Devoney Looser's Blog, page 5

The Making of Jane Austen at ASU Book Club

Join me at ASU in Tempe? I'll be talking to the ASU Book Club on Wednesday, January 30th at noon about my book, The Making of Jane Austen. The book group is open to all in the ASU community and meets monthly from noon–1 p.m. in the Piper Writers House on ASU's Tempe campus. A no-host luncheon follows at the University Club. Looking forward to seeing you there to talk Austen. 

Piece on Austen and Christmas in LitHub

I've got a new piece out on LitHub on Austen and Christmas. I think it contains humor. Your results may vary. . . . Either way, if you're not on LitHub's daily digest, you'll want to join. The digest curates must-see literary content on the web, not just its own essays, and I always find something there that I want to read. I'm happy to be a part of the festivities this week.

Proud to be a Hill-Murray Pioneer!

Go Pioneers! I'm honored to be included on the virtual wall of Hill-Murray High School alumni, alongside some people and classmates I admire very much. I got a chance to share why I am proud to be a Pioneer. 

NEH Public Scholar Grant Recipient

"Books brought to you with the help of Uncle Sam" as WaPo's Ron Charles put it. I'm just thrilled to be among the 22 writers named as 2018-19 National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholars. This grant will help me complete my book on sister novelists Jane and Anna Maria Porter. The NEH has been so crucial to advancing our knowledge of history, literature, and culture, and has been a formative positive force for me throughout my career. I'm incredibly grateful for this support. 

Jane Austen's First Buyer? Likely Prinny.

It's been fun playing a small role in the publicity surrounding graduate student Nick Foretek's discovery in the Georgian Papers Programme archives that the likely first purchaser of Austen's first novel was none other than the Prince Regent. Read more about Nick's discovery--and a few quotes from snarky, amused scholars  (I will cop to being both!)--in Jennifer Schuessler's fine piece in the New York Times from July 24th. 

Essay on Author Platform Strategies

I'm happy to share my new essay in the Chronicle of Higher Education, on why you should also be thinking "author platform" as you research and write. (P. S. My book collection is neither this colorful nor yet in a shopping cart as in this graphic. Squad goals?)

ASU's Story on the Guggenheim Fellowship

I'm incredibly grateful to have been named a 2018 Guggenheim Fellow. I'll be completing a book on the once-celebrated, now largely forgotten sister novelists, Jane and Anna Maria Porter, during my fellowship year.  Hear more about that project on the and in this two-minute ASU video, which accompanies the print story ASU did to publicize my award. So grateful for all ASU does to get the word out there about its faculty's research accomplishments.

ASU's Story on My Guggenheim Fellowship

I'm incredibly grateful to have been named a 2018 Guggenheim Fellow. I'll be completing a book on the once-celebrated, now largely forgotten sister novelists, Jane and Anna Maria Porter, during my fellowship year.  Hear more about that project on the and in this two-minute ASU video, which accompanies the print story ASU did to publicize my award. So grateful for all ASU does to get the word out there about its faculty's research accomplishments.

2018 Guggenheim Fellow

I can't quite believe it's true. I've been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for my book-in-progress on the once-celebrated and now-forgotten sister novelists, Jane and Anna Maria Porter. It's the only fellowship awarded this year in the category for English literature! To be among this group of fellows is stunning and humbling. I owe a huge thanks to so many mentors, supporters, and colleagues who were there every step of the way. https://www.gf.org/…/2018/04/Nominations-By-Field-US2018.pdf

Celebrating Women's History Month!

It was a pleasure to be a part of this short video, in honor of women's history month, exploring gender, emotions, and passion with the amazing students of ASU's Womyn's Coalition.