Sense and Sensibility first published in 1811!

In 1811, Jane Austen’s first novel, Sense and Sensibility was published on October 30th by Thomas Egerton. Jane paid for the privilege and awarded her publisher a commission on sales. She made a profit of £140 on the first edition, which sold all 750 printed copies by July 1813. A second edition was advertised in [...]

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Pictures from Bath!

I love going to Bath as you’ve probably gathered if you read my blog – it’s a bit like Jane Austen fairyland for me. From the minute you see the signs on the motorway and make the turning onto the winding, leafy road which descends into Bath itself, I always feel as if I’ve left [...]

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Eliza de Feuillide – Part Two

By Christmas 1787, Eliza was at Steventon Rectory again, and excited about performing in a make-shift theatre (her uncle’s tithe barn) with her cousins. The Austen brothers most likely fitted out the barn with a stage, scenery, curtain and oil lamps to illuminate the actors. Eliza tried unsuccessfully to invite her cousin Phila to join [...]

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Eliza de Feuillide – Part One

Eliza de Feuillide (1761-1813) is a fascinating personality in Jane Austen’s life. Eliza’s mother was Jane’s aunt, her father’s sister, Philadelphia Hancock. Jane’s father George and Philadelphia had been orphaned from a young age and though it seems they managed to stay in touch with one another, they both had to make their way in [...]

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The Assembly Rooms at Lyme!

Here I am standing in front of the spot where the former Assembly Rooms at Lyme stood. Very sadly, they were demolished in 1927 to make way for the car park – a move I am not sure I shall ever forgive the council of the time for making. Fortunately, we have a lovely description [...]

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Young love – Marianne and Willoughby

In a romantic frame of mind today – here’s a description of young love at its most besotted! The photo is from the film Sense and Sensibility with Kate Winslet (a perfect Marianne) and Greg Wise (Emma Thompson, you are such a lucky girl!) as Willoughby.
When he was present, she had no [...]

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Jane Austen, the most wonderful writer that ever lived!

(16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817)
Thinking of Jane Austen especially today on the anniversary of her death. She could not have imagined how much her books would be treasured and loved by so many people over the next two hundred years!
Here is the letter Jane’s sister Cassandra wrote to her niece Fanny on [...]

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Two Colonel Brandons to set hearts aflutter!

Two Colonel Brandons for your delight! The top photo shows David Morrissey playing the part in the recent BBC adaptation – the bottom photo is Alan Rickman starring in the Emma Thompson/Ang Lee version. With these lovely examples of Colonels how did it take Marianne so long to realise where her heart lay?
In Sense and [...]

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Photo Gallery – Jane Austen’s Lyme!

More photos of gorgeous Lyme!

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Jane Austen Treasures!

I thought you’d like to see these treasures – a collection of lace, bonnet, gloves, glasses and ivory counters that belonged to Jane and the Austen family. They are on display in the museum at Lyme – donated by Mrs Diana Shervington. I was lucky enough to hear this fascinating lady speak at a conference [...]

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