I have been rather pleased by the amount of Jane Austen in my life today. I can’t think of a better pick-me-up/ pre-returning-to-school binge than Jane Austen. After all, she was my very first classic literature and I’ve been in love ever since. Pride and Prejudice was the first movie I ever watched with my fiance when we started dating as well (He was such a brown noser… but it worked. We also named his car Fitzwilliam after Darcy…).
So here are some really awesome Jane Austen things that I’ve been NERDING OUT over right now:
1. NETHERFIELD BALL– For the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice, BBC is recreating Netherfield Ball. I for one am really really really looking forward to the special. Not only is it going to be beautiful and involved but it’s also going to be researched and historically accurate. January 27th is the publication anniversary and I’m strongly considering throwing a tea party. Have any fun 200th anniversary plans? Maybe I’m the only one nerdy enough for that.
2. THE LIZZIE BENNET DIARIES– I started watching the Lizzie Bennet Diaries when they first came out, but after summer, I got distracted by things like my most challenging semester of university and my second semester of being Editor-in-Chief. I spent the last two days getting caught up, and I can’t tell you how cool this interpretation is. I think that telling a story as a vlog is cool, but doing so with complete social network interactions is really cool. Jane Bennet’s Pinterest was actually full of depressing photos when she and Bing broke up. This is more than just another cool, modern retelling, but it’s also a whole new way of story telling which I appreciate even more (granted it would be much less exciting if it were a story that I loved less).
3. DARCY’S PASSIONS– Pride and Prejudice retelling are always a little scary to me… for instance I don’t think I’ll ever wrap my head around Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and the like. I just started reading Darcy’s Passions one after several friend assured me that I would not be upset. I’m really enjoying this so far. Let’s be real. Jane’s seven novels are never going to be enough for me, as brilliant as they are. I love a good interpretation, as long as it’s well done.
4. JANE PRODUCTS– I want to own all the Jane Austen things First of all Etsy features some really great and crafty Jane Austen products. The Literary Gift Company is an awesome home of Austen things too (like this awesome Happily Ever After Mug), but unfortunately I don’t live in England which would make my shipping astounding. Last, but certainly not least, Jane Austen tea exists. I haven’t gotten to try any of these loose leaf beauties, but I sure would enjoy it.
Katelyn Garmong 