Category: Community
-
Unexpected Moments of Reaching Out
One scene has kept me coming back to George Eliot’s Middlemarch for fifty years. Dorothea, a young and engaging woman, has married an older man, clergyman Mr. Casaubon, out of an intellectual and religious ardor for his scholarship. After just eighteen months, she realizes that she is trapped in a loveless marriage with a third-rate…
-
THE Book
THE BOOK is that memorable, cherished book you read when you were school age. It was given to you by a parent, grandparent, teacher, or librarian. Most of our remembered BOOKS were enjoyable, but some were scary or sad or bad. Their common bond is that they made an impression that has lasted into adulthood…
-
Just What Does That Mean?
Wonder about some British slang and what it means? Try to figure out what these ones are.
-
On this day…1700-the Regency, England
Did you know some significant historical events happened before Christmas and the day after the holiday? On December 24, 1716: 24 December (4 January 1717 New Style) – Britain, France, and the Dutch Republic signed the Triple Alliance[3] in an attempt to maintain the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), Britain having signed a preliminary alliance with…
-
Blessed Be this All Hallow’s Eve
Given that this is one of the few posts a year that can step beyond the boundaries of the Regency time, I took full advantage of it. The lore of witches, those with mystical learned skills or powers, are mentioned in tales of old, centuries before any sect of the Christian religion was formed. “In…
-
Austen Friendships
In the past few months, I have been thinking about relationships, particularly friendships. Each of us has groups of friends. Some of them we met through family; some at church, school, or work; and others through our interests. Some friend groups crossover and some have never met. There are those friends that we attend specific…
-
Coffee Adventure: Cold Version
My books have largely been fueled on coffee, late nights, and early mornings. What wouldn’t we give for a supply of coffee always at the ready, always close at hand, maybe even always in the fridge? This summer I learned that it’s a do-able thing.
-
Yes, Everyone!
Champion blogger and author Melanie Schertz posted a question and answer asking reader opinions on a variety of JAFF hot topics. What can I say? I liked it, so I have answered it here.
-
The Wonders of the Royal Menagerie
So many books set in the Regency mention the Royal Menagerie that I could not resist learning how close my imagination and other authors are to the real deal. What I did not realize was that there were two places to see exotic animals in London. The Tower of London housed animals for much of…
-
Translating Your JAFF Novel with Cristina Huelsz
As a Jane Austen fanfiction (JAFF) reader, one sees Cristina (Cristy) at web events, on Zoom meetings, and we see her posts on many of our favorite sites. But for those who are new to our sites or are just joining the JAFF community, Cristy is one of our most diverse members, as she offers…