Rachel Dodge's Blog, page 16

Did you miss me? I’ve got great news!

Hello, lovely readers! It’s been a bit quiet around the blog lately, but I’m thrilled to let you know the reason: I’m writing a new devotional book!

This book is based on the themes of adoption and belonging in the book ANNE OF GREEN GABLES by L.M. Montgomery! I signed my contract with Barbour Publishing last month and have been writing ever since.

This project has been a few years in the making (okay, several decades if I’m honest). It’s a dream come true for me to get to write another devotional book. A book based on Anne of Green Gables is incredible. It comes out next fall, but the manuscript is due in January. (Please pray!)

I’ve been working AROUND the clock, putting everything I have (and all that I don’t have – “BUT God”) into this book. It’s been one of the hardest and most rewarding projects I’ve done.

The best part: As I write, God keeps ministering to MY heart each day. When I have nothing left to give, I’m blown away by the beautiful messages and themes God keeps showing me. As I pray over this project each day, I think about the people who will read it; I’m in awe that I get to be part of it.

And now I need your help: What are some of YOUR favorite scenes from ANNE OF GREEN GABLES ?

Your input will help me as I write. AND it will help the design team as they dream up the exterior and interior design of the book! I can’t wait to hear from you!

Let’s Keep in Touch:




Click here to subscribe to my blog. You’ll receive a FREE set of Jane Austen prayers cards as a welcome gift!Books & Gifts: Order signed copies of Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen here.And Christmas is coming! When you purchase a Praying with Jane book between now and December 12th, you’ll get a FREE prayer journal.Jane Austen’s World: For my contributing articles on Jane Austen’s World, click here.

The post Did you miss me? I’ve got great news! appeared first on Rachel Dodge.

A Prairie Devotional by Wendi Lou Lee

If you haven’t heard about A Prairie Devotional, please allow me to introduce my friend Wendi Lou Lee, one of the twins who played Baby Grace on the television series Little House on the Prairie!

This is such a perfect gift for anyone who loved the show and needs some encouragement in their relationship with God. On my blog, we often talk about the way God can move in our lives in unexpected ways. Wendi can certainly relate! After living through a brain tumor and brain surgery, Wendi was convinced God was calling her to write her memoir. But then something happened.

God put her on a new path.

Although I had planned to write a memoir, God changed my path, and I’m very grateful. My first book, A Prairie Devotional, is a collection of stories about my life, about the ups and downs, and about the episodes of Little House—the joys and sorrows that we all face. My hope is to inspire us to live the way Charles and Caroline Ingalls did—devoted to their faith in God, dedicated to their families, and determined to spread kindness to those around them.

-Wendi Lou Lee, “Baby Grace” from the television series, Little House on the Prairie

Wendi is a Jesus follower, a former child actress, and a brain surgery survivor. The four seasons she spent on Little House on the Prairie playing Baby Grace Ingalls are among God’s greatest blessings. Sharing her story of God’s goodness through life’s most difficult circumstances brings Wendi the most joy.

My friend Wendi Lou Lee.

I loved watching Little House as a girl and reading all the books. When I first met Wendi, I knew her as “Baby Grace.” But today, she’s “my friend Wendi.” I met Wendi at a writers conference three years ago. We hit it off immediately and have since become good friends. We’ve encouraged one another as we wrote and released our devotional books. She has a heart of gold and is a beautiful woman of God, inside and out.

Articles about A Little House Devotional

God has opened the door for Wendi to share her story and the message of God’s love in A Prairie Devotional with a wide audience. If you want to know more about her days as a child actor, her life as a brain tumor survivor, or her funny adventures at cast reunions in Walnut Grove, you can visit these sites. She was also featured on the 700 Club with Efrem Graham, the Hallmark Home & Family Show, and other great outlets:

Little House on the Prairie

Faithgateway.com

Beliefnet.com

iBelieve.com

Reading is My Superpower

BibleGateway.com 

Wendi Lou Lee’s book is now available online and in bookstores. If you know someone who liked the Little House show or books and maybe wouldn’t normally read a devotional book, this will make a lovely gift. You can follow Wendi, read her blog, or join her newsletter here.

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I’d love to stay in touch! Click here to subscribe to my blog. You’ll receive a FREE set of Jane Austen prayers cards as a welcome gift!Books & Gifts: To order a signed copy of my book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, click here.Jane Austen’s World: For my feature articles on Jane Austen’s World, click here.

The post A Prairie Devotional by Wendi Lou Lee appeared first on Rachel Dodge.

A full circle moment at Jane Austen’s House Museum.

I stood still for a few moments in the garden at Jane Austen’s House Museum this summer and thought, the book I wrote about Jane Austen’s faith is in Jane Austen’s House! It was a full circle moment for sure.

God’s full circle moments happen when he brings to fruition something that he breathed into existence, planted, watered, and harvested. It’s when God does something that’s a dream come true – except you would have never thought to dream it.

Two years ago, when I embarked on the process of writing Praying with Jane, I worked and prayed and poured my sweat and tears into it. Along the way, I caught brief glimpses of what God wanted to do. Not every day. Not that often.

But he gave me rays of light. Moments of understanding. Brief understandings.

And those kept me working and charging ahead.

One evening during church, the Lord brought to mind a picture of a group of British women gathering together near Jane Austen’s House Museum to read my book. I remember saying, “Yes, Lord. May it be so!” all the while wondering, how in the world will that happen?”

Fast forward two years and I found myself at the 70th “Birthday” celebration of the Jane Austen House Museum, signing copies of my book. They had Regency dancing, cake, ice cream, special tours through the museum, and docents in each room. The house and gardens were decked out for a party—and over 400 excited Jane Austen lovers came through the house that day. Two of them bought a book while I was there.

But this story isn’t just about me – it’s about you, too.

God often plans things we can’t plan on our own, does things we can’t do on our own, and brings to fruition things we could never dream up on our own, all so he can be glorified in all the earth and invite us to be part of it.

God’s full circles often take time.

God didn’t plant the first seeds of a project like Praying with Jane just two years ago. Clear back in 2005, I began to pray for England, Scotland, and Ireland. I prayed God would bring revival and do a mighty work there. I prayed for the opportunity to serve there or minister there. That same year, something else happened that seemed completely unrelated: I wrote my Master’s Thesis on Pride and Prejudice. In 2007, I visited Jane Austen’s House Museum for the first time.

I never dreamed God might someday bring those things together. It’s the same in your life. You pray, you offer your work
and your talents to him, but God has vision that is far beyond your vision.

God is doing things in your life right now that you cannot see.

Recently, a wise woman said this to me: “God will do whatsoever he wills with Praying with Jane; it will reach every single person that he intends it to reach. What a comfort to leave all this in His hands.”

I took that and applied to my life and everything I do on a daily basis to love and serve God. Can you apply that to your own life? Your dreams, passions, prayers? What about that area of your life that’s painful, that worries you, that nags? That person or place you’ve prayed over for years?

What a comfort to leave all this in His hands.

“Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17)

[image error]Jane Austen’s House Museum Gift Shop



[image error]Regency Dancing



[image error]Regency Picnic



[image error]Impromptu Book Signing!



[image error]Praying with Jane in the library.



[image error]Jane Austen’s Writing Desk



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I’d love to stay in touch! Click here to subscribe to my blog. You’ll receive a FREE set of Jane Austen prayers cards as a welcome gift!Books & Gifts: To order a signed copy of my book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, click here.Jane Austen’s World: For my feature articles on Jane Austen’s World, click here.

The post A full circle moment at Jane Austen’s House Museum. appeared first on Rachel Dodge.

Celebrate small victories.

When I think of victory, I usually think of complete, ground-into-powder-under-my-heel types of victories.

TOTAL victory.

But more and more, I find myself rejoicing in the small victories all around me. Being kind to myself as a mom and wife. That it’s not all perfect, but there’s some great stuff happening in the midst of it all.

Getting the whole family got out the door without anyone losing their temper. Arriving a few minutes early to an appointment. Getting lunches made the night before. Choosing to turn off the tv, close the laptop, put down the phone. Listening to God’s still, small voice on a tiny decision.

These are small, but wonderful victories!

When our family all sits down for dinner on busy week nights, I cheer. I really do. I say, “We’re here! We’re all together. I see your faces all in one place. I’m so glad we made it!”

Of course I’m tired. Of course I’m propping myself up with an elbow, forcing one kid to finish his veggies. Of course I know clean-up and soccer and Bible study and homework and piano and showers and … and … and … are coming next.

But in that moment, we’re on the same team. And I see the victory.

What small victories have you seen in your life this past week? I’d love to hear from you and know how to pray for you!

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I’d love to stay in touch! Click here to subscribe to my blog. You’ll receive a FREE set of Jane Austen prayers cards as a welcome gift!Books & Gifts: To order a signed copy of my book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, click here.Jane Austen’s World: For my feature articles on Jane Austen’s World, click here.

The post Celebrate small victories. appeared first on Rachel Dodge.

The Theme of “Awakening” in Northanger Abbey

“I never was so deceived in anyone’s character in my life before.” –Catherine Morland, Northanger Abbey

“Among all the great variety that you have known and studied.” –Mr. Tilney

Northanger Abbey is the story of a naïve young girl who goes to Bath to find adventure and romance. In a book by another author, Catherine Morland’s adventures could have gone much differently. Her trusting nature and lack of experience could have caused her pain, sorrow, or even danger. However, in the course of the novel, Catherine experiences a gradual awakening to what (and who) is real and what (and who) is false.

Catherine Morland arrives in Bath with little education, experience, instruction, or preparation. She’s never “known and studied” many people outside of her own family and their small community of forty families. Her knowledge of the world and worldly matters is minute. In fact, in many ways, she is unprepared for the adventure that awaits her.

Unprepared

First, consider Catherine’s practical education at home:

Mrs. Morland was a very good woman, and wished to see her children everything they ought to be; but her time was so much occupied in lying-in and teaching the little ones, that her elder daughters were inevitably left to shift for themselves.

–Northanger Abbey

Catherine is taught “writing and accounts” by her father and French by her mother, but “her proficiency in either was not remarkable, and she shirked her lessons in both whenever she could.” Her reading interests merely feed her romantic notions. (Chapter 1)

Next, her chaperone, Mrs. Allen, is described as having “neither beauty, genius, accomplishment, nor manner.” (Chapter 2) Her main focus in on dress. She introduces Catherine to the Thorpe family and assumes all is well. It can be argued that Mrs. Allen might have paid more attention to the friends Catherine was making and to the attitudes and choices of those friends as their time together progressed.

Finally, Catherine’s own romantic notions often lead her astray. When she meets Isabella, she immediately trusts her. She is drawn in by the “easy gaiety of Miss Thorpe’s manners” (Chapter 4). Later, when she visits the Abbey with the Tilneys, she lets her imagination run wild. She dreams up fearful scenarios in the night and draws terrible conclusions about General Tilney.

In the course of her adventures, Catherine learns crucial lessons. Slowly, her eyes are opened; she begins to see the world as it is, not as she imagines it. Little by little, she sees people and situations in a new light. She learns to trust her deeper instincts and curb her imagination.

Gradual Awakening

Growing up in the home of a respectable clergyman and a mother of “useful plain sense” gives Catherine a stronger moral compass than she first realizes. That inner sense of “rightness” carries her through several sticky situations. Though she trusts the Thorpes at first, she feels increasingly uncomfortable with the way they do things; she senses that something is off. She notices that the Thorpes don’t follow the same code of conduct she’s been taught to follow.

Having Mr. Allen as her guardian is also more helpful than Catherine knows. He is described as a “sensible, intelligent man.” We find out that Mr. Allen had, early on, “taken pains to know who her partner was, and had been assured of Mr. Tilney’s being a clergyman, and of a very respectable family in Gloucestershire” (Chapter 3). As a result, Catherine becomes acquainted with Mr. Tilney and Miss Tilney. Catherine sees a notable difference between the Thorpes and the Tilneys. She admires the Tilneys’ good character. She feels comfortable around them and find them trustworthy and true.

Seeing the Light

Later, Austen uses Mr. Tilney to awaken Catherine to how far she’s let her imagination carry her. He says she’s allowed it to blind her to what’s probable and true about his father. His words produce a moment of great clarity: “The visions of romance were over. Catherine was completely awakened.” Her eyes are opened to “the extravagance of her late fancies.” She realizes the “liberty which her imagination had dared to take” and the “absurdity of her curiosity and her fears.” From that point on, she see things differently. (Chapter 25)

When Catherine finds out the truth about Isabella, her response shows a clear understanding of Isabella’s motives: “Such a strain of shallow artifice could not impose even upon Catherine. Its inconsistencies, contradictions, and falsehood struck her from the very first.” (Chapter 27) Now, Catherine is no longer quite as naïve, innocent, or trusting.

Too Wretched to be Fearful

In the end, the most frightening thing that actually happens to Catherine is when General Tilney sends her home without a servant, without any money, and without sending word to her family first. She makes it homes safely, thanks to Miss Tilney’s offer of financial assistance. However, the ride home reveals a change in Catherine: Her thoughts remain fixed on what’s actually occurring in her life, rather than on imagined horrors. Indeed, “Catherine was too wretched to be fearful.” (Chapter 29) This is a new beginning for Catherine, perhaps even a mark of maturity.

By the time she arrives home, Catherine has seen a greater “variety” of character and learned important lessons along the way. Her eyes are more open and discerning. Do you think Catherine’s awakening will make a lasting impression on her life? What other awakenings or themes do you see in the novel?

I wrote this up for the Jane Austen Fan Club‘s Facebook group. This was harder to write than I thought, mainly because my brain was battered by fatigue and other stresses as I wrote it, but I ended up digger deeper into Northanger Abbey as a result of putting it together. Enjoy!

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I’d love to stay in touch! Click here to subscribe to my blog. You’ll receive a FREE set of Jane Austen prayers cards as a welcome gift!Books & Gifts: To order a signed copy of my book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, click here.Jane Austen’s World: For my feature articles on Jane Austen’s World, click here.

The post The Theme of “Awakening” in Northanger Abbey appeared first on Rachel Dodge.

My Favorite Blogs + A Liebster Award

I’ve been nominated by Jarm Del Boccio from A Writerly Blog for the Liebster Award. It’s a really fun way to help readers discover new blogs. Thank you, Jarm, for sharing my blog with your readers!

Here are the questions I was asked:​
1. Give us a link to your favorite post of all time (on your blog, of course). I chose an article I wrote called My love for Jane Austen. It’s basically a funny checklist to help you know if you’re a true Jane Austen fan or not. It’s one of my most popular posts.

2. Which book do YOU wish you had written? Pride and Prejudice or Anne of Green Gables. When I read books like those, I kind of want to cry and stop trying to write altogether.

3. If you could jump into any novel, and become a character, which one would it be? I think I’d choose to be Mary Lennox from The Secret Garden. I would LOVE to find a secret garden and bring it back to life!

4. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? And why? Right where I live now, mainly because I love my community, church, and friends. I’ve also dreamed of living in the Midtown area of Sacramento, in a really cute older home. I love visiting Maui, England, North and South Carolina, and the Southern California coast, but I like living in Northern California. I enjoy frost and rain in winter, and sun and heat in summer, with spring and fall in between.

5. If you were on a stranded island, which food could you not live without? It’s a tie between milk and peanut butter!

6. If you were driven from your home, and had five minutes to pack, what would you take? I’d grab my family (including my dog), my purse, some blankets, my Kindle, and as many clothes as possible. My phone is usually in my purse, but I’d need to grab the charger next to it. (Does that make six?)

This is the part where I nominate or share my favorite blogs, but I’d also REALLY like to hear which blogs YOU like to read. Please share some of your favorite blogs (and links to them) in the comments.

Here’s a spattering of the blogs I follow:



Michelle Ule (Writing/Research): History, Real Life and FaithVic Sanborn (Jane Austen): Jane Austen’s WorldAnne Bogel (Book Lists): Modern Mrs. DarcyDanielle Walker (Recipes): Against All Grain (I’m not against grains, but one of my family members avoids them)Books & Such Literary Agency (Publishing): Between the LinesMarcus dePaula and Jenn Hanson-dePaula (Marketing): Mixtus MediaCollaborative (Faith/Inspiration): (in)courageHilary Rushford (Style/Social Media): Dean Street Society

Looking at the list of blogs I frequent most often, you can probably tell that I’m pretty practical. I read books for inspiration and deeper learning, but I read blogs for quick information and how-to help.

Here are my questions for other bloggers:



Why did you start your blog? What was your vision for it?If you could choose a dream vacation, what would it be?What’s the best book you’ve read this year?What’s your favorite thing to do on a Friday night?If you could have any job, what would it be? Why?What fictional character do you relate to most?

If you’re a blogger, please consider yourself nominated! You can take these questions and answer them on your blog and help your readers discover a few of your own favorite blogs.

The Rules for participating bloggers:



Thank the blogger who nominated you.Display the award.Answer the questions you were asked.Nominate at least 5 other bloggers.Ask 6 new questions.Let nominees know they were nominated and share your post.



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I’d love to stay in touch! Click here to subscribe to my blog. You’ll receive a FREE set of Jane Austen prayers cards as a welcome gift!Books & Gifts: To order a signed copy of my book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, click here.Jane Austen’s World: For my feature articles on Jane Austen’s World, click here.

Okay, readers, this is your chance to share: What’s your favorite blog to follow?

The post My Favorite Blogs + A Liebster Award appeared first on Rachel Dodge.

Jane Austen’s Prayers: A History

When I speak about Jane Austen’s prayers, one of the questions I hear most is this one: Where are the prayer manuscripts and how did they get there? Here’s the answer to that question.

You can find Jane Austen’s prayer manuscripts at the Elinor Raas Heller Rare Book Room at Mills College in Oakland, California. The Mills College Special Collections and Archives has around 20,000 volumes, which is quite impressive for a school of its size. Located in the Bay Area, it’s been the recipient of quite a few wonderful gifts over the years.

How did Jane Austen’s prayer manuscripts end up at Mills College? Here is a brief timeline, provided by Bruce Stovel.

Brief History of Jane Austen’s Prayer Manuscripts



1845:
“Jane Austen’s sister Cassandra . . . left two sheets of paper containing the
prayers to Cassandra Esten Austen, the eldest daughter of their brother
Charles.”1927:
“Two of Charles’s granddaughters sold them, along with other Austen papers and
memorabilia, at Sotheby’s… (Le Faye, 244), for a price of £175 (Gilson, 1986,
13).”1940:
“They were subsequently acquired by the California book collector William
Matson Roth, who brought the prayers into print for the first time, in a limited
edition (of 300 copies).”1957:
“Roth donated the manuscripts . . . to Mills College in Oakland, California;
they now reside in the Heller Rare Book Room of the F.W. Olin Library at Mills
College.”

Stovel gives one of the most comprehensive histories and analyses of Austen’s prayer in his article, “‘A Nation Improving in Religion’: Jane Austen’s Prayers and Their Place in Her Life and Art.”

Stovel, a highly respected Jane Austen scholar, did incredible research on Austen’s prayers and faith during his lifetime. His article appeared in JASNA’s scholarly journal, Persuasions. For those interested in Austen’s prayers, faith, and the connections that can be found between her faith and her writing, this is the place to start!

Jane Austen’s Prayers Have a Good Deal to Say

Jane Austen’s prayers have a place in her writings that resembles that of many of her own heroines within their fictional worlds. Apparently of little interest, they have been generally ignored. These three short prayers survive in undated manuscripts inscribed “Prayers Composed by my ever dear Sister Jane”; the prayers themselves indicate that one member of the Austen family is reading to the assembled household at night before all retire to bed.

Like Elinor Dashwood or Fanny Price or Anne Elliot, the prayers have, in general, not been attended to: biographies and critical studies tend to ignore the prayers (with some striking exceptions, to be mentioned later in this essay). Yet, like those heroines, the prayers have a good deal to say for themselves if one does listen – in this case, a good deal about Jane Austen’s life and about the novels. They tell us that Jane Austen was a devout Christian and suggest that the novels are more suffused with religious feeling than we might have thought.”

–Bruce Stovel, “‘A Nation Improving in Religion’: Jane Austen’s Prayers and Their Place in Her Life and Art.”

To read the rest of Stovel’s groundbreaking article, you can click HERE.

As part of this article, I’ve included a photo of the prayer manuscripts for your enjoyment. The inscription by Jane Austen’s sister Cassandra reads, “Prayers Composed by my ever dear Sister Jane.” This appears on the outside of the folded quarto sheet on which the first prayer, with the heading “Evening Prayer.”

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I’d love to stay in touch! It’s easy to miss each other on social media, so be sure to click here to subscribe to my blog. You’ll receive a FREE set of Jane Austen prayers cards as a welcome gift!Books & Gifts: To order a signed copy of my book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, click here.Jane Austen’s World: For my feature articles on Jane Austen’s World, click here.

The post Jane Austen’s Prayers: A History appeared first on Rachel Dodge.

Emily of New Moon

Last year, the L.M. Montgomery Institute blog held an Anne of Green Gables read-along; it was so popular that they decided to hold an Emily of New Moon read-along this year. It’s currently in full swing and readers from around the world gather to read a chapter and a related blog article each week. It’s great fun!

I reread the entire Emily series in March and April of this year, in preparation for my part in the read-along. I was grieving the loss of a dear friend and experiencing several difficult trials. I hadn’t read the Emily books since I was very young. It was the perfect time to pick them up.

Reading the Emily of New Moon books again was a balm to my weary soul.

I think that’s why so many fans of authors like L.M. Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, and Jane Austen love to read and reread their books. They lift our spirits and provide comfort and familiarity.

When I received my assignment for my week on the L.M. Montgomery Institute blog, I was pleasantly surprised to see I’d been given Chapter 6 – “New Moon.” It’s the chapter when Emily first moves to New Moon after losing her father and her beloved home. It meant so much to me to walk beside Emily as she grieved her father and I grieved my dear friend.

Here’s a snippet from the article I wrote about Emily of New Moon:

In this chapter, Emily is introduced to New Moon, its inhabitants, and its ways. While she struggles “desperately for self-control” due to unexpressed grief, she also finds New Moon curious and intriguing (Montgomery 59). There’s a deep tug-of-war between the things that strive to constrain her and her own nature which will not be held down.

Montgomery creates balance between grief and hope, hard and soft, dark and light at almost every turn in this chapter. These instances provide us with the sense that Emily will not only survive, but actually thrive in this odd, backward place.

-Rachel Dodge, L.M. Montgomery Institute blog

To read my full article and/or to follow along with the weekly read-along, you can click here.

I hope you’ll read my article and even share it with a friend. I think it’s lovely that so many people around the world are picking up these old books to read or reread. Personally, I love the nostalgia of revisiting favorite books!

This chapter in Emily of New Moon is heart-wrenching and heart-healing.

If you haven’t read it in a while, I encourage you to pick it up again. Even reading one chapter might do the trick!

Do you reread books? If so, what books do you like to revisit?

We should do this more often:




I’d love to stay in touch! It’s easy to miss each other on social media, so be sure to click here to subscribe to my blog. You’ll receive a FREE set of Jane Austen prayers cards as a welcome gift!Books & Gifts: To order a signed copy of my book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, click here.Jane Austen’s World: For my feature articles on Jane Austen’s World, click here.

The post Emily of New Moon appeared first on Rachel Dodge.

Captain Wentworth’s Umbrella

A crowded shop scene in Jane Austen’s Persuasion causes spectacular tension between Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth on a rainy day in Bath. (It’s worth re-reading here if it’s been a while.) Anne and the others in her party step into Molland’s to escape the rain. There, Austen drops a subtle hint about Captain Wentworth’s feelings toward Anne.

As Anne waits near the window, Captain Wentworth comes into Molland’s. They speak, and it’s awkward, but then he tries again and they make a bit more headway. When he learns she’s planning to walk home in the rain, he immediately shows concern for her well-being.

Then Captain Wentworth makes a bold move:

After a moment’s pause, he said: ‘Though I came only yesterday, I have equipped myself properly for Bath already, you see’ (pointing to a new umbrella); ‘I wish you would make use of it, if you are determined to walk; though I think it would be more prudent to let me get you a chair.’

Persuasion, Jane Austen

Here, Austen reveals something important about Captain Wentworth. During Austen’s lifetime, it was not yet common for men to carry umbrellas unless they were walking with a woman. Even if some men might carry umbrellas, Austen most likely placed an umbrella in hearty, sea-faring Captain Wentworth’s hand for romantic reasons.

What Captain Wentworth is really saying, then, is that he has equipped himself properly for walking in Bath with a lady. At the 2018 JASNA AGM, Dr. John Mullen even went as far as to say Wentworth’s umbrella is proof that he’s in Bath for the express purpose of courtship.

A single man in Bath, especially a sea captain, could surely have no reason for an umbrella unless he was there to court a lady.

And which lady did Captain Wentworth travel to Bath to court? Austen tells us Captain Wentworth’s reason for going to Bath at the end of the novel. His purpose was, in fact, to court Anne:

Within the first five minutes I said, ‘I will be at Bath on Wednesday,’ and I was. Was it unpardonable to think it worth my while to come? and to arrive with some degree of hope? You were single. It was possible that you might retain the feelings of the past, as I did; and one encouragement happened to be mine. I could never doubt that you would be loved and sought by others, but I knew to a certainty that you had refused one man, at least, of better pretensions than myself; and I could not help often saying, ‘Was this for me?’

Persuasion, Jane Austen

Alas, Captain Wentworth doesn’t have the chance to walk Anne home that day. And once she leaves, Captain Wentworth overhears gossip about her relationship with Mr. Elliot, causing even greater misunderstanding that Austen resolves on another day in another way.

But what if Wentworth had escorted Anne home that day? What if they’d had that romantic, rainy-day walk? Perhaps that’s a Jane Austen Fan Fiction story for another time, but the painting I’ve included today is what I imagine that walk would have looked like . . . if they’d had it.

Near misses in romantic novels are classic. Misunderstandings and complications always arise. In this case, Austen uses clever plotting to bring Anne and Wentworth one step closer to reuniting.

What do you think Anne and Captain Wentworth would have talked about, if they’d had that walk in the rain?

Image: “A Wet Sunday Morning” by Edmund Blair Leighton

We should do this more often:




I’d love to stay in touch! It’s easy to miss each other on social media, so be sure to click here to subscribe to my blog. You’ll receive a FREE set of Jane Austen prayers cards as a welcome gift!Books & Gifts: To order a signed copy of my book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, click here.Jane Austen’s World: For my feature articles on Jane Austen’s World, click here.

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The friend of a friend.

Have you ever thought about the importance of a “friend of a friend” in your life? These secondary connections are some of the most vital relationships in our lives. I’ve heard (and said) the phrase “a friend of a friend went there / ate there / stayed there” many times, but I’ve recently become more intrigued by the way friends of friends can impact our lives and provide important connections.

In my own life, a “friend of a friend” is the reason I eat at yummy restaurants, read good books, watch interesting shows and movies, wear clothes that fit well, own shoes that don’t hurt, cook from recipes my family enjoys, use apps that make my life and work easier, and sleep on a cozy, comfortable foam mattress. Mmmmm…

Apply Within

If you haven’t thought of it before, consider the way you found most of your jobs. The friend of a friend is most likely the person who helped. In fact, Linkedin says “85% of critical jobs are filled via networking of some sort.” Most people I know heard about their job because they knew somebody who knew somebody.

For me, when I was looking for an internship at a pr firm during my senior year of college, my boss at my on-campus job knew the managing director at one of the top pr firms in LA. When I went in for my interview, I met with the usual folks, but I stopped by the managing director’s office for a quick hello and a handshake. We exchanged pleasantries and he said, “I’ve heard wonderful things about you from Dr. F.” Did it help? I know it did.

Help Wanted

Friends of friends often help you get the help you need. Do you need a dentist? A good running shoe? A guy to remove the dead tree in your yard? Chances are, your friends’ friends will provide the connection for all three.

Just recently, a friend of mine needed legal representation. I connected her with a friend who is an attorney, who knew someone who could help. Another friend asked for prayer for a doctor who could make home visits. I introduced her to my doctor, and he connected her with one of his colleagues who is set up to do home visits.

Friendship Needed

Friends of friends can also become lifelong friends. Malcolm Gladwell says that most of us can trace the majority of our friendships back to one person. For instance, how did you find your friends in high school, college, the workplace, at church? If you think carefully, chances are you can pinpoint the person responsible for introducing you to a lot of your closest friends.

In The Tipping Point, Gladwell refers to this special personality type as a connector, a person with “an extraordinary knack of making friends and acquaintances.” I see the mark of connectors in my own life. In grad school, one teacher introduced me to tons of great people; in church, one friend introduced me to a wide range of friends; at my job, a friend drew a group of us together; in the writing world, one woman has connected me with dozens and dozens of people.

YOU are the friend of a friend

As I think about the value of friends of friends, I realize how often I’m the friend of a friend to others. You are, too!

Yes, it’s great to know people who know people, to make connections, and to gather resources through others. However, it’s just as important to BE that resource to someone else. Introduce your friends to your other friends. Be a connector and helper. Pass along important info. Be generous.

“Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and at the end you will be counted among the wise.”
(Proverbs 19:20)

If you’ve been helped by the friend of a friend, please share your story! God works in wonderful ways and created us for connection.

Let’s Stay in Touch:



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