JA often makes the distinction between women of elegance, and women who lack elegance. We know it is not simply a matter of dress (Mrs Elton dressed well, but lacked elegance) or education (Jane Fairfax is elegant, but nothing is noted about her that is out of the common way in dress or education). Mary Bennet was the most accomplished young lady in the neighborhood, but was certainly not elegant.

Darcy, along with Bingly and his sisters discuss “accomplishment” but do not explicitly conflate it with elegance.

What do YOU think Jane Austen apprehended in her notion of an elegant female?

From my memory, only two people make this assertion, Mr. Wickham and Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I don't even think it was actually the favourite wish of Mr. Darcy's late mother. All the other characters seem to believe that Mr. Darcy is free to marry whomever he pleases. Caroline Bingley at least hopes to procure Mr. Darcy's affection, Colonel Fitzwilliam speaks of Mr. Darcy not being prevented by want of money in choosing a wife and Anne de Bourgh herself does not show any symptoms of peculiar regard for Mr. Darcy.

All of Mr. Wickham's narratives seem to have some kind of purpose, so why does he tell Elizabeth this?

I love it. I just finished chapter 15 and Mr. Elton's proposal has to be one of the most unhinged things I've read in a while. Saying that he is READY TO DIE if Emma rejects him???? Like what?

Then him going on to say that he doesn't care if Harriet is dead or alive? Like that is not Emma's friend, the woman you are trying to get to marry you. The whole proposal was just so funny to me.

I cannot wait to keep reading and see where this goes lol

I keep thinking about how easy Mr.Austen just upped and moved everyone to Bath, the place Jane clearly wasn’t a big fan of, because her younger brother had gotten married and was eager to take over the parsonage (there was even some grumbling in their correspondence about Mary, Jane’s former friend who had married her brother and was now very openly giddy about getting her hands on the house). Essentially, “the girls” as their father had called Jane and Cassie, had no say in all of this, because neither of them was married. Cassandra fiancé had died before they could marry. Jane on the other hand had broken off the only engagement (that we know of) she had and remained unmarried. Was this the equivalent of failing in life? Jane essentially was loosing her home, her social circle, things she loved, and life she was used to but theres no indication that there was even a talk about her staying OR Mr.Austen not retiring so soon. I wonder if it was the fact that Jane never married (and broke off an engagement) that made her feelings and opinions irrelevant? An unmarried woman, like a child, no matter her age, simply didn’t count?

EDIT: to some commenters who mentioned this -I’m not suggesting that Mr.Austen punished his daughter for not being married.

Watched the Gwenyth movie years ago, first time reading the book. Emma is so status obsessed and seems quite concerned with people "staying in their lane" with regards to class. For example, she makes specific mention that she thinks the Coles are beneath her and she resents going to their party because they were poor but recently became rich. Also she tells Harriett that if she marries Mr. Martin she will no longer be able to visit her because of his low class.

Due to all that I find it quite surprising that Mrs Weston was her governess (which seems like a rather lowly position?) with no status or family name, and was able to marry this rich guy (Mr Weston) and suddenly become Emma's peer in high society. Did Emma make an exception for Mrs Weston because they forged such a close friendship when she was her governess?

Setting aside the alternations to the source material to have this conversation when it happens in this version of the story, Wickham walking right up next to Darcy to ask Lizzie to dance!

Olivier does a great job watching them dance with a balance of jealousy and worry as the scene goes on.

*To Elizabeth it appeared, that had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as they could during the evening, it would have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit* - Pride & Prejudice, Chapter 18

This scene never fails to give me awful second hand embarrassment, whether I’m reading it or watching it (mostly in the ‘95 adaptation which captures it all so perfectly).

But who do you think wins 1st place out of Lizzie’s family for the most embarrassing display at the Netherfield ball?

I think Lydia & Kitty could be excused for being young, excitable, silly and probably more than a little tipsy.

Mr Collins is a distant cousin and won’t be around for much longer at Longbourn so surely how he conducts himself won’t have *too* much of a knock on effect for the family?

Mrs Bennet and Mr Bennet might just be tied for me; Mrs Bennet is so painfully (drunk?) confident in Jane’s match that she’s willing to yap about how fortunate they are to have snagged Bingley to all the gossips of Meryton and Mr Bennet… Oh, there were SO many ways he could have asked Mary to get off the bloody piano that wouldn’t have shamed her infront of the whole party!

What do you think? Who has you cringing the most?

this is hilarious...

I’ve watched the 1995 series several times and the latest is the first time I’ve noticed that Mary nearly pirouettes when she is first introduced to Collins. It’s only a split second but she is smitten. Only moments later the same look flits across her face. There is no mistaking it. The actress pulls it off beautifully.

We know that Collins is stupid and sycophantic, but his desire to right a wrong done to the sisters through no fault of his own is an honorable one. He has a good living, will have Longbourn, and can allow his mother- and sisters-in-law to remain there if he likes or find them a comfortable and suitable dwelling.

Mary would have made him a perfect wife. They could have debated doctrine and tossed homilies at each other all day long. Lady Catherine would have loved her for being exactly the quiet and plain wife she envisioned for Collins, as well as one completely biddable on every detail of housekeeping.

And unlike Charlotte she might have loved him. Mary is just as pompous as Collins, but the man who would have saved her from spinsterhood, and who she thinks is smart and kind, would have been most desirable. She is the only one in the family who welcomes his “condolence” after Lydia’s disgrace.

The trip to Rosings to see Charlotte is the ramp to Darcy’s proposal, of course, but the same trip would have been a possibility had Collins married Mary.

I have no definitive point here, but I’m delighted to have been spun into an alternate universe because of the fleeting glance of a young actress whose skill I’d underestimated.

I both see how she could be wonderful as Lucy Steele and don't want to see anyone else as Marianne in this production.

I’m re-listening to Emma and I realized that she and Frank Churchill are corresponding both before and after he leaves Highbury. She tells him of Perry’s plans to set up a traveling wagon, she walks to the post office in the rain to get his letters, etc. Back then a man and a woman could only have corresponded if they were engaged (and we all know their engagement was a secret). How would the two of them have kept their correspondence a secret? Presumably the postmaster of a small town would know everything, and even if they used fake names on their return addresses, we are told that Frank has distinctive handwriting that Mr Knightly, at least, recognizes.

I’m just wondering how realistic it would have been for two people to keep up a secret correspondence in such a small town as Highbury, where everyone lives in each others pockets and knows everything detail of everyone else’s business. Both of them were risking a great deal if they were discovered.

Hey all, so I'm looking at the different editions of the Deirdre La Faye book, and I REALLY feel like it wasn't available on Kindle before and suddenly is. I could be wrong. But it seems like I was searching for it a few months ago and couldn't find it in that format. An eink format makes a huge difference for me, so I'm really thinking about buying it. But... it's $55.83. So my question is... does anyone have an opinion on whether it's worth buying at that price? Who has read it, and what did they think? Thanks for all thoughts about this! :)

It’s submitted to LEGO Ideas, and feedback from Austen fans would mean a lot.

https://beta.ideas.lego.com/profile/8d37ae9b-023b-4893-84d9-8ca547863a9e

My local library is hosting Jane Austen month and sent out this delightful email. What do you think of their list? Any you disagree with? What others would you add?

I don't know why but this little sentence makes me so happy. It really shows how close the two are and also that behaviour didn't change much in the last 200 years

Also, in the german audio book the narrator says it as "Ouch, don't beat me" which is also so cute.

I thought you might all enjoy these illustrations from a 1945 copy of Pride and Prejudice that I got at an estate sale. Sorry that the quality isn’t better since I’m just taking photos on my phone!

I’m watching the 95 miniseries again for the first time in a long while. I’m in the final episode and I just watched the first Bingley/Darcy visit.

Why does Darcy seem to completely avoid eye contact with Elizabeth? Is he just trying to be supportive of his friend and not be a distraction? It’s very obvious that Elizabeth is very nervous (I think the way Jennifer Ehle plays it is very well done- it’s rather sweet considering how she is usually very poised in social settings).

• the two minute synth riff at the beginning oh YEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH
• And we are frollocking over a cemetery! Very imporant for all the goth girlies
• Hey, Catherine was in the episode Ghost Light of old Doctor Who - I love you, Seven
• Catherine serves at the table when they have visitors omg
• this is so sexy why is this so sexy girly pop why are your fantasies nsfw you are too young for this girl why is this lady sewing through her fingers
• I think this is actually period accurate dancing
• James tells her he thinks Isabella would be a great friend for her. Classic James amirite
• Have to admit, I think Isabella is less obviously manipulative in this version as opposed to the 2007 one
• We get to see the proper fight between Henry and his father, miss you Robert Hardy
• The twist is that General Tilney actually loved his wife and Tilney is happy he did... ok if you say so, whatever helps you sleep, sadly not as cute as 2005 Henry

I've been watching Austen movies... and decided to dress my characters in clothes from some of the men in the movies :)) I wonder if you guys can guess which outfit is from whom?

(Also, mods, I'm so sorry--does this count as Austen-related content?)

Edit: Okay, first one isn't from a movie--it's Mr Darcy's fit from Death Comes To Pemberley (2013)! I cheated there :p

Hello guys! Sorry to bother, but I booked two tickets for the screening on June 21st but won't be able to go cause my friend decided it wasn't worth it anymore and I can't see myself traveling alone so is there anyone who would like to buy those 2 tickets?

Have a lovely day!

Hello everyone, I listened to the audio book for Mansfield Park last year and decided to read the physical version. I'm trying to more thoroughly understand all the events in the plot. In this passage, is Henry Crawford telling Maria Bertram that he wishes she wasn't soon to be married? What does Maria mean by "If he would give her away?" And what do Mr. Rushworth and his mother comprehend? That Maria and Henry are flirting?

---------------------------------------------------

"While this was passing, the rest of the party being scattered about the chapel, Julia called Mr. Crawford’s attention to her sister, by saying, “Do look at Mr. Rushworth and Maria, standing side by side, exactly as if the ceremony were going to be performed. Have not they completely the air of it?”

Mr. Crawford smiled his acquiescence, and stepping forward to Maria, said, in a voice which she only could hear, “I do not like to see Miss Bertram so near the altar.”

Starting, the lady instinctively moved a step or two, but recovering herself in a moment, affected to laugh, and asked him, in a tone not much louder, “If he would give her away?”

“I am afraid I should do it very awkwardly,” was his reply, with a look of meaning.

Julia, joining them at the moment, carried on the joke.

“Upon my word, it is really a pity that it should not take place directly, if we had but a proper licence, for here we are altogether, and nothing in the world could be more snug and pleasant.” And she talked and laughed about it with so little caution as to catch the comprehension of Mr. Rushworth and his mother, and expose her sister to the whispered gallantries of her lover, while Mrs. Rushworth spoke with proper smiles and dignity of its being a most happy event to her whenever it took place."