Happy May everyone! I hope the sun is shining wherever you are. Perhaps you are fortunate enough to live in proximity to Box Hill for a picnic a la Emma Woodhouse (without the social indiscretions, obviously), or maybe you will have to just go to your local park and make believe! Wherever you are, I hope your Spring has well and truly sprung. Here's all the recent Austen news to go with your strawberries and cream.
Duchess of Cornwall drops by Chawton
Camilla, Duchess of Cambridge, has made a formal visit to Jane Austen's house at Chawton following improvements to the building's roof. After being shown Colin Firth's shirt from the 1995 Pride and Prejudice, Camilla remarked, "But he's not in it, that's a bit sad."
Release Date for Netflix Persuasion
The release date for Netflix's Persuasion, starring Dakota Johnson and Henry Golding, has been set as July 15th! The adaptation has split opinions, with some disappointed that this version seems to have led to the shelving of another adaptation starring Succession's Sarah Snook. What do you think? Are we excited?
Fire Island trailer is here!
A trailer has dropped for Joel Kim Booster's anticipated Fire Island, a fun new reimagining of Pride and Prejudice. Premiering on Hulu on June 3rd.
First Edition Pride and Prejudice takes big bucks
A first edition copy of Pride and Prejudice has sold at auction for a record breaking £87,500. The edition, part of a small initial print run of only 1500, is said to be in great condition for its age.
New regency drama to star Frieda Pinto
Stars Frieda Pinto and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù are signed up to star in new drama Mr. Malcolm's List. Adapted from the novel of the same name, the movie follows Selina Dalton (Pinto) as she helps her friend (Zawe Ashton) carry out revenge on the eponymous Mr Dalton (Dìrísù) after he rejects her for falling short of his demanding expectations. The movie hits cinemas on July 1st.
Women's Prize Shortlist revealed
The shortlist for one of the year's biggest literary prizes has been announced. The Women's Prize seeks to highlight the best of women's writing in the given year. The shortlist includes this month's Waterstones Book of the Month, Meg Mason's Sorrow and Bliss. The winner will be announced on June 15th.
Former Disney star furnishes home with ... books she's never read?
High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale has drawn criticism for filling her shelves with books she's never read for the sake of a magazine shoot. Tisdale is not the first to load up her shelves for the sake of it - Adele and Gwyneth Paltrow have admitted to doing the same, with Paltrow buying hers from a company who make custom jackets to go with the decor of your room. What do we think - is this shocking, or not such a big deal?
Join in with the Big Jubilee Read
BBC Arts and the Reading Agency have got together to pick 10 books from every decade of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, to celebrate her platinum jubilee. The list - selected by book experts, librarians and booksellers - includes books from all over the British Commonwealth, so whether or not you're a fan of the royal family, the list provides an excellent opportunity to broaden your reading horizons.
As always, we would love to know if we have missed anything, as well as all your thoughts on the news! Also, if you're planning an Austen themed event, play, lecture, or any other kind of get together you think we'd be interested in, please do get in touch! We'd love to give you a shout out.
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