Maria Edgeworth – One of Jane Austen’s Favorite Novelist

“And what are you reading, Miss –?” “Oh! it is only a novel!” replies the young lady, while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. “It is only Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda”; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best-chosen language. Northanger Abbey, Chapter 5 

Maria Edgeworth (1767-1849) was an Anglo-Irish author most famously remembered by Janeites as being favored by Jane Austen with a presentation copy of Emma in 1816 which Edgeworth read, did not understand, or appreciate. “There’s no story in it,”  she wrote to a friend and then never acknowledge or thanked the author for sending it to her before publication. Previously, Austen had paid homage to Edgeworth’s talent by mentioning her with another famous female novelist of the era in her reproving “In Defense of a Novel” passage in Northanger Abbey quoted above. 

In Jane Austen’s time, novels were considered low-brow and unworthy of serious consideration by critics and general society. By mentioning Cecilia: or Memoirs of an Heiress (1782) and Camilla: Or, A Picture of Youth (1796) by Frances Burney and Belinda (1801) by Maria Edgeworth, Austen ironically defends writing and reading novels in the midst of a novel parodying gothic novels. A nice bit of genteel saber rattling indeed. 

When you read Maria Edgeworth’s works, she takes a much different perspective with her characters and plot than Austen, delving into areas where she never chose to tread: politics, religion and social unrest. Edgeworth’s reaction to the level of everyday events and secluded activity of a few families in Highbury must have bored her to tears to have made such a biting comment and exemplifies how progressive Austen’s advancement of the English novel truly was. 

Further links 

• Biography and works of Maria Edgeworth
• Read Belinda online, (1896 edition) illustrated by Chris Hammond
• Read my previous post on illustrator Chris Hammond 

*Portrait of Miss Maria Edgeworth (1807) by John Downman (1750-1824), pencil and watercolor heightened with white from the Bloomsbury auction  2009

Austen’s Power – Zombies “et al”

I know, I know. I am writing about Austen monster mash-up’s again. Sick of it as much as me yet? Here’s an article in Hemispheres, United Airlines online magazine about one Janeite writer’s experience with a sales clerk while buying P&P (the original) at Borders Bookstore that inspired her to write about the swath of Austen inspired derivatives and her enduring popularity. 

While I must gently reprove author Gillian Fassel (since I work for Barnes and Noble) for trusting that she would receive exemplary customer service without snark at a Borders, I will commend her for doing her homework and asking a great source for her opinion on the recent rage of Austen monster mayhem and what Jane Austen would think of it ;-) 

Just love the clever illustration by Thomas Allen

A Woman’s Wit: Jane Austen’s Life and Legacy Exhibit Opens at the Morgan Library

The wait is over for those lucky Janeites who live on the east coast or will be visiting New York City shortly. The new exhibit A Woman’s Wit: Jane Austen’s Life and Legacy opened today at the Morgan Library and should prove to be a once in a lifetime Austen extravaganza for enthusiasts and admirers of the English author whose novels are not only masterpieces of social observation and wit, but profoundly popular in world literature close to two hundred years after their publication. You can read a full description of the exhibition from my previous preview post. The treasures collected and support material should prove to be a proper celebration and tribute to Austen’s impact and legacy.

Check out the new online highlights of the exhibition at the Morgan Library website and experience a glimpse of the full feast of Austenalia offered including selected images of original letters written by Austen, original manuscripts of Lady Susan and The Watsons, images of portraits of the author, artwork from editions of her novels and from the Regency era, and a short documentary film The Devine Jane: Reflections on Austen especially commissioned for the exhibition featuring interviews of contemporary writers, scholars and actors such as Sandy Lerner from the Chawton House Library and Harriet Walter, acclaimed British actress who brilliantly portrayed Fanny Dashwood in the 1995 film adaptation Sense and Sensibility.

The Morgan Library has the largest collection of Jane Austen’s letters and manuscripts in the world. One of the most spectacular items in the collection is the manuscript of Jane Austen’s delightfully wicked novella Lady Susan, the only surviving complete manuscript of any of Austen’s novels. The online exhibit includes several images of the original manuscript written in Jane Austen’s hand and augmented by an audio reading of each page from the Naxos AudioBooks recording of Lady Susan read by actress Harriet Walter, who also interviewed in the documentary film. 

The exhibition runs November 6, 2009 through March 14, 2010. Unfortunately, this Janeite can not attend, but we are hoping for a report from one of our readers who has the pleasure of spending a day or two with Jane in New York City.

Media Reviews

• New York Times: At the Morgan, the Jane Austen Her Family Knew

Additional Info

• Read my previous post on Austen illustrator Isabel Bishop featured in the Morgan exhibit
• Read my review of the Naxos AudioBooks recording of Lady Susan read by Harriet Walter
• Purchase Jane Austen’s Letters, edited by Deirdre Le Faye

Dawn of the Dreadfuls – Prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Rises from the Grave

Quirk Books, the literary monster mash-up mogul who brought us Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monster has announced that its third book for Quirk Classics will be Dawn of the Dreadfuls, a prequel to its New York Times bestseller Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  Here is the publisher’s description: 

In this terrifying and hilarious prequel, we witness the genesis of the zombie plague in early-nineteenth century England. We watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naïve young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. We laugh as she begins her first clumsy training with nunchucks and katana swords and cry when her first blush with romance goes tragically awry. Written by acclaimed novelist (and Edgar Award nominee) Steve Hockensmith, Dawn of the Dreadfuls invites Austen fans to step back into Regency England, Land of the Undead! 

Surprisingly, co-authors are listed as Jane Austen and Steve Hockensmith even though according to Quirk editor Jason Rekulak Dawn of the Dreadfuls is a “completely original novel inspired by Austen’s characters; — in other words, there’s not a drop of original Austen writing in it.” Obviously, since Jane Austen did not write a prequel to Pride and Prejudice there was no text to mash-up and this new novel needed to be an original story only lifting her characters names. We are, however, perplexed at her inclusion. Other authors have been writing prequels, sequels and retellings of Pride and Prejudice for years, but admittedly, this is the fist time this writer has seen the original author’s name attached with another author’s work.  

In actuality, the lack of Jane Austen’s text is a win-win situation for both Austen and zombie fans who each had qualms about their peas touching their potatoes on the plate. Now only Austen’s name is being exploited and not her words. 

Dawn on the Dreadfuls goes on sale in the US on the 24th of March, 2010. I liked P&P&Z, but this literary mash-up business was pushed way beyond amusing parody with Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters and unless this new novel is exceptionally well written, I’ve had enough of others ripping off my favorite author.

BBC One’s Emma – Episode Four Slideshow

Episode four of BBC One’s Emma aired on Sunday, October 25th in the UK. The last two episodes improved greatly for me. I think after the initial shock of the changes with Jane Austen’s original concepts for character’s and the lack of her beautiful language, I settled in to enjoy this four part serial from a different vantage – a visually stuning Regency story that was lovely in its own respect if I overlooked the liberties taken and the blunders with Regency manners. All in all, I enjoyed this Emma, and look forward to its US permiere on Masterpiece Classic starting on Sunday, January 24th through February 7th, 2010. PBS have divided it into three consecutive airings, so we shall have to wait and see  if they have cut out any of the UK production to fit in their three episodes. Here is a slideshow of the last episode for your enjoyment. The film was stunningly filmed with kudos to the lighting director, costume designer, and art department.  Enjoy!

 

Happy Birthday Sense and Sensibility

On this day in 1811, an advertisement for the novel Sense and Sensibility “By A Lady” appeared in the London newspaper The Star no. 7690. This was Jane Austen’s first published work and her entre into literary history. 

Published by Thomas Egerton of the Military Library publishing house in London, it was priced at 15s and printed in three volumes. It was printed at the author’s expense. She also owed a commission to the publisher on sales. Her gamble paid off as all 750 copies sold by July 1813. She made a profit of £140 on the first edition which is about £4,754.40 in today’s currency. A second edition was advertised in October 1813. This year, a first edition of Sense and Sensibility sold at auction for £38,000. Quite a tidy sum indeed. 

*Jane Austen, a family record, by Deirdre Le Fay

That Hamilton Woman: A Famous Romance Re-imagined

The romance of Emma, Lady Hamilton and Lord Horatio Nelson might just rival Romeo and Juliette or Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy as the greatest love story of all time. Moreover, their story is made all the more poignant because it is not a work of fiction created by a clever author pulling together bits of their own experience and idealized notions of the ultimate romance, but by actual well publicized and scandalous events of real people who made history during the Napoleonic age. And, quite remarkable people they were to boot; an infamously beguiling beauty and a brilliant naval hero both married to others, yet scandalously engaging in an ill-fated love affair that shaped history. 

My first introduction to Emma and Horatio’s ill-fated romance was in the 1941 movie That Hamilton Woman staring the stunningly beautiful Vivien Leigh and the dashingly handsome Laurence Olivier. As a young girl my mother’s excitement over any Vivien Leigh movies quickly influenced my admiration of her acting talent and consuming presence on screen. She graces some of my favorite classic romantic films from the movies Golden Age: Gone with the Wind, Waterloo Bridge and That Hamilton Woman. 1941 saw Leigh at the height of her beauty and popularity after winning the Oscar in 1939 for Gone with the Wind. During her troubled life she made less than twenty films in her career, but like Emma Hamilton, she will be remembered for her incandescent beauty, vivacity and alluring charm. Interestingly, Vivien is related to Jane Austen through Jane’s nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh.

Emma Hart dines at the Hamilton Villa, Naples

Captain Nelson arrives in Naples

That Hamilton Woman was made at the request of Prime Minister Winston Churchill to stir British sympathy and patriotism during the height of the Second World War. The paring of Leigh and Olivier by producer/director Alexander Korda was brilliant. At the time of filming, Leigh and her co-star and real life inamorata Laurence Olivier were having their own scandalous affair to mirror Emma and Nelson. You can see all the real-life sparks ignite on film. The usually staid Larry Olivier is more passionate for his Viv as Lady Hamilton than I can ever recall on screen, far surpassing his other portrayals of famous romantic icons such as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights (too fey) and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice (too blasé). I am sure that historians could have a heyday ripping apart the accuracy of the screenplay, but this is a filmatic re-imagining of historical romance at its finest, and I love it!

        

Vivien Leigh version and real portrait of Emma Hart by George Romney

Emma, Lady Hamilton revels after the Ball in Nelson’s honor

Emma and Nelson celebrate in Naples after the Nile victory 

The great news for That Hamilton Woman is that it has just been re-released on DVD for the first time by The Criterion Collection (squeee) and includes great extras and a restored high-definition digital transfer (though sadly not re-mastered and contains some nasty occasional film scratches). On viewing it again, I was as enchanted by the performances as memory served but amused by the historical inaccuracy of the costumes by designer René Hubert and hair styles (uncredited) which range from late eighteenth-century to mid Victorian to 1940’s. Watch Lady Hamilton’s frocks and dos and you will get my drift. Much of the narrative unfolds in Naples and the clothes looked very Marie Antoinetteish. I do not know anything about Italian fashion at the turn of the nineteenth-century but one would think that like the British they were also influenced by French court dress emulating Empire fashions. Many of Lady Hamilton’s bonnets looked like they were borrowed from Gone with the Wind, and (her hair Louisa) definitely mimicked Scarlet O’Hara’s ringlets and a more modern 1940’s rolled crown affair a la Betty Grable.

Emma with non-Regency hairdo a la Betty Grable

Emma and Nelson, ill-fated lovers

Regardless of the fashion faux pas, Larry and Viv just sparkle, the supporting cast is stellar, the direction by Alexander Korda is effectively melodramatic, the art direction conjured up on a shoestring by Vincent Korda is stunning, and the sweeping music by Miklós Rózsa soothes over all the production flaws like a cup of tea on a cold day. Be sure to watch the extra features including a video interview with author and editor Michael Korda, Alexander’s nephew, who has a few plumb antecedents about filming of the movie including his uncle not knowing which arm Nelson had lost in battle and a matter-of-fact mention of Olivier’s affair with actor Danny Kaye. 

Nelson at Trafalgar “England expects that every man will do his duty”

Nelson’s death: “Take care of poor Lady Hamilton” 

Pop this one in the ole DVD player and settle back for a two hankie cry-a-thon. This story is just screaming to be remade by the BBC if they ever venture back into bonnets and breaches again. Who can resist a scandalous love affair and Royal Naval officer in full regalia? Not me!

        

Portraits of Lord Nelson and Emma Hart

Rule, Britannia!   

 Synopsis

One of cinema’s most dashing duos, real-life spouses Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier live their greatest on-screen romance in this visually dazzling tragic love story from legendary producer-director Alexander Korda. Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars of the late eighteenth century, That Hamilton Woman is a gripping account of the scandalous adulterous affair between the British Royal Navy officer Lord Horatio Nelson and the renowned beauty Emma, Lady Hamilton, the wife of a British ambassador. With its grandly designed sea battles and formidable star performances, That Hamilton Woman (Winston Churchill’s favorite movie, which he claimed to have seen over eighty times) brings history to vivid, glamorous life.

Cast

Emma, Lady Hamilton – Vivien Leigh
Lord Horatio Nelson – Laurence Olivier
Sir William Hamilton – Alan Mowbray
Mrs. Cadogan-Lyon – Sara Allgood
Lady Frances Nelson – Gladys Cooper
Captain Hardy – Henry Wilcoxon
Rev. Nelson Halliwell Hobbes

Additional Information

• Visit That Hamilton Woman at The Critertion Collection website
• Biography and career of Vice Admiral, Lord Horatio Nelson
• Biography and career of Emma, Lady Hamilton nee Hart
• Review of That Hamilton Woman by film critic Molly Haskell

Favorite books on Emma and Nelson in my library

• Beloved Emma: The Life of Emma, Lady Hamilton, by Flora Fraser (2004) reprint of Emma, Lady Hamilton (1987)
• Nelson and Emma (Folio Society) by Roger Hudson (1994)
• The Life of Horatio, Lord Nelson, by Robert Southey (2008) reprint of 1813 edition

BBC One’s Emma – Episode Three Slideshow

BBC One’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Emma continues. Episode three aired in the UK on Sunday, October 18th. I am enjoying the beautiful locations and costumes, but am still perplexed with the screenplay. I am missing Jane Austen’s beautiful language and witty humor. There is much discussion about the variances in Regency manners and the over-the-top animation of actress Romola Garai’s eye popping and arm waving. I think this falls to the director Jim O’Hanlan’s choice of making this version more lively for a modern audience. You can check out all the discussion at AustenBlog (spoilers ahead), read Vic (Ms Place’s) view on episode three and the hair styles in the adaptation at Jane Austen’s World and be enlightened by Kali of the Emma Adaptations page and Strangegirl blogon her reactions to each episode. I am still hoping that the last episode will pull this unusually different interpretation of Austen’s masterpiece all together and cancel out the bits that are so annoying. For all you non-UK viewers, enjoy a sneak peek of episode three with this slideshow.

 

 

 

A Match for Mary Bennet, by Eucharista Ward – A Review

Jane Austen’s minor character Mary Bennet is not exactly heroine material. With only eight passages of dialogue in Pride and Prejudice she has made a lasting impression on readers over the centuries as a pious young woman who often insensitively offers advice of “threadbare morality” to her family at the most inopportune moments. Author Eucharista Ward has taken a bold step in devoting an entire novel to this pedantic and socially clueless young lady. She is not the first to tread this path. Last year Janeites were dishonored with Colleen McCullough’s irreverent treatment The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet. In both instances, Mary Bennet has been given a make-over. However, two novels could not be farther from honorable intent. While McCullough mocked the Austen sequel industry, Ward embraces it with integrity and reverence. Happily, A Match for Mary Bennet has brought Austen’s character back into the fold and rescued her from the fiery depths of sequel Hell. 

Previously self published in 2007 as Illusions and Ignorance: Mary Bennet’s Story, this new edition by major Jane Austen sequel publisher Sourcebooks fortunately bring this wonderful story to a wider audience. Publisher’s description: 

Written by a Franciscan nun, this is a sympathetic tale of the middle Bennet sister from Pride and Prejudice. Pious Mary Bennet tries to do her duty in the world as she thinks God envisions it. Initially believing (mistakenly) that her sister Elizabeth married well only in order to provide for her sisters, Mary is happy to be relieved of the obligation to marry at all so that she can continue her faithful works. But she begins to have second thoughts after further studying marriage through her sisters’ experiences as well as spending time with two young men. One is a splendid young buck whose determined courtship must have ulterior motives; the other is a kindly, serious young clergyman whose friendship Mary values more and more. One day she realizes that God very much made man and woman to be together…but which is the man for her? 

Prim, judgmental and pedantic, Mary’s evolution throughout the course of the book is surprising as she soon discovers that there is more to life than her Godly studies, music and books. The author has an excellent understanding of Austen’s style emulating it reverently, placing the story within a historically context of the era with aplomb. Many of Austen’s characters from Pride and Prejudice reappear: her sisters Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty (Catherine) and Lydia, her parent’s the Bennet’s, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Georgiana and Lady Catherine. We also meet two new men that change Mary’s perspective on what she thinks God intends for her life: the dashing rakish James Stilton who courts Mary with determination and charm, and the stoic young clergyman Charles Oliver who wins her friendship and respect by understanding and enlightenment. If she chooses her head over her heart is never much in question. After all, a woman’s “reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful — and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex.” Even if the outcome is predictable, the ride is quite enjoyable. 

Where others have failed in expanding her character, Ward has given Mary Bennet depth and interest, allowing readers to see her faults, understand their origins, and rejoice in her evolution towards enlightenment and happiness. My only quibbles are that in Ward’s new world, poor Colonel Fitzwilliam is destined for a life of misery after succumbing to Caroline Bingley’s fortune and marrying her, and that the pacing at times was slow and too introspective. The first is indicative of the era, and the second is actually who Mary Bennet was at the beginning. If the author had allowed Mary to be more succinct toward the end, it would have showed a nice character development. After all, “every impulse of feeling should be guide by reason”! 

4 out of 5 Regency Stars 

A Match for Mary Bennet, by Eucharista Ward
Sourcebooks, Landmark (2009)
Trade paperback (350) pages
ISBN: 978-1402220111 

Additional reviews 

• AustenBlog
• Savvy Verse and Wit
• Diary of an Eccentric
• Beck’s Book Reviews
• Love Romance Passion

FTC Disclaimer – Austenprose did not receive any pecuniary emolument or a trip to Tahiti for writing a review of A Match for Mary Bennet. Additionally, we are not getting a kickback from Barnes and Noble for the link to purchase - though - since they are our employer, it may help us to continue to earn our bread. We did receive a review copy from this publisher which we will gladly donate to my local SnoIsle Library system.  Basically, if anyone cares, we wrote this review for the love of Jane and out of the goodness of our black heart.

Winners announced in The Other Mr. Darcy giveaway

Your questions to author Monica Fairview were fun and creative and your quotes of Caroline Bingley were oh so memorable – but the time has come to announce the two winners of one copy each of The Other Mr. Darcy. And the winners are…

Sarah-Wynne

Kristen

A big thank you to all who participated and especially to author Monica Fairview for visiting and responding to your questions so thoughtfully.

Winners – to claim your prize, you must reside in the US or Canada and respond with your full name and address by emailing me at austenprose at verizon dot net by October 21st. Books will be mailed directly from the publisher Sourcebooks who has generously supplied them.

Congrats!

• Read the interview of Monica Fairview
• Read my review of The Other Mr. Darcy
• Purchase The Other Mr. Darcy

FTC Disclaimer – Austenprose did not receive any pecuniary emolument or a trip to Tahiti for writing this interview of the author or for writing a review of The Other Mr. Darcy. In addition we did not receive a review copy in compensation from this publisher nor are we getting a kick back from Barnes and Noble for the link to purchase. Basically we did it for the love of Jane and out of the goodness of our black heart.

BBC One’s Emma – Episode 2 Slideshow

Episode 2 of BBC One’s new adaptation of Emma aired in the UK on Sunday, October 11, 2009. So – we are half way through and I am still biting my tongue trying not to spoil it for all non UK viewers and giving you all a teaser slideshow to episode 2 instead. If you are dying to know reactions, you can check out the discussion on AustenBlog. Be prepared for spoilers. I am of course all anticipation of everyone’s impressions. I shall save my breath to cool my porridge. Do not despair. This adaptation will air in January in the US on Masterpiece Classic.