Author: elaineowenauthor207097889
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A Fond Farewell and Giveaway Results
As the Always Austen blog draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the many years spent typing away in the company of Darcy, Elizabeth, and an endless parade of tea cups. Writing Jane Austen fan fiction has taught me a few things—some practical, some philosophical, and some just plain ridiculous. Here’s a small…
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Such I Was: Excerpt and Giveaway!
After three years of effort, my current work in progress, Such I Was, is nearly complete! I have shared one or two excerpts from it before, but I would like to share a passage below. And at the end, there will be a giveaway! In this variation of Pride and Prejudice, after Jane follows Bingley…
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My Husband, Mr. Darcy, and Me: An Anniversary Trip to England
This summer my husband and I are planning a trip to England to celebrate our 35th anniversary. Huzzah!!! Now, to be clear, my sweet husband is not a Jane Austen fan. I doubt he could name all six of her novels, or perhaps even two of them. But he knows the plot of Pride and…
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The Christmas Jane Austen Didn’t Write
Christmas is barely mentioned in any of Austen’s novels. (Quick—can you think of two places where it is mentioned? Post your answers below!) At first glance, it seems strange that a clergyman’s daughter—one who wrote memorable prayers and was notably pious—would ignore such a major religious holiday in her fiction. A closer examination, however, sheds…
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“Bright Ideas in a Bygone Era: Regency Lighting”
Greetings, friends! It is that time of year when the days grow shorter, the nights stretch longer, and we long to decorate every conceivable surface with lights. Because if it’s not dazzling, is it even worth looking at? 🙂 We in the modern age enjoy the magic of illumination with a flick of a switch…
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Flames, Follies, and Fitzwilliam Darcy
Next week will be Guy Fawkes Day, a holiday celebrated mainly in Great Britain, especially in England. It’s surprising we don’t celebrate it in the United States, since fireworks, food, and rebellion are a point of national pride. But then again, we usually cheer for successful rebellions. 🙂 For those of you who may not…
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Pride, Prejudice, and the Royal Ascot
I just watched the final Downton Abbey movie this weekend. I won’t give a movie review here (unless someone asks!!), but I was struck by one scene in particular: the whole family attending the Royal Ascot races together. I was already vaguely familiar with the famous races, but wow! The crowds, the clothes, the elegance!…
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Bennet vs Bennet:
The Ultimate Pride and Prejudice Parenting Debate Those of us who love Jane Austen and the characters she created have mixed feelings about Mr. Bennet. Without a doubt, his sarcasm and laugh out loud one liners make him one of literature’s most memorable dads. But what kind of father is he really? Is he a…
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All Dressed Up with Somewhere to Go: The Cost of a Ball Gown in Regency England
If you’re anything like me you’ve probably spent a ridiculous amount of time imagining what Elizabeth Bennet wore the night she danced with Mr. Darcy at Netherfield. Was it muslin? Silk? Did it swish dramatically when she turned away from him in elegant disdain? And the all important question: what did it cost Mr. Bennet?…
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The Character I’d Most Want to Meet
If the characters in Pride and Prejudice could come to life in front of you, and you could meet any one of them that you wanted in the flesh, which one would you most like to meet? And why would it be Mr. Darcy? Just kidding, of course. (Not really.) But besides Mr. Darcy, the…