News for Austen Enthusiasts: May 2024

Things are heating up here in Jane Austen’s England. Yes, summer is on the way - an exciting one too; Wimbledon, the Olympics, the Euros, and of course, the opportunity to do some beach reading. Who could forget, at the end of it all, the Jane Austen Festival? Exciting things await us, but before we get carried away with the festivities, let’s look back at the last month. 

Here’s all the Jane Austen news and updates you might have missed in May! 

Jane Austen fans protest historic hotel renovation

Fans of Jane Austen came from far and wide to protest in Southampton this May after news broke of plans to convert the Grade 2 listed Dolphin Hotel into student halls. It is reported that the Dolphin ballroom is where Jane Austen celebrated her 18th birthday - a big occasion, though we imagine it involved fewer sambuca shots than it might have today. 

Learn more about the protests at the Guardian >>

Colin Firth’s wet shirt goes on display

You know the one, I’m sure. Back in March, we  reported the auction of the shirt Colin Firth wore for the famous lake scene in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Well it’s finally gone on display at the Bankfield Museum in Halifax. If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the shirt up close, now is your chance. It’s on display until the end of the year. 

Read more at the BBC >>

Regency fashion exhibition goes up in Lancaster

Fans of Regency Fashion are in for a treat this summer as an exhibition featuring an array of Georgian fashions inspired by the work of Jane Austen goes up at Judges’ Lodgings in Lancaster. The exhibit displays objects and fabrics from the period, as well as providing enlightening details on how the slave trade was vital to textile production of the period.

Learn more about the exhibition here >>

Regency dance society has Bridgerton outing 

We love hearing about community groups getting involved in Austen related activities. Last month, the Georgettes of Oxford, a period social dancing group, got to travel to Claydon House in Buckinghamshire to host an evening of dancing and Regency activities. The stately home was most recently used as one of the settings of Netflix’s hit show Bridgerton. A dream come true for this group. 

Read more at BBC South >> 

Doctor Who lands his Tardis in Regency England 

After rebooting with a bang last November, Doctor Who is back! A new episode, Rogue, aired in May, and brought all the glam of Bridgerton to the cult sci-fi show. The episode also introduces Game of Thrones actress Indira Varma and broadway darling Jonathan Groff to the Whoniverse. 

Read the review at Digital Spy >>

The real-life ladies inspiring Lady Whistledown

The anonymous gossip has been a fixture of television since the 2000s - think Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. In Bridgerton, Lady Whistledown is much like the anonymous troublemakers of these shows, but how much of that is based in fact. An interesting article in Town and Country looks into the history of gossip columns and pamphlets, and finds a surprising amount of fact amongst the fiction.

Curious? Read the full article here >> 

Part one of Bridgerton Season 3 drops 

Here at the Austen blog, we’ve been chatting all things Bridgerton this past month in anticipation of the new series. Well, we’ve had the first half and the reviews are starting to roll in. We’d love to hear your thoughts! The second part of the season will arrive on Netflix on June 13th. We can’t wait!

Read the Empire review >> (Warning: Spoilers!)

As always, we would love to know if we have missed anything, as well as all your thoughts on the news! 

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