Jane Austen News - Issue 165

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  The Biggest Bookcase Ever?

One street artist has taken his love for literature to the extreme by creating an enormous bookcase mural in the Dutch city of Utrecht. Boekenkast (the Dutch word for bookcase) is the creation of local artist Jan Is De Man, and can perhaps best be described as a giant optical illusion – featuring humongous books complete with intricate details. The project began when Jan was asked to paint something to improve the overall vibe of the neighbourhood. To choose which titles would be included Jan toured the neighbourhood to ask locals for their favourite reads for inspiration. Titles featured on Boekenkast range from classics like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (a fact which we love!), to newer additions like Mark Manson's The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Incredibly, the books on show span eight different languages! When we came across the images we felt we simply had to include it in this week's Jane Austen News.

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Mr Collins and Lizzy Bennet Are In Love

Did you know, there is a world in which Mr Collins and Elizabeth Bennet are in love? Well, sort of...

Matt Smith who played Mr Collins in the 2014 film of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (but is probably better known for playing Doctor Who from 2010 to 2013), and Lily James who played Elizabeth Bennet in the same film of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (more recently she played young Donna in Mamma Mia Here We Go Again) have been an item ever since they met on the set of the 2014 film.