Today’s culture post is a little bit different, but I think it will resonate with many of you lovely readers. Given that yesterday wa the 203rd anniversary of Jane Austen’s death in Winchester, now is the perfect time to do a quick dive into Austenite culture. She is routinely included in “greatest authors of all time” lists. There are annual festivals held across the globe that celebrate her life and works. So, why is that more than two hundred years later we all keep returning to Austen? And what are all of the ways that we celebrate Austen culture?
Austenites (also known as Janeites) are the people like me, who continue to read and explore Jane Austen’s works and life. Although new discoveries about her are fairly rare at this point, we just can’t seem to give up on her. So, what are the different manifestations of Austen culture?
Austen Re-Reads
I will admit, I am entirely guilty of re-reads. I do an annual re-reading of Northanger Abbey every summer- the #AnHistorianReads book club tackled it this year! There are people who read Pride and Prejudice yearly, there are others who try to read all six of her completed novels in a year. Given that they aren’t Russian doorstop type books, it is somewhat incredible that we all keep returning to them, but we do.
Austen on Screen
You will be hard pressed to find a more heated and intense Austen debate than who your favourite Darcy on screen is. (I don’t have one myself, but if I had to pick, I’ll go with McFadyen- I didn’t see the 1996 P&P until after the 2005.) There are countless adaptations of her novels on screen, as well as newer interpretations. (See: Clueless, Austenland, Bride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones’ Diary, etc.)
Festivals
Jane Austen festivals are a huge part of Austen culture. I’ve not been lucky enough to visit one yet, but the Jane Austen Festival in Bath every September is one of the biggest Austen events in the world. And it isn’t limited to the UK- the JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America) festival every year is massive, as well. You can go to talks with scholars who study her and actors who have played her charactrs. Learn to do embroidery like Jane and her sister Cassandra would have, or the dances they would have done at the Assembly Rooms. Buy yourself a Regency dress- whatever your inner Austenite desires!
How do enjoy your Austen culture? Are you all in or do you find it a little bit too much sometimes? I don’t know where I stand on re-enactments and whatnot, but I can’t get enough Austen on the page or screen!
Cheers,
The Historian
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