November 01, 2016
Jane Austen News - Issue 41
What's the Jane Austen News this week?
Romance At The Centre There was excitement in the Jane Austen Centre this week when one visitor was asked an unexpected question by her boyfriend, Jamie Scott. Charlotte, one of our centre guides, described what happened. "I only saw a little bit because I wanted to give them some private time. But by some luck, they were the only two in their talk. When they got to the writing desks, they were alone in the room with only me! While she was reading some of the information boards he wrote 'Will you marry me?' on one of the cards. "She then sat down at the other desk and he went and gave her his card. I had left at this point to give them a moment, but was just outside with Serena (another of our guides) when she said yes. He gave her the ring he had kept hidden until that moment, and then we came around the corner and congratulated them. She seemed overwhelmed. It was lovely!"Help Design Jane Austen Benches

If You Love Jane Austen, You Might Also Love....

Jane Austen - The Secret Radical

Within Jane's novels are arguments on the subjects of feminism, slavery, abuse, the treatment of the poor, the power of the Church, and even evolution – at a time, and in a place, when to write about such things directly was akin to treason.Reviewers have said ‘However well you think you know the novels, you’ll be raring to read them again once you’ve read this.’ We have to say; we're intrigued...
What to Expect From The Jane Austen Writers' Club
From one new Jane Austen book to another.
Rebecca Smith has just published her how-to novel which explains how to write a novel using examples from Jane Austen's novels and letters of advice which she wrote to her own aspiring-author niece.
Smith starts with advice on how to plan your story, and create believable, well-rounded characters and their environs. Then she moves onto how Jane uses irony, and picks out details and speech mannerisms, which has to be one of her most honed skills. Smith herself writes: “This whole book could be devoted to Jane Austen’s use of dialogue.”
Some of the other key pieces of advice Smith offers are:
For Austen Fans Near Reading

- Be a people-watcher (and listener)
- Find somebody you trust to edit your work
- In the face of rejection, keep writing
- Suspense, suspense, suspense!


2 comments
Looking forward to reading Jane Austen: The Secret Radical. But did you really mean “arguments against feminism…”? I’m going to guess it’s an editing mistake. Meanwhile, I love getting all the latest Austen-related news!
Lhogue
July 26, 2020
Hi Lhogue,
You’re quite right! I’ve corrected that sentence now. Thanks for letting me know. I’m really glad that you enjoy the Jane Austen News each week. It’s really nice to get feedback.
Thanks again,
Jenni
Jenni Waugh
July 26, 2020