Making Your Regency Outfit: The Reticule

This excellent post by DawnLuck provides step-by-step photo instructions on how to make your own reticule. Click here to enter the site, then click on all the images for instructions.

Helena Bonham Carter Reads Excerpts of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Click on this link to listen to Lady Catherine DeBourgh's confrontation with Elizabeth.

Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her ladyship to take some refreshment; but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely, declined eating any thing; and then, rising up, said to Elizabeth,

"Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you will favour me with your company."

"Go, my dear," cried her mother, "and shew her ladyship about the different walks. I think she will be pleased with the hermitage."

Elizabeth obeyed, and running into her own room for her parasol, attended her noble guest down stairs. As they passed through the hall, Lady Catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlour and drawing-room, and pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be decent looking rooms, walked on.

Her carriage remained at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her waiting-woman was in it. They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk that led to the copse; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable.

"How could I ever think her like her nephew?" said she, as she looked in her face.

As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began in the following manner: --

"You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I come."

Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment.

"Indeed, you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account for the honour of seeing you here."

Pride and Prejudice: Lizzie's Diary,. Read by Jennifer Ehle

This image, drawn by Jane Odiwe, was used without permission on the YouTube video I had featured, and so I removed the video. (I did not create the YouTube video.)

Had the creator contacted Jane and asked for permission to use the image ahead of time, she would have said yes. I have always received a polite, "Please use it" (for Jane is always gracious), and then credited Jane for the artwork. In the years that I have been blogging, I have received only two no's and several silences when I sought permission. Usually people are quite glad to have their artwork used by others, since this is free publicity.

Jane's image of Elizabeth and Jane Bennet is much nicer than the mashed image we saw on the video. To view it and to read her take on the situation, please go to her site, Jane Austen's Sequels.

Jane Austen and Dangerous Liaisons

or "Miss Austen in very bad company!"

When I read the 24th chapter of Mansfield Park in which Henry Crawford explains to his sister Mary his reasons for conquering Fanny Price, I wondered: could Jane Austen have read Choderlos de Laclos's writings? They were contemporaries and The Dangerous Liaisons (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) was published in 1782. Well, perhaps she did not, but my dear cad, Henry Crawford, certainly could read ...

Alessandro Nivola as Henry Crawford

Let us see how and when Henry begins to have "ideas" about poor Fanny. He tells Mary about his plans.

[...] my plan is to make Fanny Price in love with me.

She protests but he explains his desire.

But I cannot be satisfied without Fanny Price, without making a small hole in Fanny Price’s heart.

To him, Fanny Price is a challenge

Her looks say, ‘I will not like you, I am determined not to like you’; and I say she shall.

He assures his sister that he will not hurt Fanny... perhaps a bit... nothing more!

[...] only want her to look kindly on me, to give me smiles as well as blushes, to keep a chair for me by herself wherever we are, and be all animation when I take it and talk to her; to think as I think, be interested in all my possessions and pleasures, try to keep me longer at Mansfield, and feel when I go away that she shall be never happy again. I want nothing more.

You must read all the dialogues to better appreciate this chat between the Crawford siblings, but I believe that the parts cited are enough to get an idea of Henry's intentions, and why their exchange reminded me of Dangerous Liaisons, specifically of Letter 6, where the Viscount of Valmont explains to the Marquise de Merteuil how pleased he is at the thought of conquering Madame de Tourvel.

What a delightful thought: to be the cause and the cure of her remorse! Far be it from me to try to break down the prejudices which worry her! They'll merely help to increase my happiness and my reputation. I want her to have these high principles — and to sacrifice them for my sake! I want her to be horrified by her sins yet unable to resist sinning; to suffer endless terrors wich she can overcome and forget only in my arms; then I'll agree to let her say: "I adore you". She will be the only woman in the world really worthy of uttering those words. I shall truly be the God whom she loves best. (Les liaisons dangereuses, Oxford Press, page 20, translator Douglas Parmée)

And as a scoundrel always remember another, I remember Chad, from Neil LaBute's movie, In Company of Men. The three men had different fate, but the motive of the conquest seems the same: only vanity.

Alessandro Nivola and Frances O’Connor as Henry Crawford and Fanny Price.

Books

Mansfield Park, Jane Austen
Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Chordelos de Laclos, 2008 · OUP

Movies

Mansfield Park, 1999, Patricia Rozema · IMDb
Dangerous Liaisons, 1988 (John Malkovich) · IMDb
Valmont, 1989 (Colin Firth) · IMDb
In the Company of Men, 1997 (Aaron Eckhart) · IMDb

Posted by Raquel Sallaberry, Jane Austen em Portugues

How to Make a Regency Outfit: Regency Hairstyle

For the next few weeks, this blog will feature posts designed to help you put together a complete regency outfit, from head to toe. This 9-minute video will show you how to recreate the Regency up-do.

In Timely Fashion offers step-by-step instructions on how to create an up-do. Click here to find it.

Torrin Paige went one step further and created a 9-minute YouTube video.

Jane Austen Movie Dance Throwdown

We now move to the dance floor. Of the two "Mr Beveridge's Maggot" dances, which do you prefer? The scene from Pride and Prejudice 1995? Or Emma, 1996 with Gwynneth Paltrow? The music is the same, but the dances and tecniques (and setting) are VASTLY different. One includes much conversation; the other is light and sparkling.

Pride and Prejudice 1995


Emma, 1996

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I prefer Mr. Beverage's Maggot in

Pride and Prejudice 1995 Emma 1996

Jane Austen Exhibit at Winchester Cathedral Open May 1, 2010

As the bicentenary decade of Jane Austen’s success as a writer and early death approaches, a new permanent exhibition at her resting place in Winchester Cathedral opens on 10 April 2010 to unveil the life and times of the renowned author like never before. A special exhibition and supporting events come as this decade marks 200 years since Jane wrote her famous novels.

The exhibition will be supported by a mix of permanent and rolling exhibits borrowed from collections around the world. From 10 April until 20 September items from Winchester Cathedral’s and Winchester College’s archives will be on display. Some of these items have rarely, if ever, been displayed publicly before and include her burial register, first editions and fragments of Jane’s own writing.

Guided tours, specific exhibitions and talks will take visitors through her life and works to mark her legacy and set the stage for Jane’s bicentenary. Stand out events are:

• 1 May: Special Evensong to mark Jane Austen’s life, and place in the Cathedral’s history

• 16-18 July: Jane Austen Weekend (including Regency Dinner) which coincides with the Jane Austen Society AGM

• 5-6 August: Outside theatre production of Pride and Prejudice

• Extended tours which take visitors beyond the Cathedral to see Jane’s final home just beyond the Cathedral Inner Close.

The Jane Austen exhibition has been brought together by Charlotte Barnaville, the Cathedral’s Marketing Officer, and a team of specialist advisors.

• Jane Austen's House in Winchester

Follow Friday - Two Nerdy History Girls

Loretta Chase (l) and Susan Holloway Scott (r) are Two Nerdy History Girls who can WRITE. Their blog exploded on the scene last year and the two have not looked back. From posts about doctors, Williamsburg gowns, Men Behaving Badly, and Dressing Dolly Madison, you will not be disappointed.

I salute this new blog and the two ladies who run it. If you have not read their books, run, don’t walk to the nearest bookstore!

• Loretta Chase blog
• Susan Holloway Scott blog

Ladies of the Regency Era - A Video

Dissin Gerard Butler and Mr Darcy is Bad Form

Dissin’ Gerry Butler and Mr. Darcy is bad form! A recent NPR review by Linda Holmes about the new film, The Bounty Hunter, is wrong on SO many levels. First, do not dis my MAN, Gerard (Gerry) Butler! Ever since Phanthom of the Opera and his turn as hunky Spartan King Leonidus in 300, I have been waiting for him to CLAIM ME as his own. Miss Holmes, a most nonsensical reviewer, does not realize that die-hard Gerry Butler fans will PAY to see him clean toilets and act in tripe worse than The Bounty Hunter.

Linda could still have redeemed herself until she made THIS worthless statement:

It is time to let Mr. Darcy go. I have nothing against Mr. Darcy. In fact, I had nothing against the original Mr. Darcy when he became Bridget Jones' Mr. Darcy, because har-har, I get it.

But then You've Got Mail brought Mr. Darcy into things, and there was another movie, and at this point, Mr. Darcy has been played out. Overplayed out. So if your next idea is to call your guy the head of Darcy Industries, or a club figure named DJ Darcy, or a professional hockey player who goes by "Fitzie"? Please forget it. There are other references.

How this Linda person found a job as a critic is beyond me. Read the rest of her ridiculous words at this link .

Sincerely, Vic

The duo of Craig Ferguson and Gerard Butler chat it up in this great video. What can be better than two Scots men shooting the bull?

Dancing With Darcy Ball Raised Profile of Chawton House

Last July, Chawton House held a ball - Dancing With Darcy - to raise the profile of the great house, once owned by Jane Austens elder brother, Edward, and lovingly restored by Sandy Lerner, depicted above and Cisco Systems co-founder.

Stanford Magazine (found via Laurel Ann at Twitter) offered an article and a few images of that event in their 2009 fall issue.

Emma's Pretty Ribbons

At “My Penguin”, the website states: “We print the words, you make the covers.” I ordered a book, just as Penguin suggested and created a cover for Jane Austen’s Emma. Ribbons were mentioned so often in the book, that I thought that this motif would fit in very well with Miss Woodhouse!

I covered my book with colorful satin ribbons, as you can see in this image. By the time I completed my project, the site was no longer accepting new covers. No matter, for I liked creating the cover! As I looked at the many Emma submissions, I began to wonder: "Did any Janeites we know submit one of these covers?"

Ribbon quotes from Emma:

Emma would be "very happy to wait on Mrs. Bates, &c.," and they did at last move out of the shop, with no farther delay from Miss Bates than,

"How do you do, Mrs. Ford? I beg your pardon. I did not see you before. I hear you have a charming collection of new ribbons from town. Jane came back delighted yesterday. Thank ye, the gloves do very well—only a little too large about the wrist; but Jane is taking them in."

Mrs. Elton to Mr. Knightley: "That's quite unnecessary; I see Jane every day:—but as you like. It is to be a morning scheme, you know, Knightley; quite a simple thing. I shall wear a large bonnet, and bring one of my little baskets hanging on my arm. Here,—probably this basket with pink ribbon. Nothing can be more simple, you see.

He [Frank Churchill] could say no more; and with the hope of Hartfield to reward him, returned with Mrs. Weston to Mrs. Bates's door. Emma watched them in, and then joined Harriet at the interesting counter,—trying, with all the force of her own mind, to convince her that if she wanted plain muslin it was of no use to look at figured; and that a blue ribbon, be it ever so beautiful, would still never match her yellow pattern. At last it was all settled, even to the destination of the parcel.

"Should I send it to Mrs. Goddard's, ma'am?" asked Mrs. Ford.—"Yes—no—yes, to Mrs. Goddard's. Only my pattern gown is at Hartfield. No, you shall send it to Hartfield, if you please. But then, Mrs. Goddard will want to see it.—And I could take the pattern gown home any day. But I shall want the ribbon directly—so it had better go to Hartfield—at least the ribbon. You could make it into two parcels, Mrs. Ford, could not you?"

Submitted by Raquel Sallaberry, Jane Austen em Portugues

Jane Austen Movie Fashion Throwdown

Today I ask you to decide between Lizzie Bennet and Elizabeth Bennet, or Keira and Jennifer. Which actress's wardrobe best AUTHENTICALLY portrayed our favorite Austen heroine? The votes for Mrs. Bennet were hot and heavy and it wasn't until the 5th day that the tide began to sway towards Brenda Blethyn's side. This week I ask you: Whose wardrobe do you like best?

Jennifer Ehle or Keira Knightley dressed as Elizabeth Bennet?

Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet in P&P 1995

Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet in P&P 2005

Best dressed Lizzie
	Jennifer Ehle, 1995 Elizabeth Bennet
	Keira Knightley, 2005 Elizabeth Bennet
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Lace Parasols to Complete Your Regency Dress

The Lace Parasol Place sells BattenburgLace and other lace parasols that we have seen Regency reenactors carry to complete their beautiful regency era costumes, as in the image below of a young lady who participated in the Jane Austen Festival in Bath. The parasols are remarkably affordable!

Friday Follow

Austenblog, I hail thee as the blog that lit the dark way through the unformed miasma of the 2004 blogosphere and showed other Janeites with a PC or Mac how to follow, for you have been around longer than most of us. You, oh, Margaret Sullivan, with thy sharp wit, keen knowledge of all things Austen, and minions who comment on your posts with a wit almost as sharp as yours. You, who wrote that informative The Jane Austen Handbook for the Jane Austen fan and There Must Be Murder for Jane Austen Centre Magazine. You, who noticed my iddy biddy blog way back in 2006 and pointed people my way (thank you so much) and add so much to our perception of Jane Austen on a regular basis - I curtsy to you and make my bow.

Most recently Austen blog has featured an excellent series that all true Janeites should read - The League of Austens Extraordinary Gentlemen. Click on the following links and you will not be sorry. I promise.

• Part the First
• Part the Second
• Part the Third
• Part the Fourth
• Part the Fifth

May you keep inspiring us forever.

Jane Austen in Berkshire

It's a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen was Hampshire born and bred ... Jane, her sister Cassandra and her cousin, also called Jane, were educated in Reading following unsuccessful stints at schools in Oxford and Southampton.

Basildon Park

"The Reading Ladies Boarding School, also known as the Abbey School, which overlooked the Forbury Gardens, taught the girls the usual 18th century accomplishments such as sewing, dancing, spelling, French and music. "

Abbey School was located to the left of Reading Abbey (Above)

"She did three years there," says local historian Jane Walton, from Sonning, "and it was probably the school that she used to get the ideas for the Mrs Goddard School in Emma" - Berkshires Jane Austen

Jane Austen Festival Australia 15-19 April 2010

Canberra, Australia
Director: Mrs Aylwen Gardiner-Garden
Earthly Delights Historic Dance Academy
Ph: 0409 817 623

Click on the website Earthly Delights for more details

Staying in Bath's Most Luxurious Hotel in the Royal Crescent

Planning a visit to Bath? Why not stay in the Royal Crescent Hotel, a luxury hotel right in the center of one of the most famous buildings in Bath.

The Royal Crescent Hotel boasts 45 rooms, arranged over the five elegant buildings in the center of the Crescent. Both are Grade I listed, and were built by John Wood the Younger.

The luxury suites are named after historical men and women who resided in the Royal Crescent or Bath, such as Beau Nash, Jane Austen, The Duke of York, Sir Percy Blakeney, Elizabeth Linley and Sarah Siddons.

Their elegant suites evoke the Eighteenth-century with painting by Gainsborough and Reynolds, high ceilings and elaborate plasterwork. The Sir Percy Blakeney master suite has a sitting room with vistas that look over the city of Bath and a bedroom with views over the gardens.


The Duke of York master suites bathroom contains a roll-top bath, and staff dressed as liveried footmen or maids in traditional uniform with starched aprons serve the guest.

Rooms overlook the lawns below the crescent or the gardens in back, and some have working fireplaces. Picturesque? Yes Expensive? Oh, yes! Unforgettable? Indubitably so! For the salary challenged, the rooms in the adjacent buildings are smaller and not so grand, but they still possess period charm and the sort of detailing that make the rooms authentically historical.

THE ROYAL CRESCENT HOTEL

16 The Royal Crescent, Bath BA1 2LS, England.
Telephone +44 (0)1225 823 333
Fax +44 (0)1225 447 427
Email: reservations@royalcrescent.co.uk
www.royalcrescent.co.uk
Double rooms from £290, including continental breakfast
Ask about offers

Tea in the gardens

Price a bit steep for your budget? You might find an accommodation that matches your pocketbook in this link

Bath and the Royal Crescent from the air

Sense & Sensibility Comics Available on May 10

Marvel Comics first turned Pride and Prejudice into a comic book, and now it is Sense and Sensibility's turn. Look for the comics arrival on May 10.

For my part, I prefer these looser, softer illustrations by Sonny Liewe (below) over the first set of comics by Hugo Petrus (above).

More on the topic -

• Sketches from the artist
• Marvel Comics - Sense and Sensibility

Thanks to Katherine, I found this image on DeviantArt

Jane Austen Movie Fashion Throwdown

Gentle readers: The Sunday Throwdown series is undergoing yet another metamorphosis. You will now be asked to judge the fashions in Jane Austen adaptations! For the first Fashion Throwdown, whose fashions best define Mrs. Bennet? The 1995 film or the 2005 version? The 1995 film depicts Regency dress styles when the book was published in 1813, and the 2005 film show the styles that were popular when Jane Austen first wrote Pride and Prejudice in 1797.

Whose wardrobe did you like best? Mrs. Bennet 1995 or Mrs. Bennet 2005?

Alison Steadman dressed as Mrs. Bennet, 1995

Brenda Blethyn dressed as Mrs. Bennet, 2005

Whose wardrobe do you like most?
	Alison Steadman, Pride and Prejudice 1995
	Brenda Blethyn, Pride and Prejudice 2005
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