A celebration of the world's most famous mother (Mary) by a much-less-famous one (me)
I need me a little Jane Austen.
Ah. Better now.
(Illustration by C. E. Brock for Pride and Prejudice, courtesy of Mollands. If you’d like to read an article I wrote a few years ago about Austen’s perennial appeal, click here.)
This Sunday — oh, I’m so happy! — Masterpiece Theatre will be broadcasting the first episode of Emma, the latest adaptation of Jane Austen’s fabulously fabulous book. It starts Romola Garai (who was so good in Daniel Deronda) as the title character, and judging from the previews, it looks delightful. I suspect it will be a keeper.
So I will get my husband to set the VCR, because after ten years with this machine I still don’t know how to do it myself (I know that the world at large has moved on to better things like Tivo, but we are afraid to get it because we fear our TV watching will increase exponentially. Okay, I’m afraid that our TV watching will increase exponentially.) And you know, I think our trusty little VCR gets really happy when he/she gets to record a Jane Austen adaptation. Okay maybe I’m projecting a bit. But there is something about Jane that never gets old. Maybe we are just all starved for courtship, romance, politeness, civility, and men in waistcoats.
Happy viewing!
Illustration of Emma by C.E. Brock. Courtesy of Solitary Elegance.
Last Saturday, the boys spent the afternoon and evening at my parents’ house. Scott and I went back home for a few relaxing hours before heading out to a tapas bar. It was strange sensation to be back at home without hearing four little feet running over hardwood floors. Scott celebrated the silence by taking a nap; I pulled out some mending, savoring the fact that I could leave a pincushion of needles on the coffee table and not worry about a toddler impaling himself. It felt odd and quiet and, to be honest, very nice.
And do you know when it really hit me that I had a few hours to myself? When I went to the DVD player and took out this:
and put in this:
Illustrations by C. E. Brock for Emma and Mansfield Park, respectively. Visit www.mollands.net to see these, and many many more. But I warn you: a visit there won’t do your laundry baskets any favors, either.
P.S. Four more days to enter the giveaway …
More Jane Austen.
Why? Because I can.
Illustration by C. E. Brock for Mansfield Park. Image courtesy of the good rabid Janeites over at Molland’s. Check them out sometime.
So you know what I did yesterday, while the boys napped?
I discovered that I am Elizabeth Bennet.
I’ d always suspected that I was, but now I know for sure. Right on.
At any rate, this online quiz is waaaaaay more fun than doing laundry.
(Hat tip to Marina for bringing this quiz to my oh-so-grateful attention).
Illustration by C.E. Brock for Pride and Prejudice. The picture is courtesy of Molland’s, a site for people who love Jane Austen as much as I do (WARNING: if you go the site, be prepared to spend inordinate amounts of time drooling over all the pretty pretty pictures).
This is one of the most romantic scenes in the book, too. I mean, look — they are holding hands! It’s all so lovely that I am prepared to overlook Mr. Darcy’s unflattering headwear. I’m not sure any man in a hat like that could make MY sentiments undergo so material a change.
I'm a formerly lapsed Catholic who likes to write about faith, real life, and how the two intersect. Oh, and I love Mary -- check out my book Mary and Me below!
