Pride & Prejudice
Jane Austen’s ‘own darling Child’
Today in ‘Pride & Prejudice’ ~ Inquiring Readers Want to Know…
According to Ellen Moody’s calendar for Pride & Prejudice , it is on Friday / Saturday, Sept 4 -5, 1812, that Elizabeth writes to her Aunt Gardiner for an explanation of Lydia’s reference to Mr. Darcy’s attendance at her wedding: Vol. III, ch. IX, 319-20 (Chapman).
“Mr. Darcy!” repeated Elizabeth, in utter amazement.
“Oh, yes! – he was to come there with Wickham, you know. But gracious me! I quite forgot! I ought not to have said a word about it. I promised them so faithfully! What will Wickham say? It was to be such a secret!”
“If it was to be secret,” said Jane, “say not another word on the subject. You may depend upon my seeking no further.”
“Oh! certainly,” said Elizabeth, though burning with curiosity; “we will ask you no questions.”
“Thank you,” said Lydia; “for if you did, I should certainly tell you all, and then Wickham would be angry.”
On such encouragement to ask, Elizabeth was forced to put it out of her power by running away.
But to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible; or, at least, it was impossible not to try for information. Mr. Darcy had been at her sister’s wedding. It was exactly a scene, and exactly among people, where he had apparently least to do, and least temptation to go. Conjectures as to the meaning of it, rapid and wild, hurried into her brain; but she was satisfied with none. Those that best pleased her, as placing his conduct in the noblest light, seemed most improbable. She could not bear such suspense; and hastily seizing a sheet of paper, wrote a short letter to her aunt, to request an explanation of what Lydia had dropped, if it were compatible with the secrecy which had been intended.
“You may readily comprehend,” she added, “what my curiosity must be to know how a person so unconnected with any of us, and (comparatively speaking) a stranger to our family, should have been amongst you at such a time. Pray write instantly, and let me understand it – unless it is, for very cogent reasons, to remain in the secrecy which Lydia seems to think necessary; and then I must endeavour to be satisfied with ignorance.”
“Not that I shall, though,” she added to herself, as she finished the letter; “and, my dear aunt, if you do not tell me in an honourable manner, I shall certainly be reduced to tricks and stratagems to find it out.”
[Aunt Gardener’s reply is dated Sept. 6 from Gracechurch-street, in Ch. X, 321-325]
So, Inquiring Readers, my question is, as we read this last paragraph – does Elizabeth say that last line to herself, or is it written in the letter to her Aunt?
[Posted by Deb]
Pride & Prejudice in Utah
News Alert from Utah: from Utah Public Radio
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice has become part of the canon of Western literature, and it has a huge fan following. Why does this story still speak to us today, in both the original novel form and its many adaptations? We’ll explore the subject with four guests: two who are BYU professors and two who are integrally involved with its production at this year’s Shakespearean festival.
You can listen here: Classical 89: Thinking Aloud [click on the P&P link for June 28, 2010]
The Utah Shakespearean Festival is staging Pride & Prejudice through August 28th, with various Austen-related events during the “Jane Austen Week” of July 19-24. [and the JASNA Utah Region is very much involved.]
With thanks to Janeite Sylvia for this information [her son is the director!]
[Posted by Deb]
Jane Austen’s ‘Own Darling Child’
- Austenprose / November’s Autumn on publishing history of P&P
- Publishing history of Persuasion at JAIV
- Publishing history of Northanger Abbey at JAIV
- Brabourne edition of Jane Austen’s letters [at Pemberley.com]
- the “Letters” page at JAIV with additional links
[Posted by Deb]
Marvel-Mania yet again! ~ the ‘Pride & Prejudice’ Comic Book
I have posted in the past on the Marvel Comics five issue series of Pride & Prejudice [you can see these posts here: issues one, two, three, four, and five] ~ but now the hardcover issue is available for purchase at your local comic book store. It is a lovely book, with a dust jacket [picturing the cover of the first issue] and including a title page [of Elizabeth sitting on a stone wall reading Mr. Darcy’s letter], an introduction by the adapter Nancy Butler, and illustrations of all five covers appended at the end. A must-have addition to your Austen collection… or a special gift for your Austen-fanatic friends…
See Marvel Comics for more information.
[Posted by Deb]
Starring in ‘Pride & Prejudice’ …. YOU!
Have you always wanted to actually BE Elizabeth Bennet? – sitting at the pianoforte [playing just passably] with Mr. Darcy staring at you from across the room? or having the gumption to turn down his first marriage proposal, despite those £10,000? or how about putting your mother-in-law in the shoes of Lady Catherine? or your snobbiest acquaintance in those of Miss Bingley?
Well, you can! and like in P&P and Zombies, where it seems that just about anyone can take Austen’s text and fiddle with it at will, bending it to their own means, now you can have the complete book but with the main characters names changed to those of your own choosing, all bound up nicely in a paperback edition that you can send out to all your friends, and all this for only $22.99!
Here is the list of “Characters to Customize” ~
- Elizabeth Bennet smart, strong woman, not afraid to state her opinion
- Jane Bennet beautiful, timid, and beloved by her sister, Elizabeth
- Charles Bingley friendly, handsome, rich, young aristocrat, and good friend of F. Darcy
- Fitzwilliam Darcy wealthy, reserved, and intelligent friend of Charles Bingley, brother of Georgiana, and nephew of Lady Catherine
- George Wickham attractive, suave, self-interested soldier
- Lydia Bennet immature, outgoing younger sister of Jane and Elizabeth
- Catherine Bennet follower of her older sister Lydia in action and personality
- Mary Bennet dry, pedantic, and socially awkward Bennet sister
- Georgiana Darcy sweet, kind, and perhaps naive sister to F. Darcy
- Catherine de Bourgh archetypical dowager, aunt to Georgiana and F. Darcy, stern, opinionated and used to getting her way
- Caroline Bingley snooty sister of Charles Bingley
For more information visit MyCustomNovel.com, where you can add in your own dedication, choose your own covers and turn your best friend into Jane Bennet…
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There are also several other titles for making personalized copies, classics all:
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
- Anne of Green Gables
- Alice in Wonderland
- Black Beauty
- The Call of the Wild
- A Christmas Carol
- Peter Pan
- Treasure Island
[Sorry, “Deb in Wonderland” just doesn’t cut it…] – but I do know a few people I could substitute for Scrooge…
What character(s) name would you choose to edit as someone you know and why?
[Posted by Deb]
Holy Austen, Batman! Pride & Prejudice #5
Get thee hence to your local comic book store tomorrow [August 12, 2009], as the fifth and final issue of the Marvel Comics Pride & Prejudice is released:
COVER BY: Sonny Liew
WRITER: Nancy Butler
PENCILS: Hugo Petrus
INKS: Hugo Petrus
COLORED BY: Aubrey Sitterson
LETTERED BY: Dave Sharpe
THE STORY: All good things come to an end. Join us for our final issue, as we find who weds whom, who is left alone, and if Mrs. Bennet can manage to stop screaming for more than three minutes… Rated T …$3.99
IN STORES: August 12, 2009
IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE FORMAT: Comic
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Also note that there will be a hardcover edition containing all five issues – to be published in October and available now for pre-order. You can view information at the Marvel Comics website, but check your local comic book store for ordering details. [I have to add here that my local comic book store, Earth Prime Comics, has been the most helpful and accommodating retail store of any I have patronized in a long time! – I might even return to my early years as an avid Superman / Batman comics reader just to continue to visit them – or maybe even find a graphic novel or two!]
[Posted by Deb]
A Jane Austen Weekend in Vermont!
The Governor’s House in Hyde Park will be hosting another Jane Austen event next weekend on August 14-16 ~ topic is Pride & Prejudice.
Jane Austen Weekend: Pride and Prejudice*
The Governor’s House in Hyde Park
Friday to Sunday, Aug. 14 – 16
[also the weekends of Sept. 11 – 13, 2009 and Jan. 8 – 10, 2010]
http://www.OneHundredMain.com/jane_austen.html
802-888-6888, tollfree 866-800-6888 or info@OneHundredMain.com
Reservations are required!
A leisurely weekend of literary-inspired diversions has something for every Jane Austen devoteé. Slip quietly back into Regency England in a beautiful old mansion. Take afternoon tea. Listen to Mozart. Bring your needlework. Share your thoughts at a discussion of Pride and Prejudice and how the movies stand up to the book. Attend the talk entitled The World of Jane Austen. Test your knowledge of Pride and Prejudice and the Regency period and possibly take home a prize. Take a carriage ride or sleigh ride. For the gentleman there are riding and fly fishing as well as lots of more modern diversions if a whole weekend of Jane is not his cup of tea. Join every activity or simply indulge yourself quietly all weekend watching the movies. Dress in whichever century suits you. It’s not Bath, but it is Hyde Park and you’ll love Vermont circa 1800.
Note that our very own Kelly McDonald will be speaking on
“Georgiana Darcy and the ‘Naïve Art’ of Young Ladies” ~ Looking into the lives of ladies like Georgiana Darcy (Pride & Prejudice), as expressed through their artwork.
[from “Mrs. Hurst Dancing”, illus. by Diana Sperling]
[see Kelly’s blog at Two Teens in the Time of Austen for more information on her talk…]
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*Or come for just an afternoon or evening and choose from these activities:
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Informal Talk with Coffee and Dessert, Friday, 8:00 p.m., $14.00
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Afternoon Tea, Saturday, 3:00 p.m., $20.00
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Book Discussion and Dinner, Saturday, 7:00 p.m., $35.00
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Jane Austen Quiz and Sunday Brunch, Sunday, 11:30 a.m., $15.00
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All four activities: $75.00
The Governor’s House in Hyde Park
100 Main St
Hyde Park, VT 05655
http://www.OneHundredMain.com/jane_austen.html
802-888-6888, tollfree 866-800-6888 or info@OneHundredMain.com
[Posted by Deb]
Holy Austen, Batman! ~ Pride & Prejudice # 4
News Alert! Issue 4 to be released today July 8, 2009!
- COVER BY: Sonny Liew
- WRITER: Nancy Butler
- PENCILS: Hugo Petrus
- INKS: Hugo Petrus
- COLORED BY: Aubrey Sitterson|Aubrey Sitterson
- LETTERED BY: Dave Sharpe
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NOTE: a hardcover edition of the 5 issues will be released later this year on November 11, 2009!!
And here is a sneak preview of the cover for Issue # 5, to be released in August:
Posted by Deb