

Bath London

Steventon Rectory. Jane spent most of her childhood in Steventon Rectory. Here is where she learned to write, and where her close-knit family nurtured her talent. When she learned that her parents had made plans to move to Bath and from a home she loved, Jane fainted.

Chawton Cottage was refurbished by Jane's rich brother Edward, who invited her, Cassandra, and Mrs. Austen to live there. Jane spent her most productive writing years during her time in Chawton, revising Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Northanger Abbey, and writing Emma, Persuasion, and Mansfield Park. She began Sanditon there, completing 11 chapters before succumbing to her fatal illness.

pollcode.com free polls

Steventon Rectory or Chawton Cottage?

Steventon Rectory Chawton Cottage

Jane Austen Marriage Throwdown

One can almost count the contented marriages in Jane Austen's novels on one hand. The Gardiners from Pride and Prejudice and Admiral and Mrs. Croft from Persuasion immediately come to mind. Of the heroines and heroes of her novels, which couple stands the best chance for a happy marriage?

Best happy marriage prospects
	Fanny Price and Edmund Bertram
	Edward Ferrars and Elinor Dashwood
	Emma Woodhouse and Mr. Knightley
	Marianne Dashwood and Colonel Brandon
	Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney
	Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet
	Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot
	Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley
pollcode.com free polls

Jane Austen Throwdown

Ah, the dog days of summer have arrived at last! Excessive heat encourages one to do no more than lounge under the shade or languish near a cooling body of water, waiting for others to do our bidding. Two of Jane Austen's characters need no encouragement to sit and be waited upon: Lady Bertram from Mansfield Park or Mr. Woodhouse from Emma.

In your estimation, which character relied most upon the kindness of their servants and family to do their bidding?

Mr. Woodhouse: Hypochondriac

Lady Bertram: Dog lover

Jane Austen Throwdown

Some of Jane Austen's heroines had terrible experiences in London. Think of poor Marianne, who came to the realization that Willoughby had been willfully ignoring her letters and avoiding her visit. We will consider the London experiences of two ladies who are more restrained than Marianne: Jane Bennet and Elinor Dashwood. Both ladies kept their anguish to themselves. In your estimation whose London experience is worse? Jane's or Elinor's?

Jane Bennet understood that Mr. Bingley had removed himself from Netherfield Park with no immediate plans for a return visit. Her heart was broken already when she visited her aunt and uncle Gardiner on Gracechurch Street in Cheapside, but little did she know how thoroughly she would be rebuffed by Caroline Bingley, who she still regarded as a true friend. For someone as gentle as Jane, unable to think ill of others, the insult that Caroline finally gave her (visiting her beyond the prescribed time period that manners dictated, failure to give a reciprocal invitation, and staying for such a short length of time as to be almost insulting) opened Jane's eyes to the situation. Mr. Bingley was meant for Georgiana Darcy, and Jane had no role as either friend to the Bingley sisters or as Mr. Bingley's romantic interest. Only Elizabeth understood how well Jane was able to hide her broken heart from her family.

Imagine how you would feel if Lucy Steele told you about her secret engagement to the man you are interested in and extracts a promise from you to remain silent about the relationship. Imagine Elinor's having to witness Edward and Lucy in the drawing room in her presence and then watch them leave together (reluctantly on his side). Not only does Edward choose to remain with Lucy when his mother finds out about their clandestine relationship, but Colonel Brandon asks Elinor to tell Edward about the living he is willing to give him. The scene is poignant and sad, and we feel for Elinor, who bears these events with fortitude as she supports Marianne in her grief.

Jane Austen Throwdown: Happy Father's Day, Mr. Bennet

Gentle Readers: Today is Father's Day. What better way to honor the Bennet pater familias than to recall some of Mr. Bennet's caustic remarks? Vote for your favorite quote, Jane fans! If you have a better one to share from Pride and Prejudice, please leave it in your comment section.


Quote One: Mr. Bennet respects Mrs. Bennet's nerves

"Mr Bennet how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves!

You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.

Quote Two: Lizzie must make a choice after Mr. Collins' proposal

An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do." (Ch. 20)

Quote Three: Wickham and Lydia say goodbye to the Bennets after their post-marriage visit to Longbourn

"Mr Wickham's adieus were much more affectionate than his wife's. He smiled looked handsome and said many pretty things.

"He is as fine a fellow," said Mr Bennet as soon as they were out of the house, "as ever I saw. He simpers and smirks, and makes love to us all. I am prodigiously proud of him. I defy even Sir William Lucas himself to produce a more valuable son in law!

Jane Austen Throwdown

Of the jobs that the men in Jane Austen's life or novels pursued, which profession would appeal to you? - for spouse, personally, or in general.

Rector/Clergyman - Edmund Bertram, Edward Ferrars, Henry Tilney, and James Austen

Blake Ritson as Edmund Bertram, Mansfield Park

Lawyer/Barrister - Mr. Shepherd, John Knightley, and Tom Lefroy

James McAvoy as Tom Lefroy, Becoming Jane

Businessman/Entrepreneur - Mr. Gardiner and Henry Austen

Adrian Edmondson as Henry Austen, Miss Austen Regrets

Military Man/Officer - Captain Wentworth, Colonel Brandon, and Charles and Francis Austen

Rupert Penry-Jones as Captain Wentworth, Persuasion 2007