In this episode, we read the first five chapters of Emma. We give a brief publishing history, and talk about how much we learn about the occupants of Highbury, the introduction of the relationship between Emma and Mr Knightley, Emma’s manipulation of Harriet, and Emma’s personality (and how our views of her are changing on this … Read more Emma: Episode 1, Chapters 1-5
Since it’s going to be a couple of months before our Emma season, I thought I’d put up a clickable list of the episodes in our first three seasons, for easy reference. Season 1: Pride and Prejudice 2 February 2020 to 17 June 2020 Episode Character Historical Episode 1: Chapters 1-6 Mrs Bennet Class and … Read more Summary of episodes to date
In this episode, we finish up reading Mansfield Park, with Chapters 46 to 48. We talk about contrasts within the book, the attitude to Maria and Henry, Edmund and Fanny’s views of Mary, Sir Thomas’s reflections in the final chapter, the wrapping up of the other characters and how we are told about Edmund falling in … Read more Mansfield Park: Episode 11, Chapters 46-48
In this bonus mini-episode, Harriet has a discussion with three of the co-creators of webseries Rational Creatures. This series, based on Persuasion, started in 2019, but then had to go on a long and unexpected hiatus due to the global pandemic. Just as Jane Austen used her books to shed light on social issues of … Read more Bonus mini-episode – Rational Creatures co-creators
In this episode, we read Chapters 40 to 45 of Mansfield Park. We talk about the plot of a girl brought up in privileged circumstances returning to her family, Mary’s letters and how Fanny responds to them, the success of Henry’s visit, Edmund’s letter to Fanny, and Tom’s illness. We discuss the Price family (with a … Read more Mansfield Park: Episode 10, Chapters 40-45
In this episode, we read Chapters 35 to 39 of Mansfield Park. We talk about how Edmund and Mary dismiss Fanny’s concerns about Henry, Sir Thomas’s decision to send Fanny back to Portsmouth, Fanny and William’s journey, the comedy of the arrival in Portsmouth, Fanny’s reaction to the house, and the very realistic and grounded nature … Read more Mansfield Park: Episode 9, Chapters 35-39
In this episode, we read Chapters 31 to 34 of Mansfield Park. We talk about Fanny’s initial failure to realise she has received a true proposal, the amount of pressure placed on her to accept, the picture everyone has of little, modest Fanny, and the difference between Sir Thomas and Fanny’s views of marriage. We discuss … Read more Mansfield Park: Episode 8, Chapters 31-34
Now that my other commitments are over, I (Harriet) am working on editing the next episode. But in the meantime, I watched the Netflix Persuasion and posted an inappropriately long review on my personal Facebook page. I thought I’d copy it in here, so that I can more easily find it again when we move … Read more Not an episode – review of Persuasion 2022
This is an apology for the ongoing non-appearance of Episode 8. It is fully recorded (as is Episode 9), but I haven’t finished the editing, as I have completely overcommitted myself until mid-July. I’m doing a presentation for the Jane Austen Society of Australia conference, and also for Virtual JaneCon, plus I’m on the judging … Read more Delay with Episode 8
In this episode, we read Chapters 26 to 30 of Mansfield Park. We talk about Fanny’s preparations for the ball, the amber cross, her emotion reactions after Edmund gives her the chain, her post-ball meeting with Mary, and the scene where Henry tells Mary he plans to marry Fanny. We discuss Lady Bertram, then Ellen talks … Read more Mansfield Park: Episode 7, Chapters 26-30