The Jane Austen Centre has declared Dec. 16 Jane Austen Day. Austen, the beloved novelist, was born on Dec. 16, 1775, in Hampshire, England.
For more information, and ideas about how to celebrate Jane Austen Day, go to the LA Times story: here.
Archive for the ‘Women's Literature’ Category
December 16th has been declared “Jane Austen Day”
Posted in 19th century, literature, Women's Literature, tagged Jane Austen, Jane Austen Day, literary holidays on December 8, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Beautiful Comic: Jane Austen and Anti-feminist apologists
Posted in 18th century, Feminism, Politics, Women, Women's Literature, tagged anti-feminism, Anti-feminists on FaceBook, feminist debate 2014, Jane Austen and anti-feminism, Jane Austen and feminism, Jane Austen feminist comic, Lake Scene from Pride and Prejudice, Lake Scene Satire, Manfeels Park, Mansfield Park satire, Women Against Feminism on August 3, 2014| Leave a Comment »
The recent argument among regular women, Anti-feminists on Tumblr and FaceBook, and Feminists has me seeking positive answers.*
My first answer to anti-feminists is to read the bell hooks (short) book: “Feminism is for Everybody“.
My most nuanced response is for everyone — though, especially feminists and Jane Austen fans — to study an amazing, new comic strip series: Manfeels Park.
I believe the Manfeels Park comic was started before the latest major media bruja-ja about feminism. The idea is to present a male apology for sexism by taking media and literature quotes, and illustrating them in a Jane Austen style. It is intelligent, thoughtful, and hilarious.
For a great taste of the collection, you may want to start with this one, here:
“Legitimate snake” (Starring Mr. Wickham, by the way). Though, so many of the strips are painfully funny, so flip through the archives. Any true Jane Austen movie fan will have to check out the “Lake scene” comic.
Looking forward to your interest and comments.
Sincerely,
Kimberly of Georgiana Circle
PS – Compelled to say…”I am a feminist. And, I love my husband.” Grrrr….those anti-feminists have gotten to me!
___________________________________
For a thoughtful article on the current “Women Against Feminism” debate, please see a Washington Post blog post: here.
Austenland: Hoping the latest Jane Austen movie will succeed
Posted in Duchess of Devonshire, literature, period drama, Women, Women's Literature, tagged 2013 movies, Austenland, Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire, Jane Austen, Jane Austen media, Jane Austen movies, Regency Era, Regency Era movies on August 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Jane Austen and Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire both lived during the Regency Era. So, at Georgiana Circle, we enjoy research and material about both!
Are you a Janeite? Or, a Janeiac?
I am. And, I can’t wait to see the new movie “Austenland”…
[Update! 9/15/2013: Just saw “Austenland” at a theater in Stony Brook, Long Island, NY. Loved it! Unfortunately for signs of success, my cousin and I were the only two people in the theater for the 7pm, Sunday night showing. Though, we both think it is wonderful. So, that is a 100% audience approval rating! There is a play-within-the-play — re: Mansfield Park– that is very amusing.]
I keep watching to see how the movie is doing. So far, Box Office Mojo reports its opening weekend totals as $40, 662. Those numbers have me a little worried, because Jane Eyre 2011 did about $182,000 its opening weekend, and I am using that movie as a similar comparison. Jane Eyre did not stay in theaters long. Fingers crossed for more success with the wider opening.
Besides numbers, I am looking at reviews. It has gotten a lot of reviews, and some good attention. Though, there are some negative reviews. I blame some of those reviews on the fact that most movie critics probably don’t resonate with Jane Austen. I wanted to share a pretty good review I found at The Washington Times. It has a good outline of the movie, and some compliments of the overall.
The review at the Washington Times is here: Movie Review: ‘Austenland’
In the end, “Austenland” is serviceable as a romantic comedy, but mordantly funny and surprisingly literary as a satirical romp through Austen fandom.
If you have seen the movie, please share your thoughts, responses, and/or review in the comments! We would love to hear!
Fun new stuff for Jane Austen lovers!
Posted in 19th century, literature, Video, Women, Women's Literature, tagged books for women, Dan Costello, Elizabeth Bennet, Elizabeth Bennett, Jane Austen, Jane Austen references, libraries, Mary Bennet, Mary Bennett, new music, personal libraries, songs about books, songs about libraries, songs about literature, women's literature on February 8, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Jane Austen music? You might think I mean music of the 1800’s. But, no, there is a new blues song inspired by a Jane Austen character.
I went on Youtube, on a whim of boredom, to see what was new in the world of Jane Austen. Sometimes students put up book reports, or there may be an announcement for a new movie. What I found was even more fun. A singer-songwriter from Brooklyn has created a blues song dedicated to Elizabeth Bennet’s plain and bookish sister, Mary. “Oh, oh, oh, Mary Bennet…” This is a fun way to celebrate Pride and Prejudice.
Best quote: “Well, I want to see your library…”
Duchess Catherine and Jane Austen are related (and other Royal News)
Posted in Duchess of Devonshire, English Royalty, Georgiana, literature, Women, Women's Literature, tagged Duchess Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Duchess of York, English History, Jane Austen, Kate Middleton, Royal family, Royal History, Royal Tour, royal watching, Sarah Ferguson on June 29, 2011| 1 Comment »
This blog is devoted to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and other ideas related to women’s empowerment and women in history. So, there have been some Jane Eyre/Charlotte Bronte threads, and some Jane Austen threads.
Overall, I am not a great fan of the monarchy and royalty. I enjoy meditating on more democratic, egalitarian, and feminist ways to shape society. Though, I felt like the news about Jane Austen and Kate Middleton gave me entree to post a few pieces of royal watching interest. See more below the Jezebel story…
(excerpt from)Jezebel
Kate Middleton and Jane Austen Are Related
Ancestry.com has discovered that Kate Middleton, Duchess Of Cambridge…and Jane Austen are are eleventh cousins, six times removed… “Finding this connection between the Duchess of Cambridge and Jane Austen is very exciting since, in many ways, Catherine is the modern Jane Austen heroine: a middle-class girl marrying the future King of England.”
More Royal Watching News:
My husband and I have started a new project. It is a website called
Peace Couple. The first project on Peace Couple is a royal tour by The Duke and Duchess of Peace. Their tour of America happens to coincide with the North American tour of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Duchess Catherine. The Duke and Duchess of Peace have very different ideas of what it means to be royal.
More Royal Watching (and a Georgiana mention):
With all that dismissing of royalty aside, I have to confess something. I love Princess Diana. And, while I was Princess Diana watching, I became interested in the life of Sarah, Duchess of York (Sarah Ferguson). And, Sarah Ferguson is related to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire — Sarah Ferguson is a descendent of Georgiana’s love child, Eliza.
So, my mom asked me to take her to meet Sarah Ferguson at a local book signing, and I couldn’t say no. Below are some fun photos of Sarah, Duchess of York, who was on Long Island yesterday, June 28th:
Jane Austen Tea: Reflections on a local, literary adventure
Posted in 19th century, History, literature, period drama, Women, Women's Literature, tagged Erin Coughlin, Jane Austen, Jane Austen Society, JASNA, Long Island culture, Port Jefferson, Pride and Prejudice on April 26, 2011| Leave a Comment »
A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to attend a Jane Austen tea in nearby Port Jefferson. It was a lot of fun. And, I met another local Jane Austen fan who does media and blogging projects. Her name is Erin Coughlin, and her article is excerpted and linked below. I was late to the event. Though, I was in time for the slideshow and tea. I enjoyed hearing Barbara Hellering, give her list of favorite “Mr. Darcies” and speak about the importance of irony in Jane Eyre. My Flicrk photos are: here.
(excerpt from) The Patch
Library Hosts Literary Tea Party To Celebrate Favorite Author
Barbara Hellering of the Jane Austen Society of North America delights fans at The Port Jefferson Library
Erin Coughlin 4/21/2011
On April 14, the Port Jefferson Library hosted it’s highly successful, Annual Jane Austen Tea Party to celebrate National Library Week.
Vice President Barbara Hellering of The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) was on hand to discuss both the British author’s life and times, as well as her influence on modern society… (more…)
Austen vs. Brontes (and Esther vs. Vashti)
Posted in 19th century, Feminism, literature, period drama, Women, Women's Literature, tagged Brontes, Charlotte Bronte, Esther, Feminism, Jane Austen, Jane Eyre, Jane Eyre movie, Purim, Purim story, Queen Esther, Vashti, women's issues on March 22, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Since I enjoy Jane Eyre in all forms, so much, I have an e-mail news alert for “Jane Eyre”. Found this interesting article on a blog devoted to discussion among Jewish women. The full post is: here.
(excerpt from) The Jewish Daily Forward/the sisterhood
Esther vs. Vashti, Austen vs. Brontës
By Sarah Seltzer
As I prepared for the beginning of the perennial Purim question of “Esther vs. Vashti” at the same time as I delved into Jane Eyre-mania, I began to think about how women are always pushed into dichotomies. I wondered cynically how soon someone would write about the new Brontë films by declaring Jane Austen passé…
It always seems to me that when it comes to women who take different paths there’s a meme out there that there’s only room for one. Virgin or whore, Esther or Vashti, Austen or Brontë. Yes, the two most famous Brontë sisters, Charlotte and Emily, and Jane Austen took divergent approaches to writing about the “woman question.” Austen was sort of an Esther, using her brilliant wit to dazzle readers but containing steely critique of the system under her perfect prose, while the Brontës, Vashti-like , seethe with rage at women’s unfortunate lot and churn with a desperate desire for escape…
Video: Review of Jane Eyre movie, 2011
Posted in 19th century, Fashion, Feminism, History, literature, period drama, Video, Women, Women's Literature, tagged 2011 Jane Eyre, 2011 movies, Jamie Bell, Jane Eyre, Jane Eyre movie, Jane Eyre review, Judi Dench, Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, movie reviews, women's issues on March 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »
About the video: (more…)
Jane Eyre: New video and 2011 movie trailer
Posted in 19th century, literature, period drama, Video, Women, Women's Literature, tagged Cary Fukunaga, Charlotte Bronte, English Literature, Jane Eyre, Jane Eyre movie, Jane Eyre movie trailer, Judi Dench, Michael Fassbender, movie, women's literature on November 11, 2010| 2 Comments »
Photos and report back from my trip into NYC to see the premier of Jane Eyre. Video Review by Stephanie and me: here.
Note! The Jane Eyre movie is coming out in select theaters. More to follow over the next few weeks. See list: here.
While author Jane Austen, and the character Jane Eyre, both lived after the time of Georgiana the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Circle readers may know I love works by Jane Austen, and works based on Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte’s character) very much. My favorite Jane Eyre so far has been the 2006 BBC miniseries. And, I am so excited to hear that the new movie, with Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre, is coming to American theaters in March 2011. And, the movie trailer has just come out…
Link to 2o11 Jane Eyre movie trailer:
http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/11/10/jane-eyre-trailer-charlotte-brontemia-wasikowska-michael-fassbender/?xrs=share_twitter
And, here is my new video on the subject of Jane Eyre: