Jane Austen Quote- Week Twenty-Three

Many people criticised Becoming Jane for creating a story which represented the real life of Jane Austen, yet used constant reference to her novels; either through dialogue or real characters which were purported to be the foundations for the later fictional characters from her novels. This allowed people to propose that the film makers were suggesting that Jane was not as 'creative' as her true followers believe her to be.




I did not feel this way atall. I think that the film makers allowed a wider audience to be introduced to the world of Jane Austen which includes her novels. Many non-literary followers still know the story of Pride and Prejudice and by including some quotes from the novel in the film dialogue, it allowed links to be noticed by the audience and consequently, I believe, more enjoyment to be felt.


Furthermore, the other ladies on this blog and I have had many discussions about the fact that there MUST have been elements of Jane's personal life and experiences depicted in her novels. It is only natural. She writes with such awareness and this would not be possible unless she had been subjected to similar environments and circumstances in her real life.




Anyway, enough waffling. The quote I have chosen this week is a quote from the wonderful novel Northanger Abbey but was also included in the film Becoming Jane.



In the novel, it appears at the end of Chapter 5 when Jane uses the description of the friendship between Catherine and Isabella to declare her strong views on the use and respect of the 'novel' in everyday life. I think it is a clear representation of Jane at her best.



In the film, Jane uses this quote in a clever verbal attack towards Tom Lefroy when they meet in Selbourne Wood and he manages to deliver the common misconception of what was believed to be just a novel.




"Only a novel"... in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language."




I hope you enjoy.




Pic 1: Jane Austen from Wikimedia Commons

Pic 2: BBC website

Jane Austen & 'Sophia Sentiment' by Mariana

Posted by Mariana, first part of the article is taken from the Addicted to Jane Austen blogspot:
http://addictedtojaneausten.blogspot.com/2008/06/jane-austen-sophia-sentiment.html

Wedensday, 11 June 2008

Jane Austen & "Sophia Sentiment"

On the posthumous publication of Persuasion and Northanger Abbey, Jane’s favourite brother Henry Austen described her physical appearance thus: “It might with truth be said, that her eloquent blood spoke through her modest cheek.” As Marghanita Laski points out, this is an incredibly pompous-sounding tribute - until we realise that these same words, originally from the poet John Donne, are quoted by Henry Fielding in Tom Jones to describe Sophia Western, who finally marries Jones - “Her pure and eloquent blood spoke in her cheeks”.

Furthermore, Sophia Western’s complexion “had rather more of the lily than the rose; but when exercise, or modesty [emphasis added] increased her natural colour, no vermilion could equal it.” Sophia’s eyes were very dark and her black hair was “so luxuriant that it reached her middle, before she cut it to comply with modern fashion”. Louisa Austen’s description of her aunt Jane is as follows: “large dark eyes and a brilliant complexion, and long, long black hair down to her knees”

From here, we may need to take another look at the “Sophia Sentiment” who wrote to James Austen’s publication The Loiterer on 28 March 1789. Some critics have already suggested that “Sophia Sentiment” was Jane Austen. Claire Tomalin does not, on the grounds that “Miss Sentiment” deplores women’s taste in literature. However, soon after this, Jane Austen uses Sophia for the heroine’s name in her satire Love and Freindship, [sic] attacking the excesses of the romantic novel, a favourite Austen theme. Tomalin suggests that repeated use of the name Sophia may have been a running family joke. If this is the case, which seems likely, it is not hard to imagine where the joke originated.

******************************************************************************************
Mariana's comments:

I may add further more that “THE AMIABLE Sophia” (this reminds me of that silhouette from the second edition of Mansfield Park, inscribed "l'aimable Jane" and presumed to be Jane Austen and also this line from Emma: "That sweet, amiable Jane Fairfax! said Mrs. John Knightley”) was “a middle-sized woman; but rather inclining to tall”, her black hair “was now curled so gracefully in her neck, that few could believe it to be her own” and “her nose was exactly regular, and her mouth, in which were two rows of ivory, exactly answered Sir John Suckling’s description in those lines:

Her lips were red, and one was thin,
Compar’d to that was next her chin.
Some bee had stung it newly.”

We are also told that Sophia (eighteen “when she is introduced into this history”), was in love with Tom: “her heart was irretrievably lost before she suspected it was in danger”, but “though this young gentleman was not insensible of the charms of Sophia; though he greatly liked her beauty, and esteemed all her other qualifications, she had made, however, no deep impression on his heart; for which, as it renders him liable to the charge of stupidity, or at least of want of taste, we shall now proceed to account. The truth then is, his heart was in the possession of another woman” - whose name was Molly…

I think you’ve already made the connection with our Tom and his Mary (again, there could be some truth in Joan K Ray’s article: The One-Sided Romance of Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy) and also, our dear Edward and Elinor’s story in Sense and Sensibility.

Reading how Jane was described by her family and friends, you will find not only similarities with Sophia but also with some of her own heroines.

A good example will be Marianne in Sense and Sensibility:

“Her form, though not so correct as her sister's, in having the advantage of height, was more striking; and her face was so lovely, that when in the common cant of praise, she was called a beautiful girl, truth was less violently outraged than usually happens. Her skin was very brown, but, from its transparency, her complexion was uncommonly brilliant; her features were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive; and in her eyes, which were very dark, there was a life, a spirit, an eagerness, which could hardily be seen without delight.”

Another one will be Emma - one of the few characters that Jane ever described: "Pretty! say beautiful rather. Can you imagine anything nearer perfect beauty than Emma - face and figure?...Such an eye! - the true hazel eye - and so brilliant! regular features, open countenance, with a complexion! oh! what a bloom of full health, and such a pretty height and size; such a firm and upright figure. There is health, not merely in her bloom, but in her air, her head, her glance."

Louisa Austen: “large dark eyes and a brilliant complexion, and long, long black hair down to her knees”

Henry Austen: "Of personal attractions she possessed a considerable share. Her stature was that of true elegance. It could not have been increased without exceeding the middle height. Her carriage and deportment were quiet, yet graceful. Her features were separately good. Their assemblage produced an unrivalled expression of that cheerfulness, sensibility, and benevolence, which were her real characteristics. Her complexion was of the finest texture. It might with truth be said, that her eloquent blood spoke through her modest cheek. Her voice was extremely sweet. She delivered herself with fluency and precision. Indeed she was formed for elegant and rational society, excelling in conversation as much as in composition."

Edward Austen Leigh: "In person she was very attractive; her figure was rather tall and slender, her step light and firm, and her whole appearance expressive of health and animation. In complexion she was a clear brunette with a rich colour; she had full round cheeks, with mouth and nose small and well formed bright hazel eyes, and brown hair forming natural curls close round her face."

Sir Egerton Brydges: "Her hair was dark brown and curled naturally, her large dark eyes were widely opened and expressive. She had clear brown skin and blushed so brightly and so readily."

Mr Fowle: "... certainly pretty-bright & a good deal of colour in her face – like a doll – no that would not give at all the idea for she had so much expression – she was like a child – quite a child very lively and full of humour."

Caroline Austen: "... her's was the first face I can remember thinking pretty ... Her hair, a darkish brown, curled naturally – it was in short curls round her face...Her face was rather round than long – she had a bright but not a pink colour – a clear brown complexion and very good hazel eyes. Her hair, a darkish brown, curled naturally, it was in short curls around her face.”

By Mariana.

Pic 1: Jane Austen from: Easthants

Pic 2: Kate Beckinsale as Emma from: Strangegirl

Pic 3: Kate Winslet as Marianne from: Rosings

Pic 4: Kate Beckinsale as Emma from: Strangegirl

Pic 5: Kate Beckinsale as Emma from: Strangegirl

Pic 6: Jane Austen by Jane Odiwe: Austen Effusions

BJ Fansite's article of Madam Lefroy at the Jane Austen Center!

My deep gratitude to Laura Boyle and her Jane Austen Center in Bath, and also to dearest Rachel who wrote an excellent biography of Madam Anne Lefroy last year, we now have the Madam Lefroy article from Becoming Jane Fansite attached and quoted by the Jane Austen Center. Here's the link to the Madam Lefroy section at the Jane Austen Center.





It's a pleasure for us to help you, Laura. Ladies, keep up the good work! I understand we've been pretty quite because of our schedules, but we're still here to support the amicable friendship of Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy!

Pic: Madam Anne Lefroy from the Jane Austen Center

Jane Austen Quote of the Week - Week 22

This week's quote is from Mansfield Park – Chapter 9:

QUOTE

Miss Crawford has just learned that Edmund is to be a clergyman, and in the midst of their discussion she says, “A clergyman is nothing.”

Edmund states the importance [in bold] of the clergy in his reply:

“The nothing of conversation has its gradations, I hope, as well as the never. A clergyman cannot be high in state or fashion. He must not head mobs, or set the ton in dress. But I cannot call that situation[being a clergyman] nothing which has the charge of all that is of the first importance to mankind, individually or collectively considered, temporally and eternally, which has the guardianship of religion and morals, and consequently of the manners which result from their influence. No one here can call the office nothing. If the man who holds it is so, it is by the neglect of his duty, by foregoing its just importance, and stepping out of his place to appear what he ought not to appear.”

Edmund goes on to explain the influences to be expected from the clergy, thusly:

“…And with regard to their influencing public manners, Miss Crawford must not misunderstand me, or suppose I mean to call them the arbiters of good–breeding, the regulators of refinement and courtesy, the masters of the ceremonies of life. The manners I speak of might rather be called conduct, perhaps, the result of good principles; the effect, in short, of those doctrines which it is their duty to teach and recommend; and it will, I believe, be everywhere found, that as the clergy are, or are not what they ought to be, so are the rest of the nation.”

Now we know what is wrong with the world and who to blame for it. Well, Jane said it, I didn’t. Oh, not really though, God takes the blame according to Isaiah 45:7 where He says, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” There are those who discount this by saying He wouldn’t do that, but He can create good and evil since He also has the power to restore all things which makes Him Fair and Just.

END OF QUOTE

This is just one example that I have found where Jane has included her religious beliefs that I would like to have the time to collect. I think we may be surprised at what we could find. End of Today’s Sermon.

Linda the Librarian

Pic: An old but classical illustration of Mansfield Park, from only a novel

Jane Austen Quote - Week Twenty-One

I was reading Pride & Prejudice this week and I re-discovered a quote that I have always adored. It's Jane at her best - yet again. Post-Pemberley discussions:

Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth talked of all that had occurred, during their visit, as they returned, except what had particularly interested them both. The looks and behaviour of every body they had seen were discussed, except of the person who had mostly engaged their attention. They talked of his sister, his friends, his house, his fruit, of every thing but himself; yet Elizabeth was longing to know what Mrs. Gardiner thought of him, and Mrs. Gardiner would have been highly gratified by her niece's beginning the subject.

Pride & Prejudice, Chapter 45.

They talked 'of all that had occurred ... except what had particularly interested them both'. To me, this seems so fundamentally human - or female, at least. I can just see Lizzy, dying to discuss him - yet everything is so new, and there's all this shyness and vulnerability and self-consciousness about the specialness of it all ... that to initate a conversation about him is just too much. Wonderful Jane. In few words she layers so much.

Pic: Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth from: BBC

Jane Austen Quote – Week Twenty

Man, it's my turn already! Time goes by... Speaking of time, let's see what Marianne Dashwood said about time required for intimacy. Yes, my dearest readers, from Sense & Sensibility, chapter 12:

'It is not time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy; - It is disposition alone. Seven years would be insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven days are more than enough for others.'

Marianne, indeed you were right. At least, I've met some people who I could never truly understand, and yet - at the other end of the spectrum - there are these people that directly clicked with me despite our short acquaintance. I suppose, disposition indeed matters, though I also have another explanation for that...

Anyway, seven days, eh? I bet that the time required for Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy to be intimately connected since their first introduction in Christmas holiday 1795 was not more than seven days...

Pic: CL Brock from Austenprose.blogspot.com

Jane Austen Quote of the Week- Week Nineteen

I must apologise for this late posting- I have actually been in Ireland for the week visiting family. I am in love with the country. Since my visit last year on my Jane/Tom quest, I see it in a whole new way. Its a very special place with so much to offer. We went from Dublin to Galway and took in some of the ring of Kerry before returning from Cork. Absolutely beautiful. It is no wonder that Tom Lefroy chose to stay there to bring up his family. We drove through Limerick, Tom's birthplace, but unfortunately I did not have time to explore. I know that I will be returning very soon for I cannot keep away so I will be sure to continue the quest to find out more about our Tom and Jane.

Anyway at hand through my whole trip was my copy of Emma. I have therefore chosen to take quotes from Emma for this weeks selection. As I am late in posting and also because I simply cannot make a decision between so many fantastic quotes, I have chosen two for this week (sorry ladies for being cheeky!)

The relationship between the personalities of Emma and Mr Knightley is electric. My two quotes reflect this and they are both taken from the first section of the novel. The first is during their memorable altercation; Emma has interfered with Harriet's rejection of marriage from Mr Martin and Mr Knightley tells her straight how he disapproves:

"Upon my word, Emma, to hear you abusing the reason you have, is almost enough to make me think so too. Better be without sense than misapply it as you do."

Later, Emma (whilst now trying to match Harriet with Mr Elton) asks Mr Elton to help them write a riddle. Emma and Mr Knightley have still not fully made up and Mr Knightley, upon hearing this, states:

"Emma, you didn't ask me to contribute a riddle."

She retorts:

"Your entire personality is a riddle, Mr. Knightley. I thought you overqualified."

I love these two quotes and I dont think that the chemical relationship between Emma and Mr Knightley has been surpassed in any of Jane's other novels. This is of course my opinion and I am welcoming any discussion..........

Pic 1: A MySpace page for Emma

Pic 2: Risky Regencies page

Jane Austen Quote - Week 18 by Linda

From Persuasion, Chapter 10:

"Anne was still in the lane and though instinctively beginning to decline, she was not allowed to proceed. The Admiral's kind urgency came in support of his wife's, they would not be refused; they compressed themselves into the smallest possible space to leave her a corner, and Captain Wentworth, without saying a word, turned to her, and quietly obliged her to be assisted into the carriage.

Yes, he had done it. She was in the carriage, and felt that he had placed her there, that his will and his hands had done it, that she owed it to his perception of her fatigue, and his resolution to give her rest. She was very much affected by the view of his disposition towards her, which all these things made apparent. This little circumstance seemed the completion of all that had gone before. She understood him. He could not forgive her, but he could not be unfeeling. Though condemning her for the past, and considering it with high and unjust resentment, though perfectly careless of her, and though becoming attached to another, still he could not see her suffer, without the desire of giving her relief. It was a remainder of former sentiment, it was an impulse of pure, though unacknowledged friendship; it was a proof of his own warm and amiable heart, which she could not contemplate without emotions so compounded of pleasure and pain, that she knew not which prevailed."

Please excuse the length of the quote, but it is so wonderful that it begs to be put in context. Some (and I won’t mention Charlotte Bronte’s name) have said that Jane lacked passion. See my Passionate Passages page HERE where the aforementioned nameless person said: “the Passions are perfectly unknown to her.” After reading the Quote of this Week, I beg to differ, passionately!

I beg pardon, but to me the passage is simply dripping with passion! And that is only one example. What really boggles my mind is that it is so hard to find just a ‘few’ memorable quotes, because one wishes to quote the entire book! So There, Miss Nameless Person! (Sorry, I get carried away, but ‘they’ keep bringing me back.)

Linda the Librarian

Pic 1: Amanda Root and Ciarain Hind in Persuasion, from: Quizilla

Pic 2: Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones in Persuasion 2007, from: Austenblog

JA Quote of the Week - Week 17

This week my quote is from Northanger Abbey. Catherine and Henry are discussing Henry's brother's flirtations with Catherine's brother's fiancee. (yikes!) Henry says:

'No man is offended by another man's admiration of the woman he loves; it is the woman only who can make it a torment.'

Northanger Abbey, Chapter 19

This was one of those statements that made me stop reading, and reread it. It just demands a second reading! Everytime I read NA I stop at this quote, so I thought it belonged here on the blog. I don't have a massive opinion about it, I just wonder at it!

There is something lovely, I think, about hearing a masculine voice in this way. It speaks of such pride and love and tenderness, and I can fully believe Henry Tilney feeling this way about Catherine. Such a beautiful quote. It always makes me smile.

Pic: Felicity Jones as Catherine Morland from: The Lit Connection

Old video of James McAvoy and Parkinson

This is non-BJ related (actually, Atonement-related. Good movie. Michelle, where’s that Atonement assignment?!), but since I missed James McAvoy so much (and his Scottish accent!), these are three parts of an interview of James with Michael Parkinson. Oh, Billie Piper was there too, she’s pretty cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzxfk-GHYTE&feature=related – part one Parkinson

Part 2

Part 3

Enjoy!

JA Quote of the Week – Week Sixteen

Ah… sweet sixteen… before Michelle’s turn next week (nudge!) for the sweet seventeen. Anyway, for it’s sweet 16, I should come up with something sweet and romantic. Here it goes, Emma Volume III, Chapter 13 (page 339, Oxford edition 2003). This is after George Knightley’s confession of his love for Emma Woodhouse, a quote I had used a few months ago (click here, also click Linda’s Passionate Passages of Emma):

Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a little mistaken; but where, as in this case, though the conduct is mistaken, the feelings are not, it may not be very material. – Mr. Knightley could not impute to Emma a more relenting heart than she possessed, or a heart more disposed to accept of his.

Aaah… Knightley! I really think it was so sweet of him to admit his love to Emma in such a way, without too flowery a language and by accepting that neither he nor Emma was perfect (but their very imperfections actually add the chemistry between them). Such sweet tender truth, spoken by an old friend like Mr. Knightley. Emma would be a fool indeed not to love him!

Sorry Linda and Michelle dear, Mark Strong is compelling, but I just have to go with my Jeremy Northam this time… swoon…

Pic: George Knightley (Jeremy Northam) and Emma Woodhouse (Gwyneth Palthrow) from the Riskyregency.blogspot.com

Maria's gorgeous fanvid for Pat!

I'm so happy to have so many passionate readers and talented friends to contribute to this website. Take a look at this gorgeous fanvid of Maria from Sweden (and Peanut!), dedicated to Pat Lovell. Pat chose the song, i.e. You're the One by Karen Carpenter. Brilliant! Thank you, Maria and Pat!

Mariana's sweet thanks and collections

Dearest Mariana sent us a pack of lovely pictures of her renditions of Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) and Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy), one of them is this one above.

She also sent us the lovely photo of her Jane Austen/Becoming Jane collections. It's very cute, and makes me thinking about this... that fans and readers of this site can email me or Rachel (rachkingston@aol.com) for any great pictures of Jane Austen/Becoming Jane collections.

Pics: Mariana's private collections

WINNER: Trivia Quiz

I am delighted to announce that the winner of our quiz which we launched in commemoration of the anniversary of Jane Austen's death is...........

**********Lis Craig from Texas in the US.**********

CONGRATULATIONS LIS!!!!

We will be in contact about how we will get the prize to you.

The questions with answers were as follows:

1. In addition to writing about love stories (and their predicaments), Jane Austen was also an avid supporter of the abolitionist movement. In what novel did she include slavery as one of her main themes?

Mansfield Park

2. Who accompanied Jane Austen to Winchester on 24 May 1817?

Jane's sister, Cassandra Austen

3. Years after Jane Austen’s death, Thomas Langlois Lefroy admitted to one of his relatives that he used to have a ‘boyish love’ with the famous authoress. What was the name of his relative, and what was he to Tom Lefroy?

Thomas Edward Preston Lefroy who is Thomas Langlois Lefroy's nephew

Thank you to everyone who participated!

Pic: Jane and Cassandra- from Anne Hathaway fansite

PS 3 August 2008:

Sorry Rachel for using your post, but I just want to inform you all that Lis will be getting Laurie V. Rigler's "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" for free, shipped to her address. Thanks a lot, Laurie, and congratulations, Lis!

Jane Austen Quote of the Week- Week Fifteen

I have been thinking about this one as a quote of the week for a while but I wasnt sure. On reflection, however, I think it is highly significant.

In Persuasion, Anne Elliot is contemplating her trip to Lyme which although enjoyed, caused her much 'anxiety and distress'; she says:

"One does not love a place the less for having suffered in it, unless it has been all suffering, nothing but suffering."

- Anne Elliot, Persuasion, Chapter 20

Although in this context it is perhaps not particularly significant but if you think about Janes life journey, it is. Jane moved with her parents and her sister, Cassandra, to Bath in 1801 and all reports suggest that she disliked it here intensely. Her beloved father died in 1805 and this was a very tough time for her.

I think that this is represented throughout her novels; note that her heroines are all very fond of the country life, e.g. Elinor Dashwood, Anne Elliot.

Characters that are intended to be particularly unwise show a fondness of Bath; Mrs Allen in Northanger Abbey proclaims "Bath is a charming place, sir." when discussing muslins with Mr Tilney.

Persuasion was the last completed novel written by Jane Austen so I sincerely believe that with this life experience, this quote is significant for how she felt about the city she had to live in for four years of her life. Note that there are no surviving letters written by Jane from 27 May 1801 and 14 September 1804. In 1799 Tom Lefroy married Mary Paul and in late 1800 he visited Ashe with his father. With this so close to the move to Bath in 1801, was there any wonder that Jane disliked the city so much...........?

Pic 1: BBC Persuasion

Pic 2: Jane and Tom in Becoming Jane

Jane Austen Quote - Week 14 by Linda

This helpful quote is from P&P, Chapter 56:

“You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer.”

Here is the context for that gem. Lady Catherine is trying her utmost to get Elizabeth to deny that there is an engagement to Darcy:

"And can you likewise declare, that there is no foundation for it?"

"I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer."

“This is not to be borne! Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has he, has my nephew, made you an offer of marriage?"

"Your ladyship has declared it to be impossible."

Once again, Jane has given us a treasure. I only wish I had known that I had the right to dismiss unwanted questions in like manner. I could have never been so rude as to not answer a direct question. This has been my problem for ages since I was not taught in school nor learned by nurture that women should be treated as rational beings and have their person respected in all things.

Much to my dismay, I learned that lesson too late in my life and the damage had been done already. I could have been spared grief, and all the synonyms that accompany it such as remorse, anguish, pain, sorrow, misery, unhappiness, shame, suffering, and regret. That should give you a fairly good picture of what comes of being an obedient daughter and wife rather than using one’s own better judgment. Total, unreasoning obedience makes one into a 'doormat' which other people use to 'wipe their feet on' when things in their life go wrong or they are in a bad humor.

If you want a real eye-opener, read John Stuart Mill’s essay on “The Subjection of Women” that I recently stumbled into. You can read it here: The Subjection of Women

Read it and weep. I think Mr. Mill and his wife bear some looking into.

Linda the Librarian

Pic 1: Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen from: Working Title Films

Pic 2: Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth from: Geocities

Pic 3: Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth from: BBC

Carrigglas company is facing liquidation

A rather bad news for Carrigglas, I'm afraid. And it's two months old news anyway, so there might be some other news I'm not aware of. Thanks to Rachel and Simon for the hints. News from The Post in Ireland. Hope things are getting better.

Carrigglas company is facing liquidation

18 May 2008

The development company behind Carrigglas Manor, the €160 million hotel and golf development in Longford, is set to go into liquidation, writes Ian Kehoe.

The directors of Thomas Kearns Developments have petitioned the High Court to wind up the company and have it placed into liquidation. The petition is due to be heard by the court early next month.

Construction work on the development has been stopped since last year, following a dispute over payments to contractors. Bowen Construction, the lead contractor on the Carrigglas Manor project, issued a letter to sub-contractors, informing them of payment issues.

The latest move by the directors of Thomas Kearns Developments has thrown the project further into doubt. It is understood that the directors of the company Tommy Kearns and his son Tom, own the development land in a personal capacity, and not through the company.

Bank of Ireland has a €35 million exposure to Carrigglas Manor, and recently asked accountancy firm Deloitte to assess the viability of the project. Kearns and his son provided the bank with personal guarantees over the capital.

The €160 million development was to include a four-star 96-bedroom hotel, spa, country club and 300 properties.

The project also includes a championship golf course designed by Retief Goosen, the South African golf star. Carrigglas was to have been financed through property sales, but suffered due to the downturn in the housing market.

Bowen Construction, has since made an €8 million bad debt provision in its accounts, arising from its involvement in Carrigglas.

Pic: Carrigglas Manor from the backyard, courtesy of Edward Lefroy (private collection)

Trivia Quiz ANSWERS

I posted a trivia quiz this time last week. I hope you all enjoyed it.

Here are the answers:

1. Of the following characters, who was fictional and who existed:

o Mrs Ann Radcliffe- REAL
o Mr Wisley- FICTIONAL (but based on the real Mr Bigg-Wither)
o Henry Austen- REAL
o Cousin Eliza de Feuillide- REAL
o Lady Gresham- FICTIONAL
o Benjamin Langlois- REAL

2. Which actor plays the character of Mr Wisley?

Laurence Fox

3. Which year did Mr George Austen (Jane’s father) die?

1805

4. Name Jane’s six novels in the order that they were published.

Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1815), Northanger Abbey and Persuasion (both 1817)

5. What was the famous book that Tom gave to Jane in the library and told her to read?

Tom Jones by Henry Fielding

6. At the end of the film when she is reading an extract from one of her novels to the young Jane Lefroy, which novel is the extract from (clue: see post within the last week)?

Pride and Prejudice

7. Whilst at dinner with Tom’s uncle during their visit to London, Eliza describes how her husband was killed. Was he:- Hung- Guillotined- Missing, presumed dead- Drowned- Died of Cholera

Guillotined

8. What colour was the dress that Jane was wearing at the second ball when herself and Tom shared their first kiss?

Pale green

9. When Tom returns to Hampshire after news has broke that he is engaged to someone else, where does Jane learn that Mary, Tom’s new fiancé, is from in Ireland?

County Wexford

10. Which character from a Jane Austen novel is Lady Gresham supposedly modelled upon?

Lady Catherine from Pride and Prejudice

11. Which award did Becoming Jane win at the People’s Choice Awards?

Favourite Independent Movie

12. In the film, who sent the letter to the Judge telling him about Tom’s intentions to marry Jane and consequently ruining their chances of being together?

John Warren (friend of the Austen family)

13. What exactly does Tom say to Jane:- “I love you Jane, with all my heart and soul!”- “I'm yours, Jane, heart and soul!”- “You’re mine, Jane, heart and soul!”- “We are bound Jane, heart and soul!”

“I'm yours, Jane, heart and soul!”

14. When Tom arrives in Hampshire, Jane is reading a speech in celebration of which special event?

The engagement of her sister, Cassandra, to Thomas Fowle

15. What is Jane doing in the opening scene of the film?

Playing the piano

16. What does Jane read which prompts her to change her mind and return home to Steventon after Tom and herself had decided to elope?

A letter from Tom’s family thanking him for the money that he sent them on a regular basis

17. How did Jane communicate with her brother George?

Sign Language

18. What did George Austen (Jane’s father) do for a living?

Rector at Steventon parish

19. What was the name of the wood that Jane met Tom whilst they were both taking a walk?

Selbourne Wood

20. Which of Jane’s novels was influenced most by the work of Mrs Ann Radcliffe?

Northanger Abbey- due to its gothic nature

Pic 1: Jane and Tom

Pic 2: Jane Writing

Pic 3: Tom and Jane dancing

Pic 4: Jane Reading

Pic 5: Tom In Selbourne Wood

Pic 6: In Love

Maria's fanvid to commemorate Jane Austen's death

Thanks to Maria, here's a freshly made fan-video to commemorate Jane Austen's death yesterday. It's lovely and touching, as always.




Say hi to peanut, Maria!

Jane Austen Quote – Week 13

As Jane Austen’s most famous novel is Pride & Prejudice, I decided to pull out this quote to commemorate her passing away this 18 July. So it goes, as the studious Mary Bennet commented on Mr. Darcy:

“Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonimously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.”(PP, volume I, chapter 5).

Hmm… I’m ambivalent with Jane Austen’s definition of pride and vanity, because I have formed my own over the years (see below). I know, I know… it’s the first time I argue with what Jane wrote. It’s ironic that I should say so. But I think this blog is a free media where we can debate our dearest Jane Austen herself, not for debate sake, but for a healthy understanding.

And you know what? Many people will bash me for this; but I often think that Fitzwilliam Darcy often treaded on the definition of ‘vanity’ instead of ‘pride’ (well, not a secret here. My number one Austen hero is actually Mr. Knightley, not Mr. Darcy. Okay, sue me, but give me time to hide!)

I still recall what Darcy said to Elizabeth as he tried to propose her for the first time. He spoke of his affection to her whilst at the same time acknowledging her inferiority to his status. Why, I can understand why Lizzy kicked him out of the house! Really, Darcy and Mr. Thornton of the North & South should swap notes on how to charm smart independent ladies! Check this out!

Let’s see what Dictionary.com says about the two things:

Pride: a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.

Vanity: excessive pride in one's appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc.; character or quality of being vain; conceit: Failure to be elected was a great blow to his vanity.

Anyway, there is a very fine line between pride and vanity, so fine and thin that we usually fail to detect it. But it’s important to me to check whether at one point I’m experiencing pride or vanity. Hence, my indication is that:

1) If I’m ‘just’ proud of myself or someone or something, with a warm feeling inside because of what I/he/she/that something did/said, that’s pride. A warm feeling to acknowledge that it was truly something to be done/said, or that the state one’s in is truly something worth praising

2) But if I then compare such action/statement with someone else’s, saying that mine/his/hers is incomparably better than that someone else, then there’s red alert there. It’s possible that it’s not pride that I have. It’s vanity instead

3) Vanity can be shaken or blown by failure. Yet, it’s harder to destroy pride. Pride is the ability to walk with head straight despite our failure or defeat; for we know that we’ve done our best, and nothing is wasted

Hence, I’m sorry to say this, but to me Mr. Darcy’s accounts are often on the verge of vanity, hence he needed Elizabeth Bennet to balance him. Just like Emma Woodhouse. Her excessive pride of herself made her insensitive towards Miss Bates, hence George Knightley needed to rebuke her.

But Fanny Price would be someone I put directly into ‘pride’. She has her own pride that guides her through all the troubles, despite Mrs. Austen labeling her as ‘insipid’.

Of course, this is my 21^st century definition of pride and vanity. Yours might be different. Thoughts?

Pic: A very nice water-colour picture of Darcy and Lizzy by Jane Odiwe