Jane Austen News - Issue 83
What's the Jane Austen News this week?
The Guardian Visits Bath!
Two of her six novels – Northanger Abbey and Persuasion – are set in the town. In the course of their narration Bath changes from being a backdrop to a virtual character, full of airs that are not of the healthiest kind. What for Catherine in the first book was elevating has become, for Anne in the second, enervating. Perhaps, given the hot springs that gave the city its name, the best word is immersive.If you fancy following in Mr Franks' footsteps yourself, then you might like to read the whole of his article here.
A Well-Dressed Well of Austen! This week the Jane Austen News was treated to a marvelous sight thanks to Jessica from Derbyshire, who shared pictures of a well dressing which had been created in her local village. In case you've not come across it before, well dressing is a tradition found in the Peak District and Derbyshire area. It involves creating nature-based works of art from flowers, leaves, feathers, twigs and the like, which are then put on display next to wells and water features. Mystery surrounds the exact source of this ancient tradition – but it's believed to have been brought to the area by the Romans or the Celts, to give thanks for the county’s fresh water springs. This year the village of Holymoorside, in Chesterfield made a Pride and Prejudice themed display...



Seeing The Funny Side of Pride and Prejudice

Austen is so easy to read, she makes sense (and sensib … shut up Sara). There is no unnecessary verboseness, fields are for trampling across, not spending pages going on about. The characters are lively and charming and the woman cracks great gags. “Austen is so funny,” I began to say during literary conversations and anyone who had read her would agree.Sara wrote her article as the stage adaptation of Pride and Prejudice which she was commissioned to write is soon to be showing at Nottingham Playhouse and then at the York Theatre Royal this autumn, and she is keen to show the funny side of Austen in her script.
I have been as truthful to Austen’s comedy and language as possible, but with intermittent modern commentary.We at the Jane Austen News look forward to reading the reviews! Hopefully the focus on the funny side of Austen will convince a few more reluctant readers to give her a go!
If you're in the nearby vicinity and enjoy literary lectures, then you might like to know that the University of Wisconsin-


Slowly, I became more familiar with the prose in these novels. Not only has it helped me with my own style of writing and vocabulary, but it has also taught me to become more evaluative, and to question everything. I’ve developed my skills as a reader by analysing the characters and putting my own perspective forward, engaging with their lives. Whereas evaluation is a key part of the science sector, evaluation in literature involves putting forward a perspective, or rather a qualitative argument, based on instincts rather than evidence. It is not about proving you are right, but being able to convince others that you are right.So next time someone tries to tell you that reading for pleasure is a waste of time, point them in the direction of Manpreet's article!

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