DUTY vs. DELUSION: COMPARING EDWARD FERRARS AND EDMUND BERTRAM

The curates' corner: Edward Ferrars vs. Edmund Bertram

When we think of Jane Austen heroes, our minds instantly fly to the brooding wealth of Mr. Darcy or the dashing chivalry of Captain Wentworth. But today, we are turning our attention to the quiet churchmen of the Austen universe: Edward Ferrars (Sense and Sensibility) and Edmund Bertram (Mansfield Park). 

As the daughter, sister, and cousin of clergymen, Jane Austen understood the realities of the Church of England better than almost anyone. While Edward and Edmund might not be the most universally beloved romantic leads, they are deeply complex, highly realistic men navigating the rigid system of Regency church patronage.

Let’s look at how these two future clergymen compare.

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.

KINDLE THE LIGHT OF LIBERTY: A CONVERSATION WITH MIRTA INES TRUPP

 

"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil..."

— Pride and Prejudice

One of the reasons Jane Austen's novels continue to resonate with readers around the world is that they remind us how often first impressions can be misleading. We think we understand a person, only to discover there is far more beneath the surface than we first imagined.

Today, I am delighted to welcome author Mirta Ines Trupp to My Jane Austen Book Club to discuss Kindle the Light of Liberty, a fascinating historical novel set in Revolutionary Philadelphia. While not a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, the novel draws inspiration from Austen's timeless themes of misunderstanding, growth, family, and the challenge of judging character accurately.

At the heart of the story are Rose Wachsman and Nathan Hirsch, members of Philadelphia's Jewish community during the American Revolution. Through their journey, Mirta explores questions of identity, belonging, loyalty and love against the backdrop of a nation struggling to define itself.

In our conversation below, she shares how Jane Austen influenced her writing, why she chose this little-known corner of American history, and what readers might discover when they look beyond first impressions—both in fiction and in history.

Please join me in giving Mirta a warm My Jane Austen Book Club welcome!

Maria Grazia 💕