Are you a Janeite? If you worship Jane Austen and all things Regency then you may be.
Meeting Jane Austen Fans
For those who love Austen and her novels there’s the Jane Austen Society of North America. Where I live there’s the Phoenix chapter, which holds regular events.
There’s also a huge Jane Austen Festival in Bath, England every year (featured in the photo above). Image credit: daz smith, Creative Commons license.
Jane Austen Museums
Jane Austen Centre in Bath — Jane Austen is Bath’s most famous former resident, and some of her novels have scenes set in Bath or refer to the city.
Jane Austen’s House Museum — this is where Jane Austen spent the last 8 years of her life. This is where to go if you want to walk where Jane Austen walked.
Statues and Art
Yes, this statue of Darcy (as played by Colin Firth in the BBC miniseries of Pride and Prejudice) is 12 feet tall. It’s currently in Hyde Park in London, and I know you’re dying to see it. Here’s a nice news article about it. (Photo credit: TaylorHerring, Creative Commons license)
This statue of Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy was featured in the 2005 film version of Pride & Prejudice and can be seen at the Chatsworth House sculpture garden. (Photo credit: UGArdener, Creative Commons license)
A lot of the old editions of Pride and Prejudice have charming illustrations:
Above is a watercolor illustration by C.E. Brock, from a 1907 edition of Pride and Prejudice. You can see the full set of his illustrations online at Molland’s Circulating Library. The website Jane Austen’s World also has a great collection of all sorts of illustrations of her work.
Books and Movies
I’m going to recommend Austenland, a movie about a woman who is so obsessed with all things Austen that she spends her life savings to go to a several-week long, immersive Jane Austen experience. (This is still playing in select theaters–Google Austenland and it will give you showtimes nearby. I loved this film and absolutely recommend it to anyone who likes Austen! It’s hand-down the best movie I’ve seen all year.)
Austenland is based on the book of the same name by award-winning author Shannon Hale. It also has a great sequel, Midnight in Austenland.
I also absolutely love the Pride and Prejudice counting board book for babies:
Other Cool Jane Austen Things
- Starting in 2017, Jane Austen will be featured on the British 10 pound banknote
- The Jane Austen House Museum recently bought Jane Austen’s ring from Kelly Clarkson for $250,000.
- You can buy your own Jane Austen nightgown for 35 pounds, or a handmade silk ballgown for 480 pounds.
- And did I mention Jane Austen stamps?
I invite you to join the Jane Austen fandom. You know you want to.
Visit my other Jane Austen pages:
Header Image
Image Credit: TaylorHerring, Creative Commons license