Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

When she saw a portrait of Mrs. Harriet Quinton (who was mistress to the Prince Regent), Jane Austen wrote in a letter dated May, 1813 of how much Mrs. Q resembled her vision of Jane Bennet: "Mrs Bingley is exactly herself, size, shaped face, features & sweetness; there never was a greater likeness. She is dressed in a white gown, with green ornaments, which convinces me of what I had always supposed, that green was a favourite colour with her." Two actresses who portrayed Jane Bennet come close to resembling this portrait: Sabina Franklyn (1980 Jane) and Maureen O'Sullivan (1940 Jane). Susannah Harker of P&P 1995 and Rosamund Pike of P&P 2005 are both tall, slender, and blond, and thus they were eliminated. In your opinion, which actress came the closest to matching Jane Austen's vision of Jane Bennet?

This actress most resembles Jane Austen's vision of Jane Bennet

Maureen O'Sullivan, 1940 Pride and Prejudice

Sabina Franklyn, 1980 Pride and Prejudice

Information and quote from the Morgan Library website. Image of Sabina Franklyn from Kaye Dacus' blog.

Jane Austen Centre Gift Shop Sale

Make haste! Our favorite online emporium for all things Austen, the Jane Austen Centre Gift Shop, is having an after holiday sale with up to 75% off selected merchandise.

One special item that caught my eye was Lizzie Bennet’s Gift Box – Bath Treats. Exclusive to The Jane Austen Centre, this pretty pink gift set contains one delicately scented Lizzie Bennet Soap (45g) and two indulgent rose bud, cocoa butter bath melts, all nestled in a bed of straw within a pink display box. Just in time to sooth your soul after the hectic holiday season.

There is a great assortment of items, including the Pride and Prejudice peacock tote, which I am quite enamored with, and may not be able to pass up!

Happy shopping from the ease and comfort of your keyboard.

Cheers, Laurel Ann

Jane Austen Reads Her Letter to James Stanier Clark

The Prince Regent was a great admirer of Jane Austen's novels, and she (reluctantly, for she did not like Prinny) dedicated Emma to him. The Prince's librarian, James Stanier Clark, corresponded with Jane and made suggestions for the plot of her next novel. Her reply is contained herein and in this odd YouTube video:



Letter from Jane Austen 1st April 1816.......

You are very, very kind in your hints as to the sort of Composition which might recommend me at present, & I am fully sensible than an Historical Romance, founded on the House of Saxe Coburg might be much more to the purpose of Profit or Popularity, than such pictures of domestic Life in Country Villages as I deal in--but I could no more write a Romance than an Epic Poem.--I could not sit seriously down to write a serious Romance under any other motive than to save my Life, & if it were indispensable for me to keep it up & never relax into laughing at myself or other people, I am sure I should be hung before I had finished the first Chapter.--No--I must keep to my own style & go on in my own Way ...