“Austen Addict” novels spin off into web series!

Laurie Viera Rigler’s wonderful Austen Addict timeswap novels have inspired a hilarious new Babelgum web series!  “Sex and the Austen Girl” premiered today with the first of twenty episodes.  Entitled “Meeting Men,” this series introduction features Austen Addict characters Courtney Stone (Arabella Field) and Jane Mansfield (Fay Masterson) discussing the dating differences and similarities between 1813 England and 2010 California.

How can you encourage men to call?

Jane, on 1813:  “You wait! You wait and hope!”

Which is pretty much how it goes in the 21st century, too.

How do you meet men?

Courtney:  “…you go to parties, you go to bars, you go to restaurants…”
Jane:  “…you marry your cousin…”

I guess it worked for Fanny Price.

Anyway, here’s episode 1:

The teaser:

Poking fun at everything from Helen Gurley Brown’s Sex and the Single Girl to crazed 21st century Austenites, “Sex and the Austen Girl” is the funniest, most relatable chick-centric web production I’ve seen in a long time.

More…

Anne Sharp’s presentation copy of Emma resold…

UPDATE: As of November, 2012, the Sharp presentation copy of Austen’s Emma is for sale…again?

The presentation copy of Emma originally gifted to Jane Austen’s good friend Anne Sharp (and likely real-life model for Mrs. Weston)  garnered £325,000 – or $489,747 – in a transaction announced this week (April, 2010).  Christiaan Jonkers of British-based Jonkers Rare Books purchased the copy at auction in 2008 for considerably less (£180,000/$271,294).  For more discussion…

Austenprose’s Sanditon event and Emma onstage in Ohio…

Remember, Austenprose.com is presenting a group read of Jane Austen’s unfinished Sanditon, starting tomorrow – March 15!  The Ides of March!  Join Laurel Ann and the gang for some fun discussion of the novel and Regency-era seaside culture.

And now I feel like I should be quoting Ovid or something on the ascention of Julius Caesar to the heavens as a star.  Yay, emperor cultism.

Anyway.  I’ve also got a roundup of articles pertaining to Michael Bloom’s stage adaptation of Emma, which premiered last month at the Cleveland Playhouse in Ohio.  It’s running now at the Drury Theatre through March 21:

Sanditon Group Read @ Austenprose!

Join in the fun!  Laurel Ann is hosting a Sanditon group read at Austenprose.com, March 15-21!

Northanger Abbey group watch and chat…

Hey #emma_pbs fans! Unofficial Northanger Abbey group chat on Twitter during Masterpiece Classic on Sunday! 9pm ET start… 😀 Laurie and I will be there!

Opinions of Jane Austen’s Emma, from the period

Though described by Jane Austen as “a heroine whom no one but myself will much like” (James Edward Austen-Leigh’s Memoir of Jane Austen, p. 158), Emma has delighted millions of readers throughout the years. Emma the novel also has its share of fans, though like its eponymous heroine, it has its detractors, too. Continue reading “Opinions of Jane Austen’s Emma, from the period”

Austen Pilgrimage to England, 1997

Austenprose presents “A Soiree with Lady Susan”

My good friend Laurel Ann is conducting another superb themed event at her Austenprose blog, this time centered upon Jane Austen’s epistolary novella Lady Susan.  From September 1-14, participate in a group read and enjoy insights from LA and her various guest bloggers.

A Soiree with Lady Susan

PS – I did the title graphics. Go ahead and tell us how wonderful they are. (JK!)