BACK TO NORTHANGER ABBEY: A CONVERSATION WITH NANCY BILYEAU

What happened to Catherine Morland after Northanger Abbey ended? Jane Austen left us with a young woman who had discovered that life—and people—could be rather more complicated than the Gothic novels she loved. But what might Catherine's life look like twenty-two years later?

Today, I'm delighted to welcome Nancy Bilyeau to My Jane Austen Book Club to talk about her new novel, The Heiress of Northanger Abbey, which brings Catherine back to us as Catherine Tilney, now a wife and mother facing a new generation of family challenges, mysteries, and perhaps a little Gothic danger along the way.

In our conversation, Nancy tells us what inspired her to return to Austen's beloved heroine, how she approached Catherine's character as an adult, and how she balanced the Gothic atmosphere of Northanger Abbey with her own story. She also shares her thoughts on Catherine's relationship with her daughter Phoebe, historical authenticity, and what she hopes readers will feel when they reach the final page.

So, dear readers, let's return to Northanger Abbey—and welcome Nancy Bilyeau! 📚 

Maria Grazia💕

THE DASHWOOD SISTERS RETURN: OUR FIRST LOOK AT SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (2026)

More than three decades after Ang Lee's acclaimed adaptation introduced a generation of audiences to Emma Thompson's Elinor and Kate Winslet's Marianne, Sense and Sensibility is returning to the big screen. 

Focus Features has released the first trailer for its highly anticipated new adaptation of Jane Austen's first published novel, directed by Georgia Oakley (Blue Jean) and written by bestselling novelist *Diana Reid. Judging from these first images, this isn't an attempt to recreate the beloved 1995 film. Instead, it appears to offer a fresh interpretation—one that feels quieter, earthier, and perhaps even closer to the realities Austen herself described.

Let's take a closer look at what we've learned so far.

GUEST POST & EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT - FASCINATION & FALSEHOODS: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING DARCY

 

Today we are delighted to welcome author Jayne Bamber to My Jane Austen Book Club as she celebrates the release of her newest Austen variation, Fascination & Falsehoods: The Importance of Being Darcy.

For readers who enjoy imaginative reimaginings of Pride and Prejudice, this novel offers a fascinating premise. In this story, Jane and Elizabeth Bennet are orphaned at a young age and raised by none other than Lady Catherine de Bourgh, while Fitzwilliam Darcy grows up under circumstances far removed from those we know in Austen's original novel. The result is a fresh take on beloved characters, family relationships, and the paths that ultimately lead to love.

What makes this variation especially intriguing is its homage not only to Jane Austen but also to Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. With witty dialogue, unexpected twists and familiar characters placed in entirely new circumstances, the story promises to delight readers who appreciate both Austen's timeless romance and Wilde's sparkling humour.

Today, the author is sharing an exclusive excerpt that introduces us to a young Elizabeth Bennet preparing for her first London season—and reveals the beginnings of her rather charming fascination with the name "Darcy."

We hope you enjoy this sneak peek into Fascination & Falsehoods: The Importance of Being Darcy. Be sure to let us know in the comments what you think of this inventive new twist on a beloved classic!

Maria Grazia 💕

COURTING DISASTER BY DR ZOE MCGEE — WHEN COURTSHIP MEETS CONSENT

 

Every once in a while, a book comes along that makes you look at familiar novels with completely new eyes. Courting Disaster by Dr. Zoë McGee is one of those rare reads.

At first glance, it’s easy to think that conversations about consent and gender power dynamics belong to our modern world—but as McGee reveals, women writers have been exploring these issues for centuries. From Jane Austen and Frances Burney to their now-forgotten contemporaries, McGee traces how the early novel became a space where women could question, resist, and reimagine the rules of society.

IN THE PATH OF JANE AUSTEN: TRAVELS AND TALES

 

 Lory Lilian at My Jane Austen Book Club

Maria Grazia, thanks so much for having me. It is such a great pleasure to be here! While I have visited, read and enjoyed your blog many times over the years, this is my first blogpost and I am thrilled about it.

Story quote from Lory Lilian’s story, The Gallery of Second Chances

A year ago, Elizabeth had left behind Pemberley, Mr Darcy and all her hopes. Now, she was returning with her soul burdened by a gratitude she had no chance of expressing and the sorrow of a lost happiness.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: AN INTERVIEW WITH SHANNON WINSLOW ON CAPTAIN WENTWORTH

Today on My Jane Austen Book Club, I’m delighted to welcome back author Shannon Winslow, a dear friend of our community and well known for her insightful Austen-inspired novels. Her latest release, Captain Wentworth – In His Own Words (out September 18th), invites us to experience Persuasion anew through the eyes of one of Jane Austen’s most beloved heroes. Shannon generously joined me for an interview to talk about her inspiration, her process, and the joys (and challenges!) of giving Captain Wentworth his own voice. I hope you’ll enjoy reading her answers as much as I did! MG

COLOUR, EMOTION AND MR DARCY: INSIDE BARRY S. RICHMAN'S NEWEST PRIDE AND PREJUDICE VARIATION

 

 By Maria Grazia, My Jane Austen Book Club

Today on My Jane Austen Book Club, I’m delighted to welcome back Barry S. Richman, author of the beloved Follow the Drum. With his second Pride and Prejudice variation, Color My World, he offers another bold and imaginative reimagining of Austen’s classic. In this new tale, Elizabeth Bennet awakens from a fall with a remarkable ability: she sees people’s emotions as colors—except in one man. Fitzwilliam Darcy is a void. A mystery. And against her better judgment, she’s drawn in. With emotional insight, quiet magic, and a sharper focus on Mr. Bennet, Color My World promises to be a deeply affecting romance.  

BECOMING MRS. DARCY: AN INTERVIEW WITH J. B. GRANTHAM

 

Check it out at Amazon

This autumn brings an exciting new addition to the world of Jane Austen-inspired fiction. On Michaelmas, 29 September 2025, J.B. Grantham will publish Becoming Mrs. Darcy: Elizabeth’s Chronicles (Volume I) — the first installment in a thoughtful and heartfelt sequel to Pride and Prejudice. To mark the occasion, we are delighted to share an interview, in which she discusses the inspirations behind her new book, the challenges of writing in Austen’s voice and what readers can expect from Mrs. Darcy’s story.

THE WORLDS OF JANE AUSTEN: IN CONVERSATION WITH DR HELENA KELLY

 

 

Today, on the very day of its release—25th September 2025—we are delighted to celebrate Dr Helena Kelly’s new book, The Worlds of Jane Austen (Frances Lincoln). Published to coincide with the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, this fascinating work invites readers to step beyond the familiar image of drawing rooms and tea parties, and instead discover the turbulent world of revolution, war, and social change that shaped Austen’s life and writing.

Helena Kelly, already well known to Austen readers for her groundbreaking Jane Austen, the Secret Radical, brings her characteristic insight and lively style to this beautifully illustrated volume. Drawing on the latest research, she shows us an Austen who is sharper, bolder, and more engaged with the great issues of her time than many have imagined—an author whose voice still resonates powerfully today.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Helena about her new book, Austen’s enduring relevance, and the surprising connections between the novelist’s world and our own.

WITTY, WILD AND WONDERFULLY AUSTEN: A CONVERSATION WITH DEVONEY LOOSER

 

Just when you thought you knew everything about Jane Austen—her novels, her needlework, her famously “quiet” life—along comes a book that turns the tea table upside down. In Wild for Austen, acclaimed scholar (and roller derby alter ego Stone Cold Jane Austen) Devoney Looser invites us to meet a bolder, brasher version of the beloved author—one who was far more entangled with radical politics, wild relatives, and unexpected cultural legacies than many of us ever imagined.

JANE AUSTEN ON WRITING: TEN INSPIRING QUOTES

 

Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen, Becoming Jane 2007

I recently came across a fascinating article in Italian on Libreriamo about Jane Austen’s reflections on writing. Since most of my readers are based in the UK, the US, and other English-speaking countries, I wanted to share it here in English, together with the quotes that inspired me.

RETHINKING MR DARCY: IS HE REALLY THE ROMANTIC HERO WE LOVE?

 

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.

AUSTEN & THE ART OF THE SELF: IS ELIZABETH BENNET A MODEL OF SELF-LOVE?

This is the second in our ongoing series: “Austen & the Art of Self” – Exploring the self-help wisdom hidden in Jane Austen’s heroines. Read our previous post: Is Emma Woodhouse a Model of Self-Love?

Elizabeth as a Model of Self-Love

Of all Jane Austen’s heroines, Elizabeth Bennet may be the most beloved—and with good reason. Spirited, witty, and fiercely independent, Lizzy walks through Pride and Prejudice with a confidence that feels strikingly modern. She refuses to marry for convenience, she values integrity over wealth, and she’s unafraid to speak her mind, even to a man like Mr. Darcy. But beneath her quick tongue and clever observations lies something deeper: a strong and evolving sense of self-worth.

A BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR AGES: THE COMPLETE NOVELS BY JANE AUSTEN BY THE FOLIO SOCIETY

The Complete Novels by Jane Austen, The Folio Society

 A collector’s dream for Austen devotees 

Jane Austen’s novels have enchanted readers for more than two centuries, and in 2025 her 250th anniversary is being marked with something truly extraordinary. The Folio Society has created a six-volume limited edition box set of The Complete Novels—a landmark in bookmaking, with only 750 copies available worldwide.

To celebrate this remarkable release, I had the chance to speak with the creative team behind the edition—James Rose (Head of Editorial), Kate Grimwade (Production Director), illustrator Sarah Young, and box designer Emily Benton. In this special Q&A, they share insights into the artistry, craft, and inspiration that went into bringing Austen’s timeless works to life in such a beautiful form. 

A SUMMER WITH JANE: PAULA BYRNE ON SIX WEEKS BY THE SEA

 

by Maria Grazia, My Jane Austen Book Club

 It is a real pleasure to welcome acclaimed biographer, novelist and Austen scholar Paula Byrne to our blog today. Paula is the author of numerous bestselling works, including Belle: The Slave Daughter and the Lord Chief Justice, The Real Jane Austen, The Genius of Jane Austen, and Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead, and she is widely respected for the depth, elegance, and originality of her work including biographies, literature, and history.

Her latest novel, Six Weeks by the Sea, offers a compelling blend of historical insight and imaginative storytelling. Set during the summer of 1801, the book follows a young Jane Austen during a six-week holiday in Sidmouth, where she becomes entangled in a quietly dramatic love triangle—with both a dashing Royal Navy captain and a thoughtful, abolitionist lawyer vying for her heart. Drawing on known facts and rich period detail, Paula creates a vivid world of family ties, social pressures, and romantic possibility—all with her signature grace and intelligence.

WHERE ARE TODAY'S MR DARCYS?

 

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, Vanity Fair Italia published a delightful and thought-provoking piece by Alessandra Gonnella asking: Where are today’s Mr. Darcys?

Between London parks, dating apps, and Austen's timeless prose, the author reflects on whether the romantic ideals we cherish from Austen’s novels still have a place in our modern lives.

Here’s my English summary of the article, followed by the original (in Italian):

👉 Link to the original article on Vanity Fair Italia: Dove sono i Mr Darcy di oggi?

PERSUASION IN ARABIC: A CONVERSATION WITH TRANSLATOR MAHA MAHMOUD SALEH

by Maria Grazia, My Jane Austen Book Club

Jane Austen’s works have crossed centuries, borders, and languages—continuing to speak to readers around the world. Recently, Persuasion has taken on new life in Arabic, thanks to the thoughtful work of freelance translator Maha Mahmoud Saleh, based in Cairo.

When she reached out to share news of her translation, I was immediately intrigued—not only by the beautiful cover of the Arabic edition, but also by the opportunity to explore how Austen’s elegant irony and emotional depth could be reimagined for a different linguistic and cultural audience. Maha shared that she began her translation process by watching a 1990s film adaptation of Persuasion, and was struck by how familiar the story felt—almost like an old Arabic romantic drama. “If it weren’t for the distinctly English setting,” she told me, “I would have thought I was watching an old Arabic movie starring Faten Hamama and Omar Sharif—dubbed into English!”

AUSTEN & THE ART OF SELF: IS EMMA WOODHOUSE A MODEL OF SELF-LOVE?

 

Among Jane Austen’s heroines, Emma Woodhouse stands out—not because she’s the most virtuous or modest, but because she’s bold, flawed, and entirely herself. At the novel’s outset, she is beautiful, clever, and rich—as Austen famously puts it—but also proud, meddling, and often blind to the needs and feelings of others. And yet, this complexity is precisely what makes her compelling. In an era when women were expected to marry well and behave modestly, Emma chooses independence and unapologetic self-confidence. This post explores how Emma’s journey through mistakes, self-awareness, and emotional growth makes her a surprisingly modern model of self-love—not as a static ideal, but as a dynamic, evolving woman learning to love herself more wisely.

SET SAIL WITH JANE AUSTEN: AN INTERVIEW WITH NATALIE JENNER

 

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.

BARRY S. RICHMAN ON HIS LATEST RELEASE, FOLLOW THE DRUM, A UNIQUE P&P RETELLING

 

Today on My Jane Austen Book Club, I’m excited to welcome Barry S Richman, author of the newly released Follow the Drum—a bold and unique retelling of Pride & Prejudice set against the backdrop of military life. This variation brings Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy into a world shaped by duty, honor, and the realities of war, offering readers a fresh perspective on a beloved classic.