A friendly meeting place to read and discuss anything Austen...
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| Jonny Lee-Miller and Frances O'Connor in Mansfield Park 1999 |
As Jane Austen fans, we are never short of new adaptations to enjoy. Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Persuasion have each had numerous film and television versions—sometimes several within a single decade. Austen’s wit, her timeless themes of love, class, and social ambition, and her cast of unforgettable characters continue to capture audiences worldwide.
The English edition has just been released worldwide, with versions in Castilian Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese on the way — proof that Austen’s wit and romance continue to speak across languages and cultures.
Sebastian Faulks, in an essay
marking Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary, offers a provocative re-reading of Pride
and Prejudice — one that may challenge even the most ardent Mr Darcy
admirers.
Faulks paints Darcy in stark terms: “mostly miserable” and, at times, “unforgivably cruel.” While modern adaptations have polished him into a brooding heartthrob, Austen’s own text is far more complicated. Faulks argues that Darcy is arrogant, socially tone-deaf, and even manipulative — especially in his treatment of Jane and Bingley. His famed proposal to Elizabeth, which many read as romantic tension, is framed by Faulks as a shocking display of class-conscious cruelty.
We are thrilled to welcome
author Natalie Jenner back to My Jane Austen Book Club to discuss her
latest novel, Austen at Sea. Known for her captivating historical
fiction and her deep love of all things Austen, Natalie Jenner’s new book takes
readers on a transatlantic adventure filled with literary intrigue, romance,
and the enduring spirit of Jane Austen herself.
In Austen at Sea, readers will follow the Stevenson sisters and the Nelson brothers as they journey to England in 1865, lured by the promise of a rare Austen artifact and the chance to meet her last surviving brother, Sir Francis Austen. Alongside historical figures like Louisa May Alcott, Jenner masterfully weaves a tale of adventure and self-discovery, all under the guiding influence of Austen’s legacy.
On the occasion of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday,
internationally renowned novelist and scholar Janet Todd offers readers a
unique gift: a book that blends personal memoir with a deep and thoughtful
engagement with Austen’s timeless works. In this intimate and insightful volume,
Todd reflects on how Austen’s novels have guided her through different phases
of her life, offering lessons on patience, humour, beauty, and the meaning of
home.
With a distinguished career that spans feminist
literary scholarship and acclaimed fiction, Janet Todd is one of the foremost
voices in Austen studies. Her latest work not only highlights Austen’s
relevance in today’s world but also reveals how living with Austen’s characters
and stories can shape our understanding of ourselves and our surroundings.
In this interview, Janet Todd shares her inspiration, her personal connection to Jane Austen, and why Austen’s wisdom remains as powerful today as it was over two centuries ago.
I’m delighted to welcome Sophie Reynolds, the curator of Jane Austen’s House, and the mind behind this beautifully illustrated volume, to My Jane Austen Book Club. In our conversation, we discuss the treasures of Austen’s home, the inspiration behind the book’s unique structure, and the remarkable moments that shaped the author’s life. Join us as we step into Austen’s world, one season at a time, in this very special anniversary year.
