Jane Austen News - January 2019
What's the Jane Austen News this week?
Lost Photographs of Jane Austen's Nieces
Lost photographs of Jane Austen's nieces and nephews have been discovered in an old photo album which was purchased on eBay. Karen Levers, 51, bought the book of Victorian photographs for $1,000 (£780) from eBay, expecting it to be full of pictures of 19th century aristocrats. Instead she found it to be filled with photographs of Jane Austen's nieces and nephews. The album was compiled by Lord George Augusta Hill, an aristocrat who married two of Jane Austen's nieces, Cassandra and Louisa, both of whom were daughters of her older brother Edward.The Joy of Holding Onto Books

Books are not a reflection of our thoughts and values, because more often than not they reflect someone else’s, whether it is Lolita, Mrs Dalloway or Snoopy. [...] The question of whether my books will be beneficial to my life moving forward requires a biblio-telepathy I do not possess. Success is, eventually, actually reading your unread books, or at least holding on to them long enough that they have the chance to satisfy, dissatisfy or dement you. Unread books are imagined reading futures, not an indication of failure.We thought this was an excellent alternative stance to take when it comes to books and whether to keep them or not. We also fully support Schofield's closing statement:
Rather than following Kondo’s rules, I’d like to suggest another: it should be obligatory that all living spaces come with built-in bookshelves. (And a hammock.)
Words We Love

Word of the Day? I love discovering new words. I usually find several new, wonderful words when I am reading books by English writers.
My latest discovery and my word of the day is palimpsest. Meaning a manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for other writing, but of which traces remain.
Linda Kenney, Account Executive
For my answer, maybe I’ll focus on alliteration and allow myself only a few today starting with the letter v: voracious, vapid, veracity, vexing, vehement.Billy Fong, Culture and Style Editor
A parvenu...“one who has recently or suddenly risen to an unaccustomed position of wealth or power and has not yet gained the prestige, dignity, or manner, associated with it.”Rebecca Sherman, Home Design Editor.
My word is gumption. I was reminded of this word after watching The Holiday. It’s a word I want to use and embody more in 2019.Now comes the question we had to ask; what are some of your top "words to share" words?Maggie Wilson, Events and Partnerships Manager
This Week's Recommended Read
It is the first novel I have read that has convincingly captured what it is to be young today: often overeducated, neurotic, slightly too self-aware.We loved reading it at the Jane Austen News and thought you might enjoy it too.Guardian Reviewer, Sian Cain
Jane Austen News is our weekly compilation of stories about or related to Austen. Here we will feature a variety of items, including craft tutorials, reviews, news stories, articles and photos from around the world.
2 comments
I love forward to visiting Bath this Saturday, hopefully I will be able to see where Jane and Cassandra lived (and the Jane Austen gift shop!)
That photo album was an amazing find! I especially liked seeing Fanny, as she was so close to her aunt.