JANE AUSTEN SOIREE - A CELEBRATION OF JANE AUSTEN'S BIRTHDAY - GIVEAWAY HOP

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JANE!

Thanks to all the Janeites who will drop by and decide to celebrate Jane Austen's birthday with us. It is a very special day, one in which I feel we must express our gratitude to our beloved best favourite author and spread the love for her and her work.

This event, The Jane Austen Soirée is a simple hop,  linking  a few blogs, the ones you find listed below,  in the effort to celebrate Jane's talent and wit. 

The Austenite bloggers involved are posting their favourite page from their favourite Austen novel and readers will have the chance to win some gorgeous Austen gifts in several giveaway contests.

After taking your chances in the rafflecopter form at the end of this post, check out all the blogs taking part in the event. Good luck and Happy Jane Austen Soirée, everyone!

Here's my favourite page

EMMA & MR KNIGHTLEY

You will not ask me what is the point of envy.--You are determined, I see, to have no curiosity.--You are wise--but _I_ cannot be wise. Emma, I must tell you what you will not ask, though I may wish it unsaid the next moment." (…)

"As a friend!"--repeated Mr. Knightley.--"Emma, that I fear is a word--No, I have no wish--Stay, yes, why should I hesitate?—I have gone too far already for concealment.--Emma, I accept your offer--Extraordinary as it may seem, I accept it, and refer myself to you as a friend.--Tell me, then, have I no chance of ever succeeding?" 

He stopped in his earnestness to look the question, and the expression of his eyes overpowered her.

"My dearest Emma," said he, "for dearest you will always be, whatever the event of this hour's conversation, 

my dearest, most beloved Emma--tell me at once. Say 'No,' if it is to be said."--She could really say nothing.

"You are silent," he cried, with great animation; "absolutely silent! at present I ask no more."

(…) 

"I cannot make speeches, Emma:" he soon resumed; and in a tone of such sincere, decided, intelligible tenderness as was tolerably convincing.--"If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am.--You hear nothing but truth from me.—I have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne it.--Bear with the truths I would tell you now, dearest Emma, as well as you have borne with them. The

manner, perhaps, may have as little to recommend them. God knows, I have been a very indifferent lover.--But you understand me.--Yes, you see, you understand my feelings--and will return them if you can. At present, I ask only to hear, once to hear your voice." (chapter 49 pp.370-373)

I find this is the most tender, the most romantic, the most touching love declaration we find in Jane Austen's work. Captain Wentworth's letter is incredibly sentimental for being in one of Jane's novels, but the fact that it is a letter and those words are not spoken face to face make it a bit less gripping to me than those in this tete-a-tete moment between Emma and Knightley. What is your favourite page from one of Jane's novel? Share it with us in your comment!

THE GIVEAWAY PRESENTS

Miss Lucy Steele - Jane Austen Tea Series

Thanks to Bingley's Teas Ltd

Kindle E-book offered by My Jane Austen Book Club

Two presents for one winner. The contest is open internationally. Fill in the rafflecopter form below and good luck. Deadline 18 December.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to visit all these lovely blogs (Warning: some of the blogs listed below may not have posted their best wishes blogpost because it is not yet 16 December when I post this. So, be patient and try again later).