A treat today in my mailbox ~ the November-December 2008 issue of Jane Austen’s Regency World, the cover graced with the latest Darcy incarnation, Colin Donnell, from the new Pride & Prejudice, the Musical.

A quick summary of the table of contents:

• Austen Bank Goes Bust:  the story of Henry Austen’s bank failure, a regency economic crisis
• P&P-the new Musical: by Tim Bullamore with the story behind the story.
• One for the Ladies:  by Ian Kelly, author of a new biography of Casanova, on his importance as a chronicler of 18th century London life.
• Lost in Austen:  a review of the series by Hugo Rifkind and JARW editor Sue Hughes.
• The Jane Austen Font and the Missing X:  by Pia Frauss (see more below)
• The English Type: by Philip Jansseune, on the type of William Caslon, chosen for the new design of JARW.
• Christmas in Regency England: by Tim Bullamore.
• Putting on the Ballroom Blues:  by Chris Coyle on Bath’s assembly rooms paint makeover (and in my favorite color!)
• Elizabeth Inchbald’s Lover’s Vows: by Caroline Fitton on the novelist and actress and the play that formed the pivotal scenes in Mansfield Park.
• Finding Pemberley: by JASNA’s own Iris Lutz on her visit to Chatsworth and other Austen-related houses on the JASNA-sponsored tour “Jane Austen’s Great Houses in Fact and Fiction.”
• Lichfield Conference – Jane Austen and Dr. Johnson: by Marilyn Joice on the JAS conference in September 2008.
• Book reviews: by Joceline Bury on Jane Odiwe’s Lydia Bennet’s Story, Carol Shield’s Jane Austen, and Penelope Byrd’s Jane Austen Fashion.

I like this new format and the in-depth articles…there are letters, news, news from Nov-Dec 1800, and of course, fabulous pictures throughout! 

The article by Pia Frauss, the creator of the Jane Austen font (and the one that JASNA uses in its logo), writes that she had to invent the capital letter X, as Jane never penned the letter.  You can read the  article and learn more at her website:  Pia Frauss’ Fonts

I highly recommend that you subscribe…a perfect holiday gift for yourself or your favorite Austen lover!