JA Recommendations

[Claireybooks]

Please feel free to pass on any Jane Austen themed recommendations on here.
I, myself, am wanting to recommend a youtube video by Kirsten & Joerg (that's the channel name) and it is about a Jane Austen festival they attended and took part in recently! It looks wonderful and so much fun! I really their channel and their content. https://youtu.be/M6cugBAqTJk

[Claireybooks]

*I really love their channel & content. They have done several Jane Austen themed videos - visiting places in relation to JA ♡

[Claireybooks]

*I really love their channel & content. They have done several Jane Austen themed videos - visiting places in relation to JA ♡

[QNPoohBear]

TV:
Lucy Worsley TV documentaries
Amanda Vickery "The Many Lovers of Jane Austen" documentary (YouTube)
Amanda Vickery "Pride & Prejudice: Having a Ball" documentary

Books-Non fiction:
The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things
Tea with Jane Austen
Dinner with Mr. Darcy: Recipes Inspired By the Novels of Jane Austen
Cooking with Jane Austen and Friends
Jane Austen: Her Life, Her Times, Her Novels
Dress in the Age of Jane Austen: Regency Fashion
Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels
Among the Janeites: A Journey Through the World of Jane Austen Fandom
A Memoir of Jane Austen and Other Family Recollections
Brave Jane Austen: Reader, Writer, Author, Rebel
Jane Austen in Bath: Walking Tours of the Writer's City
The British Baking Book: The History of British Baking, Savory and Sweet *historic recipes for Bath Buns and Sally Lunn buns and other historic British foods

Fiction:
Pride and Prejudice: The Complete Novel, with Nineteen Letters from the Characters' Correspondence, Written and Folded by Hand
The Annotated Pride and Prejudice
Emma
Persuasion (annotated)

Fan Fiction/Austen paraliterature
author:Stephanie Barron|17764]'s Jane Austen mysteries
Pride & Prejudice : A BabyLit Counting Primer
Cozy Classics: Emma
Lady Vernon and Her Daughter
The Little Particulars of the Circumstance
Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili-Slaw Dogs
The Boy is Back / Every Boy's Got One

Miss Austen

[Claireybooks]

Thank you for those recommendations QNPoohBear! I'm definitely going to have a look at the documentary on Youtube!! :)

[QNPoohBear]

Claireybooks wrote: "Thank you for those recommendations QNPoohBear! I'm definitely going to have a look at the documentary on Youtube!! :)"

I used to find all the good BBC documentaries on YouTube. They might be harder to find now. Amazon and PBS have some, you can Google where else to find them.

[QNPoohBear]

Movie recommendations

Pride and Prejudice BBC 1995 (is there any other?! ;-) )
Sense & Sensibility 1995
Sense & Sensibility 2008 (pre-Downton Abbey Dan Stevens as Edward Ferrars!)
Persuasion 1995 with Amanda Root (there is NONE other!)
Northanger Abbey 2008

Modern:

Lizzie Bennet Diaries PLUS you have to watch Lydia's diaries, read the book The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet and watch Emma Approved afterwards.

Bridget Jones and Bridget Jones Edge of Reason

[Rebecca]

A YouTube channel with lots of great Jane Austen content is Dr. Octavia Cox's channel.

[Rebecca]

Cinema Therapy released a fantastic film review of the Kiera Knightley Pride and Prejudice film adaptation from 2004 yesterday.

[Janice]

Rebecca wrote: "A YouTube channel with lots of great Jane Austen content is Dr. Octavia Cox's channel."

I agree her channel is great. :)

[Janice]

QNPoohBear wrote: "Movie recommendations

Pride and Prejudice BBC 1995 (is there any other?! ;-) )
Sense & Sensibility 1995
Sense & Sensibility 2008 (pre-Downton Abbey Dan Stevens as Edward Ferrars!)
Persuasion 1995..."

Perfect list of movies!!!

[Zuzana]

I've been listening to different Jane Austen themed podcasts all year to find out if there is an informative well-done option which is not limited to gushing over hot actors starring in JA adaptations.

And I have found a great podcast that I can wholly recommend.

The Thing About Austen
Hosted by two literature scholars.

All about Jane Austen and her world
"Regency history | Material culture | Shenanigans
Hosted by @shapedbystoriesdiane & @zcammack

A podcast about Jane Austen's world.
Join us as we examine the material history of Austen's novels and the time she lived in, discuss the cultural practices of 18th and 19th century England, and generally engage in literary shenanigans. Plus, a bit of Janeite pop culture. Think of us as your somewhat cheeky tour guides to the life and times of Jane Austen."

These are absolutely excellent. They pick a fragment/theme/event/thing mentioned in one of JA's novels and they dissect it. They add a lot of historical context which I love. They usually have a guest - another scholar, usually somebody who published a paper on either Jane Austen or (aspects) of the Regency period.

Examples of discussed topics:

Ep16: The Thing About Harriet's Riddle Book with guest Dr. Lynn Festa. Acrostic and chill? We're here to tell you all about it. Will we uncover any salacious tidbits? Let's just say that Mr. Woodhouse might know a dirty joke or two.

Ep12: The Thing About Mary Crawford's Harp with guest Dr. Lidia Chang
If you ever wondered about all those mornings Edmund spent listening to Mary playing at the parsonage, this episode is for you.

Ep09: The Thing About the Rushworths' Divorce with guest
@EllenCampbell. Sex! Scandal! This week we're headed to Mansfield Park where a matrimonial fracas is brewing. Actually, it happened in Twickenham, and it's already fully steeped.

Ep08: The Thing About Sir Walter's Favorite Book is out now. We dive into the opening paragraphs of #JaneAusten's #Persuasion and Sir Walter's adoration for Debrett's. It's all about prestige, darling!

Ep07: The Thing About Spinsters is out now. Join us as we discuss the term's etymology and why a woman might choose to marry a Mr. Collins over remaining single in #JaneAusten's world.

I listen to them on Spotify, but "The thing about Austen" is available on Apple podcasts, too. Or listen on their website: https://www.thethingaboutausten.com/
You can check their twitter: https://www.instagram.com/thethingabo...

[Zuzana]

Rebecca wrote: "A YouTube channel with lots of great Jane Austen content is Dr. Octavia Cox's channel."

I second that recommendation. Dr. Cox's YT channel is great.

Here are some of my favorite videos of hers:

WHY DID MR WICKHAM ‘ELOPE’ WITH LYDIA BENNET? - https://youtu.be/lrnzf8Ezmk0

DID JOHN THORPE PROPOSE MARRIAGE TO CATHERINE MORLAND? - https://youtu.be/ZMVd9T7uwZ0

Austen & Emma Woodhouse: Imagination, Pictures of Domestic Life, & Novels - https://youtu.be/GbIVPib6pLk

[QNPoohBear]

Modern day Tv adaptations on the Hallmark Channel (not the books)
Unleashing Mr. Darcy and Marrying Mr. Darcy- only for the cute dogs!

[[deleted user]]

Thanks everybody for the great recommendations!

Here are a few for 4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book OR a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen’s time:

Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin novels. Highly recommended! O'Brian did a masterful job of achieving the Regency Tone.

If you want to try something a little different take a look at the historical fantasy Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. The BBC adapted it (very nicely) into a miniseries in 2015.

[Zuzana]

To set up the right mood for Jane Austen July you might try listening to either

wonderful soundracks
Pride and Prejudice composed by Dario Marianelli for the 2005 movie and Sense and Sensibility composed by Patrick Doyle for the 1995 movie (or the newest Emma. by David Schweitzer and Isobel Waller-Bridge)

or classical music from Jane Austen's time. My favorite albums are Musical Evenings with the Captain (inspired by the Aubrey/Maturin novels) and soundtrack to the Master and Commander movie.

All available on Spotify.

[Rebecca]

I also recommend the cd Jane Austen Piano Favorites which is a recording of piano music found in Jane Austen's music collection and or pieces by composers she enjoyed playing.

[Lisa]

I have started reading Fair Stands the Wind, a P&P retelling, and it's excellent! I saw it recommended by BookTuber Lisa in Bookland and I think many of you would enjoy it. She said the ending is especially good.

[[deleted user]]

If you happen to be in the Cincinnati area you might want to check out Jane Austen: Fashion & Sensibility at the Taft Museum June 11-September 4. https://www.taftmuseum.org/exhibition...

[Rebecca]

Question: does anyone have an academic recommendation for a work explaining what the genre distinctions were for a comedy of Manners versus regular comedy were in Jane Austen's day? I'm curious if it was still a rule post Shakespeare's plays that no one is allowed to die in a comedy, and if so how Jane Austen allowing death and other possibly taboo topics for comedy were recieved in her time era in comparison to modern reception of her works.

[QNPoohBear]

Rebecca wrote: "Question: does anyone have an academic recommendation for a work explaining what the genre distinctions were for a comedy of Manners versus regular comedy were in Jane Austen's day? I'm curious if ..."

Maybe one of the JAS or JASNA scholars might have written something about that.
https://jasna.org/publications-2/

[Rebecca]

Thank you! I'll check it out.

[Cathie]

Rebecca wrote: "Thank you! I'll check it out."
This book might be of interest to you: it sounds really interesting! https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/sho...

[Rebecca]

Thank you, Cathie!

[Helen]

Just in case anyone is interested The Real Jane Austen: A life in small things by Paula Byrne is currently on sale, both ebook and audiobook on Kobo. Not sure about Kindle though.

[Lorri]

Helen wrote: "Just in case anyone is interested The Real Jane Austen: A life in small things by Paula Byrne is currently on sale, both ebook and audiobook on Kobo. Not sure about Kindle though."

Thanks, Helen. Yes, it's on sale on Kindle, too.

[Lorri]

I haven't read them yet, but here is a list of some of the plays from the Austen home theatricals:

- The Rivals by Sheridan
- The School of Scandal by Sheridan
- Matilda by Dr. Francklin
- Which is the Man? By Mrs. Cowley
- Bon Ton, or High Life above Stairs by Garrick
- The Wonder: A Woman Keeps a Secret by Mrs. Centlivre
- The Chances probably Garrick’s version of Fletcher’s 1617 play
- The Sultan: or a Peep into the Seraglio by Bickerstaffe
- High Life below Stairs by Townley

Source: Austen-Leigh, William and Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh. Jane Austen, Her Life and Letters A Family Record. 1913, Kindle ed., 2011.

[Zuzana]

Thanks, Lorri, for the list. Very helpful. :)

For people interested in Regency fashion I can recommend a couple of YT videos:

Getting Dressed in 1816 - Mary Shelley: https://youtu.be/91sRADqHQlM

Jane Austen & Co.: "Dressing With Jane Austen," featuring dress historian Hilary Davidson (a fantastic lecture - it starts at 7:45 - feel free to skip to this timestamp, you won't miss anything important): https://youtu.be/a6DyTEh1kgo
+ (a continuation) Global Fashion in the Age of Austen with Dr. Hilary Davidson: https://youtu.be/uNHLCp00byY

The Jane Austen Summer Program YT channel is full of informative videos, check them out.
https://www.youtube.com/c/JaneAustenS...

[Hannah]

Hi everyone!

I can recommend some great Jane Austen spin offs and retellings if your interested. They take up about two shelves in my library! Most would have reviews on my Instagram account @hannah.joy.reads

Spin-offs:

- Ardently, by Caitlin Williams. Lizzy and Darcy years later. In Bath with touches of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. *chefs kiss*

- Susan, Alice McVeigh. Lady Susan as a young girl. She does a great Emma retelling as well.

- the Mr and Mrs Darcy mysteries, Carrie Bebris. Each novel is based on the characters of each Jane Austen novel. Crime fighting Darcy’s and supernatural events. Great reads!

- Only Mr Darcy will do, Kara Louise. Lizzie as governess to family who are guests staying at Pemberley.

Alternative POV:

- Darcy’s passions, Regina Jeffers (honestly it’s NOT what it sounds like) Pride and Prejudice from Darcy’s POV. A great scene with Darcy and Col. Fitwilliam.

-Mr Darcy, the secret of becoming a gentleman, Maria Hamilton

[Bonnie]

I’m watching a movie on youtube called Miss Austen Regrets from 2008, a period drama. So far its quite good!

[Liz]

So far The Jane Austen Project is really good but I have only read the first few chapters.

[Renuka]

The male preference primogeniture kept the English estates intact, and contributed in a great measure to the English wealth and power increase in the world.
It however needed the ability of the younger sons to take advantage of the newly opened up opportunities within and outside Britain, and also the resulting social interactions developments within the social system.
The younger brothers also supported and kept the system and the lifestyle running as it was.

For a highly readable, but also academically thoroughly researched view by an award winning writer. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

[Mimi]

Austen Mondays: "Pride and Prejudice" starts tonight! :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebINc... You can register at The Rosenbach: https://rosenbach.org/events/austen-m...

[Deborah]

https://www.goodreads.com/group/invit...

[QNPoohBear]

Tirzah Price's YA mystery adaptations (loose adaptations) are fun.

I just read about South Asian representation in Austen retellings. I haven't read any of them but I have seen some of the films.

https://lithub.com/a-desi-mr-darcy-sa...

I also just read about a queer retelling of Pride and Prejudice Just as You Are

[Anja]

I don't know if anyone will read this, but I'd like to throw in my two cents about Georgette Heyer, as some folks decide to try one of her books this month. I have read the majority of her books and have my favorites.

Yes, Heyer is problematic, and one of her most problematic books is The Grand Sophy--and yet that is the one so many begin with. I happened to not like that book, not just because of the antisemitism but because the humor is not witty and the characters are not deep. It's over-the-top but not in a great way, at least that was my experience. Others will disagree, but I'd like to steer people away from that one esp. as a first GH read.
My absolute favorite is Sylvester; for me it is the closest GH came to JA. It's also about the closest GH came to feminism. It has a similar H/H character dynamic to P&P, though not the same plot. Here Heyer gives us fabulous highly imperfect & not gorgeous well-rounded main characters; excellent research with appropriate contemporary references; dynamic plot with life imitating art then art imitating life; a hopeful/happy ending with a similarly shadowed view of marital bliss as JA; and very, very witty humor. The writing is exquisite.
Venetia is also one of her best, with a (for the 1950s) liberated heroine and loads of Shakespeare quotes/references. Lots of fun, and a pastoral love story. Great dynamics, five stars.
I can also recommend Frederica, and many fans claim this as their favorite. It has some similarities with Sylvester and is also five stars.
Any of these would be a great place to begin with GH.

[Abigail]

I agree with you about The Grand Sophy—not one of my favorites either, because I don’t like the angry (and already engaged) hero. Have to admit that I loathe Venetia, though.

I do agree on Sylvester and Frederica, two of my favorites, and would add The Unknown Ajax (also some Shakespearean bits) and Arabella. These last two have plots that acknowledge realities of Regency-era life to a greater degree than many of Heyer’s books.

[Rebecca]

I've only read The Civil Contract by Heyer and really enjoyed it by the end, but haven't really felt the need to read more of her body of work. I have been enjoying Sarah M Eden's books though, but also acknowledge that they aren't the most historically accurate.
I'd definitely recommend The Year In Between A Sense and Sensibility continuation.

[Rebecca]

I also recommend reading Eugene Onegin by Pushkin.

[Abigail]

Ay-yiyi, Rebecca, A Civil Contract is one of Heyer’s books people struggle with the most! Very atypical; the others are nearly all more lighthearted.

And I agree, The Year in Between by Christina Morland is fabulous, though it’s a chunkster.

[Rebecca]

oh A Civil Contract definitely had things that frustrated me in it, but I liked how honest and messy it was, and the every day humdrum unromantic romance of it all.

[QNPoohBear]

I love Sophy because it's so zany! My favorites are Black Sheep which is so Austenesque, Venetia and Frederica. Arabella and The Grand Sophy round out the top 5 with The Toll-Gate coming up next. I think.

My favorite contemporary Regency authors are Regina Scott and Sarah M. Eden. (I love the Jonquils!)

I enjoyed Marion Chesney, Clare Darcy, Barbara Metzgerand Carola Dunn the most of the older writers.

https://regencyreads.com/ has many of the old paperback books reissued as e-books.

[Michael]

I’m interested in finding a book telling pride and prejudice from Darcy’s perspective. Not necessarily a gushy fan-fiction book, but one who takes the book and the characters seriously. I know there are a number of them out there. Any of them good?

[Anja]

Abigail, I agree with you about The Grand Sophy hero. I also love The Unknown Ajax; Arabella I enjoyed but not as much as some others. It's been awhile since I read it so I should probably revisit. And I hate to say it because of the heroine's youth, but I loved the story in The Convenient Marriage and it, too, is high on my list.

Rebecca, I second Eugene Onegin. Great opera, too!

I also enjoy Metzger but have not yet read Clare Darcy or Carola Dunn. I have tried reading a few Chesney novels but always quit; for me they have some kind of quality of books written for children.

Post-regency, but Loretta Chase isn't celebrated nearly enough IMO...

[Rebecca]

Anja, I haven't listened to the Opera yet. Is there a particular recording you'd recommend on either cd or vinyl?

[Rebecca]

Michael, I've read Amanda Grange's Mr. Darcy's Diary. I remember enjoying it quite a bit, but its probably more on the fluffier side than what you are looking for.

[Anja]

Rebecca, opera is like a play, you must watch!
There are many productions, but I am partial to Netrebko and I found this recording from the Met Opera's 2013 live performance here, where you can watch for free:
https://www.operaonvideo.com/eugene-o...

[Rebecca]

Thank you, Anja. I definitely prefer watching Operas to simply listening to them, but rarely get the opportunity to watch them.

[Zuzana]

Hello Rebecca, you can try 2008 MET production starring Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Renée Fleming. Conducted by Valery Gergiev. Lovely production. The whole last act is a confrontation between the two main protagonist and it's one of the most grandious romantic music ever composed.

[Jassmine]

Zuzana wrote: "And I have found a great podcast that I can wholly recommend: The Thing About Austen. Hosted by two literature scholars."

Adding this to my podcasts, seems promising!
I don't really listen to podcasts so much lately, audiobooks effectively usurped that spot, but...


To the Heyer discussion. I really want to like Heyer, but the truth is that there is something about her books that rubs me a little bit in the wrong way... I only read Frederica and A Civil Contract though, so I will probably try some more of her books. Not sure which one yet though...

Adding a link to my review of Civil Contract if someone is interested (I have one for Frederica as well, but it's even older than this one and my stylistic abilities seem to be developing quite rapidly, so I kind of hate most of my older reviews 😂):
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...