Jane Austen Quote of the Week 245

Part of the reason for our slow posting of last weeks quote was due to the fact that I was in Wales on a camping weekend. It was a spiritual adventure and very uplifting for the mind, body and soul. The setting was a shelter deep in a valley surrounded by wooded gorges, mountains and a waterfall - pure bliss. I spent a lot of time there meditating and appreciating my surroundings, there is a quote which can be found in Chapter 23 of Persuasion which links to these feelings:

At last Anne was at home again, and happier than any one in that house could have conceived. All the surprise and suspense, and every other painful part of the morning dissipated by this conversation, she re-entered the house so happy as to be obliged to find an alloy in some momentary apprehensions of its being impossible to last. An interval of meditation, serious and grateful, was the best corrective of everything dangerous in such high-wrought felicity; and she went to her room, and grew steadfast and fearless in the thankfulness of her enjoyment.


Pic: Welsh landscape

Jane Austen Quote of the Week 244

I apologise for the lack of quote last weekend, we all have been very busy.

Linda has provided the following:

 

Since my Granddaughter expressed an absolute loathing this week for the subject of History, I was led to explore "The Loiterer" for some idea of the feelings on that subject by the Austen Family.  I found the following in Issue No. 7, subtitled "Use and Advantages of Studying History", and I quote

the first sentence which sets the tone and ideas:

 

If the respective merits of our different studies are to be settled by the pleasure which arises from their pursuit, or the utility which results from their attainment, historic knowledge will justly claim the highest rank amongst our literary acquirement.

 

James then goes on the cover the multitude of problems, and accomplishments of the world.  I heartily recommend reading the entire issue for your enlightment.  You may read it HERE.

 

Yrs aff'ly,

Linda the Librarian

 

Pic: Firsttutors

Death Comes To Pemberley production

 

There a new BBC production of Death Comes To Pemberley in the pipeline. It is said to be the Christmas drama and stars Matthew Rhys (The Americans) and Anna Maxwell Martin (Becoming Jane! and Bleak House) in the leading roles. The story "picks up with Elizabeth and Darcy years after their wedding, where they have two young sons and are preparing for the annual ball at their home."

It is the 2011 sequel to Pride and Prejudice written by the acclaimed P.D. James who is known for crime writing. This will be a three-part drama staring a whole host of reputable british actors and actresses.

How exciting!

Find out more HERE and HERE

Pic: Death Come To Pemberley cover

Jane Austen Quote of the Week 243

Kindly Linda has provided this weeks quote:

 

I recently ran across this Jane Austen Quiz which allows you determine which Jane Austen character you are. I was amazed at the answer I got which was very helpful indeed. You can take the quiz yourself at this link: CLICK HERE.

 

I do hope you find someone you like rather than a less than lovely person. Good luck.

I will add this: my character had a very hopeful meaning for me personally. The further description said: "Don't worry if you think you missed an opportunity in life - you'll find out that second chances do exist." And I am certainly counting on those 'second chances'.

Yrs aff'ly,

Linda the Librarian

 

Pic: Anne Elliot from Persuasion

 

Jane Austen Quote of the Week 242

The post this week has been inspired by our recent email contact with Mariana who has made some great observations based on reports about the confirmation that Jane Austen is to be the new face on
the £10 note here in the UK.
 

Hello dear friends,

As I’m on vacation for few days, I found some more time to dedicate to old friends and reading. I don’t know if you followed the news regarding the threats and hostile tweets addressed to Caroline Criado-Perez after she ran that successful campaign for a women - Jane Austen, to appear on the £10 banknote. For the past few days, Caroline was criticized for taking a stand and asked to stop 'shouting back' not only by men, but as I read in disbelief, by many women, blaming her for the threats she receives. You will probably need to read these articles first and then the quotes from Jane Austen’s books to understand why I cannot and will never agree with, or understand people, especially women who are blaming the victims - I refer here also to those few Janeites who readily agreed (and wrote articles in support of this idea) with a man saying "it seems fairly clear that Jane made all the running" in her youthful romance with Tom Lefroy.

The connection between Austen and the threat of rape

http://bodymattersblogdotcom.wordpress.com/

"The man who discovered evolution has been traded for a bitchy marriage-broker who never married."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2381041/Jane-Austen-banknote-So-dull-So-rated-Jane-Austen-doesnt-deserve-10-note.html

This quotation is from Northanger Abbey, first draft written as we know it in 1798- 99, a short time after Jane Austen met Tom Lefroy: "You will allow, that in both [matrimony/dancing], man has the advantage of choice, woman only the power of refusal"

It was his choice to invite Jane Austen so many times to dance with him when he knew what people will start gossiping. I’m really amazed how Janeites could write such articles as the one posted on JASNA by Joan Klingel Ray ("The One-Sided Romance of Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy" http://www.jasna.org/persuasions/on-line/vol28no1/ray.htm) and others embrace the idea without giving a second thought to the many constraints for the women at that time.

 

 A few key quotes: 

Northanger Abbey

“A woman, especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can.”

 

“To come with a well-informed mind is to come with an inability of administering to the vanity of others”

          Persuasion

“I do not think I ever opened a book in my life which had not something to say upon woman's inconstancy.” 

“Songs and proverbs, all talk of woman's fickleness. But perhaps, you will say, these were all written by men."

"Perhaps I shall. Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story.”

“Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything."

"We never shall. We never can expect to prove anything upon such a point. It is a difference of opinion which does not admit of proof.”

“We each begin, probably, with a little bias towards our own sex; and upon that bias build every circumstance in favour of it which has occurred within our own circle; many of which circumstances (perhaps those very cases which strike us the most) may be precisely such as cannot be brought forward without betraying a confidence, or, in some respect, saying what should not be said."

Wishing you a sunny & joyful Summer!

Lots of hugs,

Mariana

Pic: Jane Austen on £10 note