Jane Austen Fan News - March 2018

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Jane Austen in Jersey (Island Not State) A little bit of Bath is in Jersey this week, as well as a little bit of Jane Austen.

Actors from Bath's famous Natural Theatre Company have traveled over to the largest of the channel islands and are spending the week as Georgians in Residence at St. Helier's Georgian House, 16 New Street. Last year the company visited the island to perform The Importance of Being Earnest, but this year they're putting on their walkabout show, Austen Undone (previously seen at Bath's own Jane Austen Festival). Austen Undone is described as a ‘who’s who’ and ‘what’s what’ of Austen’s life and works, but as director Andy Burnham explained: ‘It doesn’t matter whether you are an Austen fanatic or you have never picked up one of her novels, what we love about these tours is that they are for anyone and everyone.’ A good show to see if you're an islander and a Jane Austen fan. Though hopefully we'll soon see Austen Undone at another Jane Austen Festival in Bath.

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This Week's Reading Recommendations As well as giving fellow Jane Austen fans the very latest Jane Austen related news, we also aim to let you know about items that might be of interest, even if they are not directly linked to Austen.

On that note, we have two book recommendations which you might not have come across before, which we thought you, as a devotee of the style and themes of Austen, might like to read (in between re-reading Austen's novels of course). The first is Belinda by Maria Edgeworth. It is said by some to be one of the inspirations for later Austen works. Belinda is a "society novel" which looks at the difficulty which young ladies had in marrying for love rather than for financial reasons. In it, seventeen-year-old Belinda Portman is sent by her aunt to live with the wealthy and respected Lady Delacour. Lady Delacour, though rich, is vastly unhappy as she has an alcoholic husband whom she fights with, and a daughter who she is estranged from. Belinda and Delacour's friend Clarence Hervey try to help her find happiness. In doing so Clareance and Belinda find themselves falling for each other. Our other recommendation for this week is A Lady of Quality by Francis Hodgson Burnett. Although Francis is better known for The Secret Garden or A Little Princess, A Lady of Quality is one of her books for adults, and one which did very well. In 1896 it was the second highest-selling book in the U.S. In A Lady of Quality, Clorinda Wildairs, who used to be a bit of a wild one, turns herself into a charming lady with wit, a fine wardrobe, and a string of admirers (having realised that her father is penniless and in order to support herself she'll have to marry rich). However, the historical fiction breaks out of its single genre and takes a twist when it also becomes a murder mystery. If you read either this week (or have already read either) maybe leave us a comment and let us know what you thought?