Austen Novels: Veronica’s Lists II

Ladies up for redemption: Mary Crawford – She has learned the true worth of a man with integrity. It even says she was: …long in finding among the dashing representatives, or idle heir-apparents, who were at the command of her beauty and her twenty thousand pounds, any one who could satisfy the better taste she […]

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Austen Novels: Veronica’s Lists I

Veronica’s List in order of preference: Sense and Sensibility – Two sisters, two different paths to romance. Persuasion – A love that stands the test of time. Pride and Prejudice – Overcoming differences. Emma – Maturing and finding one’s true feelings. Mansfield Park – Being genuine no matter what. Northanger Abbey – Gaining perspective on […]

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Did Catherine Morland Pay Attention?

In reading The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe and thinking about how it may have influenced Catherine Morland’s imagination in Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen I find myself wondering how much of the novel Catherine actually paid attention to. Granted, The Mysteries of Udolpho is a gargantuan read compared to most books I typically read in my modern 21st century […]

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Ann Radcliffe & John Muir: Authors & Naturalists

The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. I have read all Mrs. Radcliffe’s works, and most of them with great pleasure. The Mysteries of Udolpho, when I had once begun it, I could not lay down again; — I remember finishing it in […]

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Jane Austen Post-Apocalypse

Today we welcome Daniel McInerny author of “The Bureau of Myths” a short story bring together Jane Austen and a bit of post-Apocalyptic distopian proper mayhem.   Jane Austen is in a crucial way…the last great representative of the classical tradition of the virtues. This observation is from Alasdair MacIntyre in his book, After Virtue. In the […]

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Gothic Summer Reading

Some would say that the best time to read a scary story is at night when the imagination is more susceptible to the terrifying ideas such tales can conjure. However, we decided that we wanted a fun atmospheric juxtaposition and do our Gothic reading during the sunny summer with Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen and The Mysteries of […]

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Comfort, Auxiliary, and Substitute

At the end of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park we are left to believe that the marriage of Fanny and Edmund goes on to be a happy one, and that life at Mansfield Park after the feather ruffling influence of the Crawfords is calmly returning to something respectable with the addition of Susan Price, Fanny’s younger sister, taking […]

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Different Shades of Darkness

Today we are pleased to welcome Jennifer Petkus, author of Jane, Actually, as she shares her thoughts on darkness and the beyond. Be sure to enter for a chance to win a copy. Ms. Perkus has graciously offered two (2) physical books for US residents with valid US mailing addresses, and four (4) ecopies for giveaway!   […]

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