Welcome to the celebration at Austenprose, my homage to the gifted 19th-century English writer and social satirist Jane Austen (1775-1817), featuring commentary on her novels, letters, life, book and movie news, reviews and guest bloggers.
Austenprose is a result of a journey which started in 1980 with my introduction to Jane Austen through the BBC television production of Pride and Prejudice, televised on the PBS series Masterpiece Theater. My enjoyment was sadly limited to the actual broadcast viewings, since VRC’s and video tape would not be available to me for another ten years. To compensate for this, I engrossed myself in her novels, and worshiped in silence.
In 1996, all that changed for me and many other Janeites with the new BBC television production of Pride and Prejudice. And then, Jane went worldwide on the Internet, – - and her exposure exploded, opening new opportunities for her growing fans. We now had a voice through such excellent web sites as The Republic of Pemberley and Austen.com, where we could discuss, learn and write about our favourite authoress and her characters.
It is gratifying for me that so many others have also come to appreciate my dear Jane. She is everywhere; on the Internet, television, movies, events, conferences and hundreds of Austenesque novels, biographies and nonfiction books. As a professional bookseller I am at odds to keep up, but I do try to “visit them all”, as Mr. Bennet teasingly says. I call it the Austenblitz, and I could not be more delighted!
So why Austenprose? In light of the recent onset of Austen movies, television adaptations and Austen themed books, I felt a deep need to return to my Jane Austen roots; – - her novels and letters. There is no greater enjoyment than being lost in her language; – - her exquisite choice of words, her perfectly formed plots, her elegantly crafted characters. There are many fine web sites that feature information, discussion boards, fan fiction and the latest news, but few that celebrate our origins, her prose. So, Austenprose.
So … “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery”, and let the celebration begin.
Laurel Ann
