Jane Austen Centre Newsletter

American novelist Jay McInerney, author of Bright Lights, Big City, has, over the course of some 30 years of reading and rereading, found his admiration shifting amongst Jane Austen's heroines. Here he describes some of his serial crushes!
 

The long anticipated 'Persuasion' book charm is here! It opens up to reveal a memorable quotation from the book:"You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me that I am not too late, that such precious feelings are gone forever..." This is the fourth Jane Austen charm of the six book set and can be worn as a pendant or on your charm bracelet. Would make a stunning gift; collect the whole set!

Last month I told you all about the British Library and how you can now view 'The History of England' online. Now the University of Oxford and King’s College London have launched a joint project entitled ‘Jane Austen’s Fiction Manuscripts.’ It’s a digital resource reuniting all the known surviving manuscripts of Austen’s fiction. Wonderful.

It’s no good; we cannot avoid the World Cup. It does become more interesting though when you know that football was played in the eighteenth century and that the Jane Austen Today blog has put together a Jane Austen World Cup team! Mr. Knightly in midfield? You have my full attention! Now, this really would be a beautiful game . . . .

There is still time to vote in this year’s Regency World Awards. Who is your favourite Regency Rogue? Though my least favourite Austen novel is ‘Mansfield Park’, Henry Crawford is definitely my favourite rogue. Why did Fanny not marry him?! Oh, don’t get me started . . . . . .