AUSTENESQUE NEWS

1. SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL WEEKLY GIVEAWAYS

There's a reason more to follow this lovely online series inspired by the novels CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT. You have the chance to enter a weekly giveaway of two signed copies of the novels that inspired the series. 

Watch Episode 15, "A Good Wedding" ! Should a wedding be a small affair with a few friends, or a 250-guest extravaganza? You can bet that Jane and Courtney, our time-swapping heroines, have very different ideas about what makes for a good wedding. Go to http://janeaustenaddict.com/ enjoy the clip and  enter the giveaway!

watch the 15 episodes on http://www.babelgum.com/sexandtheaustengirl

2.  JANE AUSTEN FESTIVAL IN BATH

Look at these incredible shots. It isn't like being there but they are so lively that you can rather believe so! The Festival is going on and I'm so envious reading the comments and looking at the beautiful photos of the lucky ones taking part in it! It'll end next Sunday 25th September. Take a look at the events in the schedule for the next days. 

CLICK HERE

3. STAMMERING DARCY WON THE TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL

 Just joking, of course. But  I'm serious now. I have to officially announce that Colin Firth's King's Speech won the Toronto Film Festival. Fingers crossed for the Academy Awards. Next year we want more than a nomination Mr Darcy! I mean, Mr Firth. We want a standing ovation and a touching thanking speech. Maybe with a dedication in Italian to your (lucky) beautiful Italian wife ... We are ready for that! What about you?

From the official site of the Festival: "Colin Firth delivers another performance of nuance and grace in this moving story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II.
It is the mid-thirties and radio is king. In the words of King George V (Michael Gambon), the members of the Royal Family are forced to become the lowest of creatures: actors. But his son “Bertie” (Firth) is plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit to be king. Haunted by a disastrous and humiliating incident in which he delivered the closing speech at the British Empire Exhibition, Bertie is encouraged by his caring wife Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) to engage the assistance of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).
 

Bound by rules of propriety, Bertie is reluctant to work with Logue, particularly when he insists on ignoring royal protocol and treating Bertie as he would any other man. But gradually, through a series of unconventional techniques, Bertie learns to manage his stutter and forms an unlikely friendship with Logue. When his older brother, King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), abdicates the throne, Bertie becomes king and must summon the courage and authority to lead his country into war.
A sensitive and penetrating character study in the guise of a rich historical period piece, The King’s Speech probes the intriguing concept of a powerful man locked in a struggle to accept his own authority. As a member of the Royal Family, Bertie enjoys powers and privileges that are alien to most people, yet he feels powerless and frustrated. It is the camaraderie that blooms between Bertie and Logue that allows him to break free from this pattern and embrace his own uniqueness.
A fascinating look inside the mind of a great man, The King’s Speech boasts heartwarming performances from an accomplished cast, particularly Firth and Rush, whose combative, respectful and tender friendship forms the heart of this touching film".

4. JANE ODIWE WILL BE MY GUEST ON TALKING JANE AUSTEN WITH...

Do you remember? I've recently read a lovely sequel to Sense and Sensibility by Jane Odiwe, Willoughby's Return ( Read my review ). Jane Odiwe has been so kind to accept my invitation and she'll be my guest on "Talking Jane Austen with...". Stay tuned! There will also be a giveaway and Mrs Odiwe will also present her newest novel due to release in February 2011, Mr Darcy's Secret.

 

Visit Jane Odiwe's wonderful site

HOW MUCH JANE IS THERE IN BRIDGET?

I needed to forget a hardworking Sunday (yes,Sunday!) and I put my Bridget Jones DVD set on : Bridget Jones's Diary and Bridget Jones - The Edge of Reason. I hadn't re-watched either of them since I had seen them long ago at the cinema. My purpose was pure escapism,of course, but also to discover how much Austen there is in them.

From Pride and Prejudice to Bridget Jones, from the books to the movies.

Helen Fielding (as Bridget Jones) wrote of her love of the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in her Bridget Jones's Diary column during the original British broadcast, mentioning her "simple human need for Darcy to get off with Elizabeth" and regarding the couple as her "chosen representatives in the field of shagging, or rather courtship".
Fielding loosely reworked the plot of Pride And Prejudice in her 1996 novelisation of the column, naming Bridget's uptight love interest "Mark Darcy" and describing him exactly like Colin Firth. Following a first meeting with Firth in person  during his filming of Fever Pitch in 1996, Fielding asked him to collaborate in what would become an eight-page interview between Bridget Jones and Firth in her 1999 sequel novel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Conducting the real interview with Firth in Rome (yes Rome!), Fielding lapsed into Bridget Jones mode and obsessed over Darcy in his wet shirt. Firth participated in the following editing process of what critics would consider "one of the funniest sequences in the diary's sequel". Both novels make various other references to the BBC serial.

1995 Pride and Prejudice writer Andrew Davies collaborated on the screenplays for the 2001 and 2004 Bridget Jones films, which would show Crispin Bonham-Carter (Mr Bingley in Pride and Prejudice) and Lucy Robinson (Mrs Hurst) in minor roles. The self-referential in-joke between the projects intrigued Colin Firth to accept the role of Mark Darcy, as it gave him an opportunity to ridicule and liberate himself from his Pride and Prejudice character. It's incredible , moreover, to notice how Colin Firth plays  Mark Darcy exactly as he played Fitzwilliam Darcy to show this sense of continuity or referentiality .

The producers never found a solution to incorporate the Jones-Firth interview in the second film, but shot a spoof interview with Firth as himself and Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones after a day's wrap. If you haven't seen it yet , enjoy it now. Here it is!!! It's such fun!

The second book, The Edge of Reason,  was loosely inspired to Persuasion. But what about the movie? I can't find any Wentworth or Anne in that film.What about you? Any clue?

Analogies between Bridget Jones's Diary and Pride and Prejudice

The theme of marriage is crucial in Jane Austen's works and it is of relevant importance in P&P from the first page on. In today’s society a woman can usually provide for herself, since the majority has got an education and a job. In this way they are not economically dependent on a husband. It is no longer a woman’s “career” to get married. Still, it is of importance to get a husband. Marriage is still an ideal, and can thus be said to be important to many women. Today, as at that time, most of young womens dream about a good marriage.

Having a career is all well and good, but not if it is at the expense of finding Mr. Right.

In Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones’s Diary, these ideals are a theme. The aim for Elizabeth and Bridget is to find a good man. And in their story of finding Mr. Right there are similarities in the action and the characters. I will start with the character who distinguishes themself most, Mark Darcy and Mr. Darcy

Darcy’s character in both Pride and Prejudice and Bridet Jones’s Diary is similar.
First of all the name is the same, but as we get to know the character we can also recognize traits of the original Darcy.

In Pride and Prejudice Elizabeth overhears a conversation between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley when he talks about her at the first party:

“Which do you mean?” Mr. Darcy asked and turned round. He looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and said: “Well, she is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me” (....) Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him"

In the film version Mark Darcy does the same as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice; he disparages Bridget within her earshot.

The first impression of Darcy in both cases  is not the best, seen from the female characters’ point of view. Both of them misunderstand him. And he is easily misunderstood because of his beaviour. I will add that in the film versions of the books we see much more of his feelings. By physically seeing the character; you can see expressions and bodylanguage. Both stories are about first impressions, and what they can entail. Pride and Prejudice was also originally entitled First Impressions.

The difference between these two creations is that Mr. Darcy changes in Pride and Prejudice. He realizes that his behaviour towards Elizabeth has been supercillious. He excuses himself to her, and they have a conversation and resolve all misunderstanings when they meet at Pemberly.  Bridget’s Mark Darcy does not change, but he tells her that he likes her just the way she is, and that leads to Bridget’s misunderstandings being cleared up.

In Pride and Prejudice we meet Wickham. The first impression of him is that he is Mr. Right. He is handsome, charming and easy to speak with. Elizabeth develops a good relationship with him, and she finds him attractive. Wickham also shows interest in her:

"Wickham and another officer accompanied the sisters back to Longbourn and on the way he was almost exclusively engaged to her".

Our Wickham in Bridget Jones’s Diary is Daniel Cleaver. He is handsome, out- going, charming and popular among the women, like Wickham.  Daniel claims that Mark had a relationship with his former fiancée, while the truth is that it was Daniel who had a relationship with Mark’s former wife. Wickham claims that Mr. Darcy has not fulfilled old Mr. Darcy’s wish, and given Wickham his living . We know the truth is that Wickham was instead a libertine and a rogue.  In both cases the heroine believes in Wickham/Cleaver and this leads to sympathy for Wickham /Daniel and dislike of Darcy.

Last but not least, the name Pemberley is the name of Mr. Darcy’s property in Pride and Prejudice. In Bridget Jones’s Diary,  Bridget works at Pemberley Press.

Conclusions

Bridget Jones's Diary is one of the funniest Austen inspired movies I've ever seen. I simply love it. The sequel, Bridget Jones-The Edge of  Reason was amusing but not "to the point" as the first one. I read somewhere that , instead,  with the books it is just the opposite: the sequel is even better than the first novel. I can't say about the novels, because I haven't read them yet, actually.  However , I was glad I could revisit their adaptations and appreciate Colin Firth and Hugh Grant in their hilarious roles once more after such  a long time.

TALKING JANE AUSTEN WITH VICTORIA CONNELLY



Victoria reading Jane Austen

Victoria Connelly was brought up in Norfolk and studied English Literature at Worcester University before becoming a teacher in North Yorkshire. After getting married in a medieval castle in the Yorkshire Dales, she moved to London where she lives with her artist husband and a mad springer spaniel. She has had 3 novels published in Germany - the first of which was made into a film. She is the author of "Molly's Millions". Today her latest Austen-inspired novel, "A Weekend with Mr Darcy",  has been released and she is here to celebrate the great event with us .

Welcome , Victoria and thank you so much for being with us today! Here's my first question: “Dr Katherine Roberts couldn’t help thinking that a university lecturer in possession of a pile of paperwork must be in want of a holiday".

Your novel,” A Weekend with Mr Darcy”, starts with the words above. What are you in want of, Victoria, instead? Success, money, a Mr Darcy, a holiday or what?

At the moment, I live in the suburbs of London but it is my dream to live in the countryside – somewhere beautiful and quiet with rolling hills and close to the sea like Dorset, Devon or Sussex in the south of England. I’d love to surround myself with animals there – lots of dogs and chickens and maybe some pigs!

Where would you spend your ideal weekend with your Mr Darcy?
Again somewhere quiet and beautiful where we can take long walks together with our dog – a romantic cottage with a real fire would be wonderful – somewhere like the Highlands of Scotland or the north Norfolk coast.

If I’m not wrong, you are a teacher of English like me. So, you are the perfect person to whom I can ask for devices and techniques to convince my teenage male students to read Jane Austen. Do we need a miracle? Have you ever succeeded?

I’ve never had the pleasure of teaching Jane Austen in school but I would tell the boys that – if they want to be successful in love – they have to read Jane Austen! Girls will love them if they know their Austen!

The heroines of your novel, Katherine and Robyn, are in search for a Mr Darcy. What makes him a cult? An evergreen dashing hero?

I think Mr Darcy is a hero for all time because he isn’t afraid to admit to his mistakes. He’s also willing to change for the woman he loves and that’s irresistible! And he cares deeply for Elizabeth and does all he can to safeguard her and her family.

 Robyn and Katherine are both Austen addicts. Are they inspired to real ladies you know?

I recently went on a holiday with ‘Pride and Prejudice Tours’ and met some amazing Jane Austen addicts – they’d read all the books and knew all the different film adaptations. I’ve been an Austen addict for years too and never tire of the stories so I’ve used a lot of my own passions in my two heroines.

Who’s your favourite and least favourite Mr Darcy on screen?

My favourite Mr Darcy is Colin Firth – his face is so expressive but I loved Matthew Macfadyen’s gentleness and vulnerability too – I love the scene when he stumbles over the words ‘I love you’. I don’t think I have a least favourite one although I’ve seen clips from an old BBC version where Mr Darcy looks very severe indeed!

Who’s your favourite Austen heroine? Does she resemble you in anyway?

I think it would have to be Elizabeth Bennet because she’s so fiercely loyal to her family. She has a great sense of humour and isn’t afraid to speak her mind – to Mr Darcy, Mr Collins and Lady Catherine – she’s amazing! Am I like her? I think we all like to imagine we have Elizabeth’s spark, don’t we?

What’s the appeal of Jane Austen’s world to you? Did it influence your lifestyle somehow?

There’s something very special about Jane Austen’s books. I love her wit and her wisdom and the fact that her characters make mistakes but are allowed second chances like Anne Elliot in Persuasion. It gives you hope. Has it influenced my lifestyle? Well, I’m a writer like Jane Austen and I adore storytelling and believe in happy endings.

 If you could time travel and live in the same era as Jane Austen, what would you miss the most? What would you like the most?

I feel the cold terribly so I don’t think I would get on with the fashions the women wore in Jane Austen’s time. I like my nice warm trousers and big walking boots! I’d also miss travelling by car although I do like the idea of a horse and carriage! I’d also miss the internet and email. I’d have to become a great letter writer like Jane and her sister, Cassandra. But I’d love to see the men dressed in Regency fashions – they’re so much more elegant than today’s baggy jeans and scruffy trainers!

When did you read your first Austen novel and which one was it?
I read Pride and Prejudice when I was 17 and Sense and Sensibility when I was 19. I was hooked for life!

If you could change the fate of one or two of Jane Austen’s characters, who would you help to be happier?
It would have to be Charlotte Lucas – Elizabeth Bennet’s friend who marries Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice. Poor Charlotte! Although she says she’s not looking for love in marriage, I can’t help feeling sorry for her.

A Weekend with Mr Darcy is the first in a trilogy dedicated to the adventures of contemporary Austen addicts. Can you tell us about this project of yours?

I’m writing three separate novels about Austen addicts with each book set in a different Austen location: Hampshire, Lyme Regis and Bath. I first had the idea last summer and got very excited about it because it was a great excuse to read all the books and watch all the films again! I’ve also been visiting all the settings too like Jane Austen’s cottage in Chawton and Lyme Regis and Bath. All are so beautiful – I’ve put lots of photos up on my website http://victoriaconnelly.com/ I’m loving writing these books.

A Weekend with Mr Darcy has been released today,  16th September,  in the UK and in July 2011 it'll come out  in the US. How would you invite people to buy and read it in ... let’s say... 50 words?

 A Weekend with Mr Darcy is a romantic comedy about two couples who meet and fall in love at a Jane Austen conference in beautiful rural Hampshire. But there’s more than one person hiding a secret and my heroines, Katherine and Robyn, have a few battles to fight before finding true love.

 I’ve seen on your site that some of your books have been translated into German. Are there any plans for a translation and publication of your books in Italian or any other language?
My novel, Molly’s Millions, is going to be translated into Turkish and A Weekend with Mr Darcy  is being offered for world rights at the moment. I’d love to be published in Italian – it’s such a beautiful language. My second novel published in Germany was set in Venice so Italy is very special to me.

Thanks a lot Victoria for your kind answers and I wish you great success with "A Weekend with Mr Darcy" ...  which I'm going to read and review soon! 

You're welcome , Maria Grazia. These are really great questions and I had great fun answering them.  Thank you!

AUSTENESQUE NEWS & GIVEAWAY WINNER

1. DARCY BEAT THEM ALL

Mr Darcy / Colin Firth has been voted Britain's best-looking actor, beating fellow Hollywood hunks Rupert Everett and Clive Owen.

The 50-year-old actor, who got an Oscar nomination this year for his film 'A Single Man', won a million hearts playing William Darcy in the BBC's adaptation of 'Pride and Prejudice' in 1995.

Everett, 51, famous for his role in 'My Best Friend's Wedding', came second in the list, followed by 'Closer' star Owen, 45, in the poll conducted by Wizard Jeans, Daily Star reported.

Who would you have voted as Britain's best looking actor? Do you agree with the result?

2. SCENTS & SENSIBILITY

Are you ready for a new modern version of Sense and Sensibility? A new Austen-inspired film is coming out in 2011: Scents and Sensibility . We don't know much about it. It is in production. These are the names in the cast : Marla Sokoloff  and Ashley Williams will be Elinor and Marianne; then  Nick Zano (Brandon), Danielle Chuchran (Margaret Dashwood ), Brad Johnson ( Edward Farris ), Jason Celaya ( Willoughby ) . Director , Brian Brough.

Ashley Williams

Danielle Chuchran

Nick Zano

Jason Celaya

Marla Sokoloff

GIVEAWAY WINNER

C. Allyn Pierson has kindly been my guest on "Talking Jane Austen" for two weeks and has given away two autographed copies of her latest publication: Mr Darcy's Little Sister", a new sequel for Pride and Prejudice with Georgiana Darcy as the protagonist.

Have you read our interesting chat?    PART I IS HERE and PART II HERE

Last week SUZAN wond her copy. Let's see who the lucky lady this week is. Random.org has decided it must be number ...1 !!! So CHATTY, congratulations! You are the winner of the second copy. You'll receive the book directly from C. Allyn Pierson with her dedication.  Enjoy reading this new lovely Austen sequel!

I'll wait for you tomorrow, for another session of "Talking Jane Austen". My guest this time, Victoria Connelly. Tomorrow 16th September her new novel, A Weekend with Mr Darcy will be released in the UK.  Stay tuned!!!

JANE AUSTEN COUNTRY - DVD

Jane Austen Country is the latest addition to my Austen DVD collection. It makes you take a tour around the English landscape and see the lovely locations that inspired Jane's novels. From the beautiful Hampshire countryside of her birth, follow in Jane's footsteps to the West Country city of Bath and discover what she really thoughtabout the high society that frequented its fine public buildings. Watching it, you will also visit the seaside splendour of Lyme Regis, the great hliday favourite with the Austen familyand then witness the rural charm of Chawton Cottage, Jane's own beloved home that is now a museum dedicated to her life and works. Above everything else, Jane Austen was a great countrywoman at heart, making this DVD an absolute must for both lovers of literature and the English countryside.

Although this DVD touchesupon Jane Austen's literary abilities, it is in factfar more concerned with the great lady herself and her fascinating life at a time in England's history when Gerogian elegance was at it's most graceful.

When Jane Austen, the daughter of a country clergyman, was born in the picturesque village of Steventon in Hampshire in December 177, few people could have guessed the impact she would have on the world of literature. With just six completed novels. Jane Austen is one of the rare collection of classic authors to have remained popular throughout the ages and the places where she lived and that provided the settings for her unforgettable tales are now the destination of thousands of worshipping admirers.Waiting to actually visit them, don't miss the occasion to go on this beautiful tour with plenty of awesome images, beautiful music (played and  recorded from Jane Austen's manuscript scores) as well as  rich and thorough information about Jane, her family, life, thoughts, works.

This DVD can be conveniently bought  with other 3 DVDs related to great English writers. If you are interested have a look HERE. Running time: 55 min.

TALKING JANE AUSTEN WITH C. ALLYN PIERSON - PART II & NEW GIVEAWAY

Our guest today on" Talking Jane Austen" is again author C.Allyn Pierson for part II of my interview. Today I'm going to announce the name of the first winner of her MR DARCY'S LITTLE SISTER and a second giveaway will be launched ending next Wednesday 15th September.

"And This Our Life, Chronicles of the Darcy Family" was C. Allyn Pierson 's first sequel of Pride and Prejudice. It has been purchased by Sourcebooks and a revised version was released yesterday, September 1. It's titled "Mr. Darcy's Little Sister." This revised version concentrates on Georgiana Darcy's story and, in addition, contains an exciting new plot line. The original "ATOL" will still be available until January 1, 2010, when it will be withdrawn from circulation. "Mr. Darcy's Little Sister" is available for preorder now on http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.barnesandnoble.com./ But if you are lucky enough, you can win one of the autographed copies here on My Jane Austen Book Club, leaving your comments and e-mail address .

Well Carey, where did we stop? Yes! You were talking about being a teenager at Jane Austen's time, since Georgiana is a teenager. Now, Wickham. Wickham and his attempt to seduce and elope with her undermined Georgiana’s self-confidence. How do you cope with this part of her back story in your novel?

Georgiana, not knowing whether Elizabeth knows about Wickham, tells her about the episode and they discuss it and the fact that Wickham also took advantage of Lydia. The revelation that she was not the only one to be victimized by Wickham made her feel much less stupid and naïve.

Darcy and Elizabeth are main characters in your novel as a married couple. How do you see them in their married life?

 I think that the first year of their marriage is very easy and carefree because they have already had their struggles in Pride and Prejudice. I think as time goes on they may develop some of the same problems that all relationships have- after the novelty has worn off. No relationship is totally carefree, but I think that their deep love for each other will make them fight to hold together their relationship.

Now it’s playtime! If you had the chance to get lost in one of JA’s novels, which one would you choose?

Pride and Prejudice, definitely (preferably with Colin Firth)

As a period drama addict I must ask you about Austen adaptations.What do you think of the many we’ve had so far? Have you got any faves?

 The 1995 P&P with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow, Persuasion with Ciaran Hinds. The last I have a couple of reservations on- they depict Anne as showing much more emotion than she does in the book- she is very repressed. Also they show them kissing in public-scandalous! The P&P with Keira Knightley I thought was terrible. It had beautiful cinematography, but Elizabeth was portrayed as snippy and smart-mouthed and Darcy didn’t look arrogant- he just looked depressed. Also they made some ridiculous changes- such as having Lady Catherine show up at the Bennet house in the middle of the night and the Bennets were all in their nightclothes! This in an era where not only would you not show up in the middle of the night, but calling on people was actually prescribed at certain times: you called between 1pm and about 5 and the better you know the people you are visiting, the later you are allowed to call, so new acquaintances called near 1pm and family members and close friends might call at 4pm.

 

As usual , when I get to this point of my interviews, I like playing the “casting game”. Imagine you were contacted to sell the rights of your novel for a film. Would you accept? Who would you cast in the main roles?

I would definitely like to see my book in film and I understand that some changes might be required, but I would like to keep veto control of the final script. As far as casting, I am afraid I am not a good judge of that. The people I like in previous JA films are too old to play the characters again. It must be someone who can do period work, and not everyone can. I probably would like to find relative unknowns for the roles- people would not be typecast but could be a fresh face. There are a lot of excellent actors and actresses who are on the stage or in repertory.

I read on your site that you are working on two additional sequels to “Pride & Prejudice”. Can you reveal anything about them?

The sequels are subject to approval by Sourcebooks- they have first option on the next book. That said, I would like the second book to take up Darcy and Elizabeth’s marriage again and they will have some setbacks and they must learn to live their lives without fear. This is a subject that is close to my heart because in my work I sometimes see people who are so worried about getting cancer, or getting sick, or their kids getting killed in a car accident, or whatever, that they don’t live their life. I don’t want to get to the end of my life and feel that I had wasted it worrying about something that never happened. In my third JA book I would like to take up Darcy’s cousin Anne and her marriage to Fitzwilliam’s ne’er-do-well elder brother. A lot of pain and passion in both of these!

 Now my final question. Why should a Janeite buy / read your “Mr Darcy’s Little Sister”?

Hmmmmm. Because they love Jane Austen and want to see if my story fits with how they see the future of these charaters. Also, those who read And This Our Life will probably enjoy seeing how I have changed the story. One of the interesting things about these JA sequels is comparing the different authors’ visions of the future. This is not a case where if you have read one you are done. Readers who enjoy the sequels can enjoy many different versions.

Thanks Carey for being so kind again! Good luck to you and your new brave Georgiana!

You can follow C. Allyn Pierson on her site or

 on the brand new Austen Authors Blog!

 

Ready for the name of the 1st lucky winner?

SUZAN !!!

CONGRATULATIONS

Try to be as lucky as Suzan, leave your comment and e-mail address. There's another signed copy of MR DARCY'S LITTLE SISTER for you!!!

 Remember! This new giveaway ends 15th September.

AUSTENESQUE NEWS

1. WAS JANE AUSTEN POPULAR?

Today, thanks to Laurel Ann @ Austenprose 's post on facebook, I've read this very interesting article by Lev Raphael from The Huffington Post. These are the most relevant ideas:

"Given Austen's ubiquity, and the fact that anything with her name on it will sell, you might think she's always been a sensation. But you'd be wrong, as Jodi Picoult was when she recently said the New York Times needed to review popular authors because

"historically the books that have persevered in our culture and in our memories and our hearts were not the literary fiction of the day, but the popular fiction of the day. Think about Jane Austen. Think about Charles Dickens. Think about Shakespeare. They were popular authors. They were writing for the masses".

Not at all. Austen's fame and popularity grew long after her death, but during her life she was only moderately successful, and novels weren't even the most popular genre in her era.

Back then, novels were less widely read than poetry by celebrity authors like Sir Walter Scott and Byron. The day it was published in 1814, Byron's The Corsair sold 10,000 copies. Also published in 1814, Emma took six months to sell out its printing of 1250 copies.

And when Scott turned to historical fiction in 1814 with Waverly, he became an instant success in this genre, thanks to his poetry. He sold far better than Austen ever did in her lifetime. Given his status as 800-pound gorilla on the literary scene, it's not surprising Austen made fun of their different levels of success in a letter to her niece Anna:

"Walter Scott has no business to write novels, especially good ones. - It is not fair. - He has Fame & Profit enough as a Poet, and should not be taking the bread out of other people's mouths. - I do not like him, & do not mean to like Waverley if I can help it - but fear I must..."

So who did read Austen? She was a special favorite of the fashionable set who enjoyed guessing at her identity because her first four books were published anonymously. Aristocrats ranging from the future wife of Byron all the way to the dissolute Prince Regent and his beloved daughter Charlotte admired her work. The royal librarian even gave Austen a tour of the Prince's ornate London residence, telling her that his master kept copies of her books in all his homes.

When she died in 1817, Austen was more than fifty years away from the idolatry and burgeoning sales of her first great boom (the second came in the 1990s, thanks in part to Colin Firth's Darcy". (Lev Raphael)

2. MATTHEW MACFADYEN AS ATHOS

 

Just few days ago we were  thinking about what Darcy Macfadyen was up to. The answer was he was shooting two different films, do you remember? If you don't , read last week Austenesque News. Are you ready to watch him like this?

As Athos in The Musketeers? Not bad!

They are shooting in Bamberg, Germany,  these days but Matthew is not yet there.

Have a look at this link

3. SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL'S ... WEDDING DRESS

After a period of holidays, the online comedy inspired to Laurie Viera Rigler's Austen Addict novels is back with the 13th episode: Sex and The Austen Girl - Wedding Dress

  

"It's bad enough to be stranded in Regency England while another woman takes over your life. Even worse that she's wearing your wedding dress. The one you hid in the back of your closet. The one from the wedding that never took place. Watch our time-swapping heroines clash over what it means to be dressed in white.

Ah. If only it were as simple today as it was in Jane Austen's time...

4. AUSTEN AUTHORS SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH

This new Austen dedicated blog has been launched with great enthusiasm and the response has been greatly enthusiastic as well!  Since  September 6th,  lots of interesting blogposts and comments. You'll find contributions from many familiar names &  faces there: Susan Adriani , Marsha Altman, Marilyn Brant, Skylar Burris , Jack Caldwell, Victoria Connelly , J. Marie Croft, Carolyn Eberhart , Monica Fairview , Regina Jeffers , Cindy Jones , Sharon Lathan, Kara Louise , Kathryn Nelson , Jane Odiwe , C. Allyn Pierson, Abigail Reynolds , Heather Lynn Rigaud , Lynn Shepherd , Mary Lydon Simonsen.

Have you had a look yet? Don't miss it! HERE

5. TALKING JANE AUSTEN

Have you read the first part of TALKING JANE AUSTEN with C. ALLYN PIERSON? Tomorrow I'm going to post Part II , to reveal the name of the first winner of her MR DARCY'S LITTLE SISTER  and to launch a second internationally open giveaway! So check My Jane Austen Book Club tomorrow and, if you are not the lucky winner, never mind! You may read part II of my interview, leave your comment and try again!

I've just received my lovely copy of Carey's novel and I'm going to review it soon on this blog.

Next Thursday 16th September, on occasion of the release of her new novel in the UK, A WEEKEND WITH MR DARCY, Victoria Connelly will be my guest to Talk Jane Austen with me. Don't miss her lovely interview!

WILLOUGHBY'S RETURN by JANE ODIWE - Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility continues...

I've always wished a second chance for Marianne Dahwood and John Willoughby. I've never totally accepted the common judgement of Willoughby as a dashing scoundrel, a libertine. Then, let's say that Jane Odiwe made my dream come true: Willoughby returns into Marianne's life now that she is Mrs Brandon as well as little James's mother.

Three years later, when she has put her heartbreak over him in the past, Willoughby comes back with all his charming ways. He is as roguish and as much in love with her as ever. The timing couldn't be worse: Colonel Brandon is often away, in Lyme, to take care of his ward Eliza Williams and the little girl she had from Willoughby, Lizzy. Marianne is terribly jealous and feels neglected . The temptation of her previous passionate love is incredibly powerful.

A parallel plot follows Margaret's romance with Henry Lawrence . Margaret is Marianne and Elinor's younger sister , Henry is Brandon's nephew and  John Willoughby's friend. Their story actually recalls Marianne's and Willoughby's unfortunate love.. They hit it off immediately but, suddenly, Henry changes his attitude to Margaret and everybody around her starts speaking about Henry's engagement with a beautifulFrench girl from his past, Mademoiselle Antoinette de Fontenay. Will she be luckier than her beloved sister? Will she be turned down like Marianne? 

This lovely sequel to "Sense and Sensibility"revisits the beautiful places where we first  met the Dashwoods, The Ferrars, Mrs Jennings, The Palmers, Willoughby and his rich wife Sophia, Eliza Williams and  The Steele sisters. We are back to Barton Cottage, Delaford, London and Lyme.

 The journey of some of the charachters may result quite repetitive (i.e. Marianne's jealousy for her husband's caring interest in Eliza and her Lizzy) but the language is skillfully crafted, pleasant and refined. In the end we are left with the impression that our heroes and heroines got what they deserved at last. And , especially, we feel that the young fascinating rogue in the title is not as bad as we - and many characters in the novel - had believed him to be. 

Marianne is sure: " ..she had loved him once, and he had proved that his love for her was genuine"

What about the other characters?  Colonel Brandon? Too good to be true. Mrs Jennings? Less sparkling than in S&S. Edward and Elinor? Could a match be ever more boring? The Steele sisters? Poisonous gossips!

On the whole, a very pleasant summer read.

This review is my fourth task in the  Everything Austen Challenge II and my second read for the Jane Austen is My Homegirl reading challenge.

TALKING JANE AUSTEN - C. ALLYN PIERSON PART I & GIVEAWAY

Our guest today on" Talking Jane Austen" is author Carey Allyn Pierson. My interview is divided into two parts and there will be 2 giveaways of autographed books, one today and the other one next week! 

 "And This Our Life, Chronicles of the Darcy Family" was C. Allyn Pierson 's first sequel of Pride and Prejudice. It has been purchased by Sourcebooks and a revised version was released yesterday, September 1. It's  titled "Mr. Darcy's Little Sister." This revised version concentrates on Georgiana Darcy's story and, in addition, contains an exciting new plot line. The original "ATOL" will still be available until January 1, 2010, when it will be withdrawn from circulation. "Mr. Darcy's Little Sister" is available for preorder now on http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.barnesandnoble.com./ But if you are lucky enough, you can win one of the autographed copies here on My Jane Austen Book Club, leaving your comments and e-mail address .

The giveaway is open worldwide.

The name of the first winner will be announced next Thursday September 9th.

Now it's time to welcome and thank author C. Allyn Pierson for being our guest today.

You are a biologist and a physician . Nothing’s farther from Jane Austen's world,  where women were denied profession and social relevance. What’s the appeal of that world to a woman like you?

Basically, I get enough “reality” in my work, and my husband is an eye surgeon so we both must deal with pain and suffering everyday. I give my patients my entire attention when I see them, but when I am relaxing I want to do something that leaves me feeling good. My husband can do surgery all day and come home and Dostoevsky, and he takes out the stress by playing a lot of tennis. I don’t watch television, so my main relaxation is reading and the occasional video. I can read my favorite books over and over and each time I pick up some subtle nuance, and Jane Austen is, in some ways, very subtle. She looks at the society of her time with a clear gaze and humor and yet they are poignant as well- a very rich mixture but a world that is simpler than our own.

You’re a member of JASNA, of the Republic of Pemberley and you write JA sequels. Can you explain what is the appeal Jane Austen has to so many contemporary readers?

I believe that Jane Austen taps into the basic drives of all humans, even though her time period was so different from our own. When you take away people’s obsessions with technology, our wants and needs are very much the same- we all want to have enough to eat, a warm place to sleep, and most of all, love. You can’t get those things from an iPod or a computer.

 How did your meeting with JA and her work influence your life?

I first read Pride and Prejudice in school, but at that time the slow pace of the language and the unfamiliarity with the era left me indifferent. When I had an au pair from England who was wild about Jane Austen I picked her up again and this time I really read it, listening to the language. The final clincher was when the BBC produced the miniseries of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. Not only was it beautifully done, but the casting was wonderful on all levels. Here was the story right in front of my eyes with all the costumes from the Regency period. I adore it and I think I must have watched it a hundred times. I have trouble just sitting through a film and feel I am wasting my time. After I have seen it once then I will crochet while I “watch” it and just listen and look up at my favorite scenes. I have a lot of references to the Regency as well as books about Jane Austen. I am sure my husband gets tired of hearing her name!

 When and Why did you decide you wanted to write a sequel to Pride and Prejudice?

I had always wanted to be a writer and when I was ten years old I decided to use C. Allyn Pierson for my pen name (Carey Allyn Pierson was my maiden name) A couple of years later I decided to become a doctor and I went from there. After my eldest son left for college I had a bit more free time and decided to read a retelling of P&P from Darcy’s point of view and I enjoyed the books and the writing very much, but I came to the sudden realization that I didn’t picture the characters as the author had and that I “knew” what they should be like. Suddenly, I wanted to sit down and write my version.

Why did you choose little Georgiana as your heroine?

I actually started telling the story of Darcy and Elizabeth’s first year of marriage, and that included Georgiana. As the story developed, Georgiana’s story became more and more interesting, but my self-published book was still told from Elizabeth’s point of view and was called ‘And This Our Life: Chronicles of the Darcy Family”. When Sourcebooks bought the rights to ATOL it was with the understanding that i would change the book to Georgiana’s point of view because very little has been written about Georgiana, while Darcy and Elizabeth’s marriage has been covered extensively. I sat down and rewrote ATOL and ended up with a book which was almost completely different than the original. Georgiana’s marriage at the end is the same, but almost everything else is different. Some scenes I recycled, but even some of those have different characters in the scene and I added a significant new plot sequence, as well. Georgiana is very interesting to me because her name permeates Pride and Prejudice as Miss Bingley constantly praises her to Darcy or uses her to make Elizabeth feel inadequate, but we do not actually meet her until three-quarters of the way through the book, and then Georgiana hardly says a word. We are left with an enigma, but I felt that there was a lot of potential with Georgiana and very few restriction.

Georgiana Darcy in P&P 1995

Georgiana Darcy in P& P 2005

By the way, Carey, which of the Austen heroines are you most like?

Elizabeth Bennet is definitely my favorite and the one most like me. I like Elinor Dashwood and Anne Elliott because of their common sense and their ability to hide their feelings from the world- there is a lot going on inside them that the world does not see. This strong but reticent character is like me, too- when I was in school people thought I was very reserved until they got to know me and they realized that I had a very dry sense of humor. Also, as a physician, I can relate to the need to keep your thoughts under wraps- sometimes you have to listen to people tell you very sad or very crazy things and keep a straight face.

Georgiana is a teenager ( that part of humankind I so well know as a teacher, mother, aunt ...) How did you get yourself prepared to depict her complexity? And how different it was being a teenager at JA’s time?

In Jane Austen’s time society was much more restrictive on what was and was not appropriate behavior and most children of the upper class were raised by nurses and governesses rather than over-indulgent parent’s. At that time children were not considered to be individuals as much as they were an extension of their parents’ desire to carry on their family name and bring more power and money into their family. That said, humans haven’t really changed much since then, and I am sure that teenagers felt the same insecurity about who they are as modern teens do. I have a lot of contact with teenagers with my work and with my children’s friends, but my eldest son was much more mature than the average teenager, and my younger son is severely autistic, so neither was really “typical.” I mostly drew on my own experiences as a teenager (waaayyyy back in the early 70’s!) for how Georgiana felt.

Ok, Carey! That's all for today. We'll go on with our lovely chat next week, Thursday 9th September. Good luck to our readers for the giveaway!

AUSTENESQUE NEWS AND GIVEAWAY WINNER

1. TAKING THE DARCY

Biologists have named a protein in mice urine after Mr Darcy from Pride & Prejudice. I know, not very romantic at all, but so curious! 

The protein is a pheromone responisble for attracting female mice to the odour of a particular male. The scientists have dubbed the protein "darcin". "Although darcin is species-specific, similar pheromones that stimulate learning of an individual's scent could even underlie some complex, inividual-specific responses of humans" said Jane Hurst, one of the researchers from the University of Liverpool.

2. AUSTEN-INSPIRED ANTHOLOGY

Many leading Austen authors have been invited to contribute to an asuten-inspired anthology of short stories to be published by Random House in 2011. The collection will include about 20 works inspired by Jane's writings. The writers include Carrie Bebris (author of the Mr & Mrs Darcy Mysteries series), Maggie Sullivan (AustenBlog.com and The Jane Austen Handbook) and  Jane Odiwe (Lydia Bennet's Story and Willoughby's Return) among others.

3. WHAT IS DARCY MAC FADYEN  UP TO?

After receiving much appraisal for his performance as Prior Philip in The Pillars of the Earth ( I still have to watch it!), Matthew MacFadyen is going to start shooting THE PROMISED LAND next fall in Palestine. In the cast, curiously enough, the other Mr Darcy (for many fans the only Mr Darcy), Colin Firth. He will also be Athos soon, in a new adaptation of THE THREE MUSKETEERS with Logan Lerman as D'Artagnan and Orlando Bloom as the Duke of Buckingham. Both movies should come out in 2011.

4. GIVEAWAY WINNER

As promised, I have to announce the name of the winner of an autographed copy of CHARLOTTE COLLINS by Jennifer Becton. Have you read Jennifer's presentation of her novel on Fly High?  (HERE) 

I must thank her for her kindness and availability and wish her a great success with this publication. Now, to the name of the lucky winner!

LUA!!!

Congratulations, Lua! Thanks for taking part in our giveaway. You'll soon receive a signed copy of Charlotte Collins. Enjoy reading it! For all the others, Jennifer's novel will be available from today September 1st at http://www.jenniferbecton.com/ and through http://www.amazon.com/ as both a paperback  and an e-book. Read the prologue here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/36261956/Charlotte-Collins-Prologue.