December 16th is Jane Austen Day

Happy Jane Austen Day, everyone!

I’m a big Jane Austen fan. I’ve read her novels. In college, I took a class that consisted entirely of Austen and Woolf. I own all the recent Masterpiece adaptations and watch them so regularly that my husband likes to joke about it. I love adaptations like the Lizzie Bennet Diaries. I own two Austen-related clothing items (holla Team Laconia) and two Austen-related toys for my desk. I know what JASNA stands for.

It would be easy to think that Austen’s novels are appealing because of the witty writing or the romantic plotlines or the historical interest. But what I find really appealing is the humanity of her stories. Austen’s heroines often deal with harsh realities like poverty or being branded a slut or having to marry outside of their control or being manipulated by cruel family members or realizing their own mistakes and hoping for forgiveness. These are all issues that are so human and so relevant for contemporary readers. This is why I think Austen’s work is so lasting–along with the romance and the wit are very real pains and anxieties and challenges.

This December 16th, I’m excited to celebrate one of my favorite authors. Grab a copy of Persuasion or Northanger Abbey, or settle in for the BBC Pride and Prejudice adaptation, or put on your Laconia t-shirt and share your enthusiasm for Jane!

14 thoughts on “December 16th is Jane Austen Day

  1. marydpierce says:

    I have read her books, seen the movies, visited the place where she lived the last years of her life, photographed the desk at which she wrote all of her novels (posted that on Twitter), and visited her final resting place at Winchester Cathedral. I am so smitten with her. It’s always been my dream to make a JANE pilgrimage with other ladies so smitten. Road trip, anyone???

  2. Maryanne (mfantaliswrites) says:

    Loooooove Jane Austen and all the art she has inspired. I go on obsessive Jane-binges from time to time where I re-watch all of my films and read all the books and cannot get enough Jane. I wish I had a tenth of her skill! Happy Jane Day, and YES, Mary, I’ll hit the road with you any day! 😀

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