I never knew what sad work the reading of old letters was before that evening, though I could hardly tell why. The letters were as happy as letters could be—at least those early letters were. There was in them a vivid and intense sense of the present time, which seemed so strong and full, as … Continue reading Catching up on old times… →

"The pleasure of reading is doubled when one lives with another who shares the same books."Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) Just in case you were searching for your very own Elizabeth or Capt. Wentworth, well at any rate someone to share more than your books with in life, and those other online dating sites just aren't providing … Continue reading Searching for your very own Capt. Wentworth… →

August 1 Girlfriends Night Out 6:00 p.m.Apple Blossom Tea Room Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaJoin your girlfriends for a night of camaraderie, fun, and relaxation. A full evening tea will be served by candlelight in the Apple Blossom Tea Room’s calming and feminine atmosphere. After the tea service, reconnect with the women who are special to you over … Continue reading In case you’re in the area: Gettysburg →

Jane Austen has never been more popular in America. Candidates on both sides of the political divide are now vying with one another to quote her in their speeches. "And you know what?" Republican candidate Mitt Romney told a group of his supporters last Thursday. "Jane Austen loved Iowa every bit as much as I … Continue reading Little-known fact about Jane #8 →

There are lots of audiobooks out there that one can purchase, however if you are like me and feeling the pinch, you may want to check out http://librivox.org/ for free versions of Jane's books. They are a little amature but well worth it for the price.

One hundred years ago, Beatrix Potter created the beloved tales of Peter Rabbit that, to this day, continue to grace the bookshelves of children all over the world. These porcelain miniatures by Frederick Warne and Wedgwood allow us to pass on to new generations the traditions Potter created so many years ago. For more on … Continue reading Beatrix Potter spotlighted in Victoria Magazine →

In the language of flowers, a spray of long-stemmed roses tells the recipient, “I will remember you always.”

Perhaps no artist defines style and grace yet with whimsy and social satire like Jane Austen. Generations have welcomed these characters into their homes. Stanton & Lee Publishers is pleased to offer these prints based on original artwork inspired by the works of Jane Austen and the illustrators the Brothers Brock by the artist Elizabeth … Continue reading Elizabeth Lefebvre’s watercolors of Austen characters →

A number of recent movies, such as Clueless (1995), have placed the plots of Jane Austen novels in contemporary settings. Martin Scorsese introduced an unexpected note of violence into his version of Mansfield Park, re-shot as Goodfellas (1990), but, as he pointed out in a talk at the National Film Theatre recently: "To me, there's … Continue reading Little-known fact about Jane #7 →

As he records in his Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin "conceiv'd the bold and arduous Project of arriving at moral Perfection." From his reading, he came up with a catalogue of thirteen moral virtues, and he drew up a graph on which he scored his successes and failures each day.Here's his list:Temperance. Eat not to Dulness. Drink … Continue reading Tips for living a virtuous life, from Benjamin Frankin in 1793. →