Jane Austen News - Issue 163

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A Bevy Of Recommended Biographies 

If you, like us, love reading about the authors behind some of our favourite novels, then you may find a few gems on this list of recommended literary biographies. We came across a great list compiled by Sarah Ullery on BookRiot, and these are the biographies that really stood out to us (and perhaps to you too). The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited American Romanticismby Megan Marshall Dubbed the “American Brontës” by some, the three Peabody sisters were one influence on the thinking of writers like Thoreau and Hawthorne. In fact, the youngest sister, Sophia, married Nathaniel Hawthorne.

A biography about the author of the morbid and gothic fairytales like The Bloody Chamber and gothic novels like The Magic Toyshop. The full article, with even more suggestions, can be found here. The reading list for those of us at the Jane Austen News has certainly grown considerably having found this list!

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So Much Judi, So Little Time We loved reading the article in The Guardian this week which listed all of the films which Judi Dench has starred in, and which attempted to rank them in order of brilliance (for any film with Judi Dench in must surely be at least a little brilliant simply because she is in it). These were the Judi Dench top ten films: 1. Notes on a Scandal (2006) 2. Philomena (2013) 3. Mrs Brown (1997) 4. Iris (2001) 5. Skyfall (2012) 6. Shakespeare in Love (1998) 7. Four in the Morning (1965) 8. A Handful of Dust (1988) 9. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1968) 10. Nothing Like a Dame (2018) Shockingly, her role as Lady Catherine de Bourgh in the 2005 film of Pride and Prejudice only came in at number 23! Although the article did add that it was:

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with the top ten? It's a tough ranking to make! Cyphers Theatre Company, whose previous productions include Three Musketeers and Great Expectations, began their 2019 spring tour at the Diss Corn Hall on April 20 with an Austen classic - Northanger Abbey. Their fun and quirky adaptation of Austen’s novel about growing up and making mistakes sees the cast playing multiple roles and revelling in fast-paced action. Abigail Morgan, who plays the role of Catherine Morland, said: “There is not some extravagant set and we have people playing multiple roles, men playing ladies. I’m not sure you would necessarily expect that if you were coming to see Jane Austen.” Howard Horner, whose multiple roles include General Tilney and James Morland, as well as switching genders to play Mrs Morland and Mrs Thorpe, added: “It is fun — a lot more fun than I think people will expect.” Northanger Abbey began its 2019 tour at Diss Corn Hall in Norfolk on April 20th. Other upcoming tour venues will include Tunbridge Wells, Bedford, Poole, Thames Ditton, and Dorchester.