Etiquette is learned, and a wonderful book for the rules of etiquette is available online, teaching proper manners to both ladies and gentlemen in all social situations. The Manual of Etiquette is available free online! I absolutely LOVE this book of manners and etiquette by Daisy Eyebright. It teaches all sorts of social etiquette and […]
I recently watched three versions of Jane Austen’s Persuasion after reading the fabulous novel…the 1971 version starring Anne Firbank and Bryan Marshall (a television miniseries), the 1995 version starring Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds, and the 2007 version starring Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones. Persuasion is about a 27 year old unmarried woman, one of […]
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I have never read anything by Jane Austen, but may give her books a try soon. 🙂
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Tracy -Persuasion is by far my favorite of Austen’s books. The language takes some getting used to – the novels were written 200 yrs ago, and the novel was a very very new form of story-telling at the time. Once you become accustomed to Austen’s “voice,” you’ll slide into it easily and even catch yourself adopting it for yourself in supposedly-normal conversations! LOL
Penelope – I’d only seen the Amanda Root-Cieran Hind version, and I love it very much. Some high-powered names in British theater, here (Sir Walter is played by the brother of Vanessa Redgrave, and a much younger Mr. Redgrave played the son-in-law of Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons.
On your recommendation, I’ll be looking for the other 2 versions. Thank you! (and Happy New Year to you and yours!)
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I own them all on DVD and loved the latter two far more than the original 1971 version which, like you, I found lacking in the passion that the book opens us to.
Jane Austen has long been my favourite author, and my 14yodd has also caught the bug.
Which Pride and Prejudice do you prefer? And which Emma? Or am I running too far ahead? 🙂 Btw, Persuasion is my favourite Austen. What is yours? -
“Once you become accustomed to Austen’s “voice,” you’ll slide into it easily and even catch yourself adopting it for yourself in supposedly-normal conversations!”
Laura, you are right! I have been doing this!
I am currently reading Mansfield Park, and her different novels have very different essences and direction. They pick up from very different parts of a woman’s life. Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility are the most similar (they each involve a woman who has no brothers and needs to marry to be taken care of). These books tend to be the most romantic as well (and focus on the love vs. money dilemma).
Mansfield Park starts earlier in the heroine’s life (she is ten), Northanger Abbey is about a girl not desperate for marriage, but for adventure, and Emma is about an independantly wealthy young woman. They are all good fun though!
Tracey, I started with Emma, and it was terrific!
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Well, Penelope, I’m glad my personal observations are borne out by other witnesses! LOL
Have you seen Park Honan’s excellent biography of Austen? It, too, is a very fine read!
When you are home alone at night with your honey, your bedroom is your oasis from the world, and this is your opportunity to be your most feminine and lovely, no matter what you have to do or wear during the day. Dress fetchingly for your husband! Have cute accessories, feminine trinkets, in your boudoir. […]
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I like the word fetching, and agree with this post.
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I agree with this post whole-heartedly, but wish someone would tell me how to do it in the teeth of an ice blizzard, when not even a flannel nightie keeps you warm — and there’s not too much fetching about a flannel nightie. Sigh.
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Mimi, thank you.
Meg, It is harder to dress more feminine in the cold, simply because the weather tempts us to just layer on every heavy article of clothing in sight. Many stores, however, make feminine winter clothes. Flannel pj's with pants and an oversized top may not be the most fetching look to most men, but flannel itself is not a problem…try to find a nightie that is warm (in any material) and pretty too. Victoria Secret has angora sleepwear currently that is very pretty and warm (and can be layered), and their "pink" collection of loungewear is very toasty.
That link is to a flannel nightgown…with a cardigan and long socks, and under a warm comforter, this may help a bit.
this too (all flannel, with an angora tank…it comes in different colors, but the pink is prettiest imo- you can click on the swatch you like to see a model wear that color- and it comes with pants if you don't want to wear a nightgown every night):
I read a Jane Austen essay called “In Defense of Mrs. Elton“. It is another side to the story of Emma as told by Mrs. Elton, who was sort of a villainess. Here a different perspective that is incredibly enjoyable, and paints Emma in a different (and more accurate) light. Emma is spoiled. She is […]
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My 14yodd and I are Austen fans so we shall enjoy reading this together! Thank you for the link. 🙂
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I just finished Pride and Prejudice…I can’t believe how wonderful her novels are, how true to life the situations seem. It is lovely that your daughter is an Austen fan.
It’s a beautiful crisp autumn day, you have twenty minutes to relax, why not take a walk? Walking to lose weight is one of the best forms of exercise, it doesn’t cost you more than the purchase of a pair of good walking shoes, and walking can be done at anytime, by anyone- it doesn’t […]
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I need to get back into walking, thank you!
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It is a great form of exercise, I hope you enjoy it.
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I love walking!
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I will start walking now! Doing an exercise is one of my goals this year. Thanks for this post, Penelope! I love the benefits you have enlisted. Hoping to get fit by means of walking before 2013 will end. -Sheryl
What a delightful discovery! I’m so glad you posted it here!
Thank you for posting this link! I’m going to delve through it today.
Have a wonderful Monday!
Would you happen to know what year this manual was published?
I’m not sure when it was published, but it is written by George Routledge (1812- 1888)- despite the feminine pseudonym (men know about etiquette and manners!), so I would guess it was published by himself in the mid to late 1800’s. Mr. Routledge was also a publisher and owned a publishing company with his sons, printing books inexpensively for mass distribution.
How fantastic! I am going to have to check this out. I just got several books on etiquette yesterday at the library. We must be on the same track