Jane Austen Sequels…to read or not to read?

 

“My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.”
-Mr. Darcy

Although Mr. Darcy was speaking of his faults, the same could be said in regards to a bad experience with a Jane Austen spin-off.

For a true Janeite who is venturing into the uncharted waters of spin-offs, add-ons, sequels, and retellings for the first time, a bad experience has the ability to make the reader shun these types of books.

 

The Sacred Six

As a lover of the “Sacred Six*”, I too was a bit skeptical of these books when I first spotted them in the book shop and I must admit that on occasion I have wanted to chuck certain books against the wall whilst screaming, ’How could you do that to these beloved characters?”. Yet, I keep reading, reminding myself that this is only one author’s take on the timeless novels Miss Austen created.

While some books certainly make me question the publisher’s decision to print them others make me fall in love with Jane Austen’s novels all over again. It is those authors, the ones who have the ability to breathe new life into the characters that are nestled in our hearts and minds while staying true to Miss Austen’s original characters that makes me yearn for more.

After finishing a novel I come down with a serious condition called the “then whats?” as well as the “what ifs…”, and when I read a Jane Austen novel the condition gets worse, especially after reading Pride & Prejudice.

The last chapter of the novel holds a wealth of possibilities waiting to be explored, especially the bit where it says that Elizabeth and Jane lived within twenty miles of each other. The fact that Pride & Prejudice closes the way it does leads me to wonder if she intended to revisit certain novels.

It is the possibilities, the unanswered questions, the what ifs, that make these spin-offs, add-ons, retellings, and sequels so appealing. They allow the reader to see the novel through the eyes of other characters, such as Mr. Darcy. Even if Jane had produced a companion to Pride & Prejudice, we would never have been able to view it from Darcy’s perspective because Jane Austen stated that she could not write from a male perspective because she did not know what men spoke of when they were left alone.

If these new additions hold true to the characters and worlds Jane Austen created, then I see them as a way to reconnect with the characters I adore. If not, I go back and reread the original novel knowing that nothing can change my opinion of Jane Austen’s novels.

I know that some diehard Janeites believe that NO ONE, under any circumstances, should meddle with the “Sacred Six”. They say that no one can improve her novels; I will admit that that is true. Adaptations are not an improvement; they are simply an enhancement to your Jane Austen experience.

Still not convinced? Let me ask you a question: Have you watched the movie versions of Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Sense & Sensibility, Persuasion, and Mansfield Park?

If your answer was yes, then you have watched an adaptation of her novels. Each movie is the director’s interpretation of her works, speeding parts up, adding or deleting bits of the plot to improve the flow, even on a few occasions characters have been omitted to suit the director’s vision.

Even though the pieces have moved around, the core of the movie remains the same. It remains the same with novel adaptations occasionally plots are changed yet the core of the story remains the same. Just like with the movie adaptations, you must take the good with the bad. Although you should not let one poorly done novel ruin your experience.

  Even Darcy got a second chance.

A few of my favorite variations:

1. The Darcy Saga by Sharon Lathan

2. The Darcy Cousins by Monica Fairview

3. Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange

4. Wickham’s Diary by Amanda Grange

5.  Edmund Bertram’s Diary by Amanda Grange

6. Darcy’s Voyage by Kara Louise

7. Pemberley Ranch by Jack Caldwell

I want to say thank you to Jennifer Lopushok @ The Beauty of Eclecticism for inviting me to share my thoughts regarding Jane Austen spin-offs. Please check out her post and share your thoughts.

 

*I have noticed that Janeites often use the phrase “The Sacred Six” when referring to Jane Austen’s six novels.

Until We Meet Again,
Best Wishes & Happy Reading,

Angela Renee
 

Longbourn Lavender-Vanilla Scones

I had visited my local tearoom about a month ago and found that they were serving Lavender Tea Scones. I jumped at the chance to try one. Normally I am a fan of lavender infused foods, although I found the scones to have a bitter processed taste and there appeared to be no actual lavender in them. When I asked the owner what she had used, she said that it was imitation lavender extract as well as lavender flavored black tea. That explained the bitter processed taste.

On my way home from the tearoom, I stopped by a local lavender farm picked up a package of fresh culinary lavender, went home and headed straight to the kitchen to create my own Lavender Tea Scones.
I opted out of using the black tea as occasionally this can make the scones bitter. I also decided to add vanilla as it compliments the lavender perfectly.

After trying a few recipes out to find the right amount of lavender to use, I finally debuted them a tea my friend was hosting. The theme for the tea happened to have been Pride & Prejudice, which led us to the discussion of Mrs. Bennet and her nerves. After trying these scones my friend replied that these should have been a staple in the Bennet household as lavender is said to be calming. Thus these scones were named Longbourn Lavender-Vanilla Scones, or as my friend called them “How To Deal With Mrs. Bennet’s Nerves“.

I can just imagine the Bennet girls as well as their father with a plate of these scones and a nice cuppa of chamomile tea hiding from Mrs. Bennet and her nerves.


The following are a list of teas that taste lovely with the scones:

Harney & Sons Yellow & Blue
Twinings of London Lady Grey Tea

Longbourn Lavender-Vanilla Scones
Preheat oven to 425 F.
Ingredients:

2 Cups of Self-Rising Flour*
1 ¼ teaspoons of Baking Powder
1 ½ Sticks of Butter, cold cut into chunks
⅓ Cup of Sugar
2 Large Eggs
½ Cup Milk
2 Tablespoons of Culinary Lavender (do not crush the lavender it makes it bitter)
2 ½ Teaspoons of Vanilla Extract

*If you do not have self-rising flour you can make your own.
-For every 1 cup of Flour add 1 ½ teaspoons of Baking Powder and a pinch of salt.

Sift together Flour and Baking Powder in a large mixing bowl.
Add in Sugar and chunks of Butter. (Cold butter will mix better).

Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles bread crumbs.




In a separate bowl, add two large eggs and milk.

Whisk together until frothy.




Pour Egg-Milk mixture into the Flour mixture.
Stir together with a wooden spoon until the mixture is slightly blended.





Place mixture upon a floured surface and kneed, about 1-2 minutes, until it resembles dough. DO NOT OVER KNEED, this will make the dough tough.

Place your dough into a clean mixing bowl.
Add in Lavender and Vanilla.

Mix together with hands.
Place on floured surface, kneed 2-3 times to ensure Lavender is evenly blended.

Roll dough out to ½ an inch in thickness and cut with a medium sized biscuit cutter.
(If you prefer wedges, roll dough into an 9 inch circle (½ an inch in thickness), and cut into 6-8 wedges.)
Place on ungreased baking sheet for 15 minutes at 425 degrees.
Remove and place on a wire cooling rack then either serve or store.*



*If you are planning on serving these fresh from the oven brush tops with milk and sprinkle with sugar before placing them into the oven.

*If you are planning to store, make sure that they are cooled completely before placing in an airtight container.

Until We Meet Again,

Dreaming of Darcy Post and Giveaway

It seems that Mr. Darcy is the perfect embodiment of the Romantic Hero.
What is it that makes Mr. Darcy a lasting literary icon? Could it be his transformation from snob to suitor? His dashing good looks? The fact that he owns a sizable estate in Derbyshire? His large fortune, (£10, 000 a year), that certainly turned Mrs. Bennet’s head.

While one cannot pinpoint the exact cause of his legendary status we do know that Fitzwilliam Darcy is the most recognized hero that Jane Austen created; he also happens to be the character most authors choose to write about, whether it is historical, contemporary, or something in-between. Many of us find ourselves fascinated by this figment of Miss Austen’s imagination and I will admit I am just as fascinated as the rest of you.

I have read so many spin-offs, add-on, and rewrites where Mr. Darcy is front and center. With books ranging from the paranormal, Mr. Darcy’s Bite by Mary Lydon Simonsen (Sourcebooks Landmark, October 2011), and Vampire Darcy’s Desire by Regina Jeffers (Ulysses Press, out now) to contemporary. Want to read about Darcy channeling his inner guitar god complete with skin-tight black leather pants? (Yes, Please!!!!) Then I know the perfect book for you, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star by Heather Lynn Rigaud (Sourcebooks Landmark, September 2011). It’s guaranteed to rock your world!

We have read about the “Trouble With Mr. Darcy” in Sharon Lathan’s fifth novel in her Darcy Saga. We have seen him take a wife (Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife by Mary Berdoll, A Wife for Mr. Darcy by Mary Simonsen). Kara Louise told us “Only Mr. Darcy Will Do”. Abigail Reynolds posed the question, “What Would Mr. Darcy Do?’ and PO Dixon tells us “What He Would Not Do”.

We have read about his passionate side (In the Arms of Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan) as well as his dark side (Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange). We have learned his secrets of becoming a gentleman thanks to Maria Hamilton (Mr. Darcy and the Secrets of Becoming a Gentleman) while Susan Adriani brings “The Truth About Mr. Darcy” to light. We have shamelessly thumbed through his private diaries; admit it you know you have. Yet, we still yearn for more.

No matter how he is portrayed: paranormal, historic, or contemporary at his core he is still the same iconic literary figure that was created nearly two hundred years ago. Talk about staying power.

I find myself constantly asking people “Who is your Mr. Darcy?”. Some may say Colin Firth’s portrayal stole their breath away. While others, myself included, absolutely adored Matthew Macfadyen’s poignant portrayal. On a few occasions, to my surprise, people have told me that it was Elliot Cowan’s performance as Mr. Darcy in Lost In Austen that captured their Darcy.

No matter the outcome of the “Firth-Macfadyen’ debate, I believe that everyone, once they have read Pride & Prejudice, creates their own Mr. Darcy.

That leaves me one question: Who is your Mr. Darcy?

I would be remiss to go on blathering about these wonderful titles without offering you the chance to claim some of them as your own.

Dreaming of Darcy Giveaway Includes:



Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (to see how it all began)
Mr. Darcy and the Secrets of Becoming a Gentleman by Maria Hamilton
Only Mr. Darcy Will Do by Kara Louise
A Wife for Mr. Darcy by Mary Simonsen
What Would Mr. Darcy Do? By Abigail Reynolds


1 Tin of Twinings of London Loose English Breakfast tea
1 Box of Twinings of London English Breakfast tea

1 Mrs. Darcy Mug

To enter please answer the question: Who is your Mr. Darcy?
Please leave your name & a valid email address.
Giveaway is open Internationally
Ends September 16th, 2011

Until We Meet Again,

Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley Pomegranate Scones

Over the weekend, I was planning to host a tea for a few close friends who also happen to be fellow Jane Austen Addicts. I wanted to come up a new scone recipe as I had grown tired of the normal ones and wanted something a bit different.

Unfortunately, I was stumped and seeing that the tea was only a few days away, I resigned myself to making my old tried-and-true Scottish Gingerbread Scones. So, with my scone dilemma remedied, I fixed me a cuppa tea in my Mrs. Darcy mug and set to rereading, “Two Become One”, the first book in Sharon Lathan’s Darcy Saga.

After reading the first few chapters, I started wondering what kind of scones Mr. Darcy would have ordered to be made. (I say ordered to be made because I just do not see Fitzwilliam Darcy rummaging around in the kitchens whisk in hand wearing a Regency-style “Kiss the Cook” apron.) Thus, Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley Pomegranate Scones were born! I am fairly sure that Lady Catherine would be highly envious of the delicious delights!

Of course, if you are having Darcy-inspired scones, you will have to have a tea worthy of the owner of Pemberley thus I recommend Twinings of London’s Darjeeling Tea. Known as the “Champagne of Teas”, it is described as a ‘delicate Indian tea with a unique character that is liked to the Muscatel grape’. I believe that Mr. Darcy would approve.

I hope you enjoy the scones & tea!

Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley Pomegranate Scones

Preheat oven to 425 F.
Ingredients:

2 Cups of Self-Rising Flour*
1 ¼ teaspoons of Baking Powder
1 ½ Sticks of Butter, cold cut into chunks
⅓ Cup of Sugar
2 Large Eggs
½ Cup Milk
½ Cup of Dried Pomegranates
½ Teaspoon of Nutmeg
¼ Teaspoon of Cloves
1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon


*If you do not have self-rising flour you can make your own.
-For every 1 cup of Flour add 1 ½ teaspoons of Baking Powder and a pinch of salt.

Sift together Flour and Baking Powder in a large mixing bowl.
Add in Sugar and chunks of Butter. (Cold butter will mix better).

Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles bread crumbs.




In a separate bowl, add two large eggs and milk.


Whisk together until frothy.






Pour Egg-Milk mixture into the Flour mixture.
Stir together with a wooden spoon until the mixture is slightly blended.






Place mixture upon a floured surface and kneed, about 1-2 minutes, until it resembles dough. DO NOT OVER KNEED, this will make the dough tough.





Place your dough into a clean mixing bowl.
Add in dried Pomegranates, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon.





Mix together with hands.
Place on floured surface, kneed 2-3 times to ensure Pomegranates are evenly blended.



Roll dough out to ½ an inch in thickness and cut with a medium sized biscuit cutter.






(If you prefer wedges, roll dough into an 9 inch circle (½ an inch in thickness), and cut into 6-8 wedges.)
Place on ungreased baking sheet for 15 minutes at 425 degrees.
Remove and place on a wire cooling rack then either serve or store.*



*If you are planning on serving these fresh from the oven brush tops with milk and sprinkle with sugar before placing them into the oven.

*If you are planning to store, make sure that they are cooled completely before placing in an airtight container.

Until We Meet Again,

The History of England by Jane Austen

The History of England by Jane Austen

Jane Austen wrote her History of England in 1791 at the age of 15. Comprising of just 34 pages accompanied by 13 watercolor miniatures of English monarchs that were painted by her sister, Cassandra, History of England is a fascinating piece of early literature. Being a piece of juvenilia it was wrote mainly as entertainment for her family circle when they gathered in the parlor of her father’s rectory.

A work of witty satire, this History offers more parody than actual history and draws attention to the way a girl of her age would have felt about their education. Filled with mocking satire, devoid of actual dates and vital information, Miss Austen’s portrayal of the monarchs was more for sheer amusement rather than educational purposes.

The History of England showcases Miss Austen’s wildly vivid imagination, as well as her ability to produce social comedies.

A few years after writing The History of England, Jane Austen compiled this composition as well as 28 other pieces of her juvenilia into three notebooks, which she entitled “Volume the First”, “Volume the Second”, and “Volume the Third”. It is in “Volume the Second” that The History of England is contained, and upon Miss Austen’s death, this volume passed to Cassandra. Upon Cassandra’s death in 1845 “Volume the Second” passed to Francis Austen, and remained in her family until 1977 when it was sold to the British Library.


In 1922, the granddaughter of Francis Austen and owner of “Volume the Second” allowed Chatto and Windus to publish the entire notebook under the name Love and Friendship. Since its first publication in 1922, The History of England continues to be published.


In addition, the British Library has recently uploaded the original “The History of England” on-line for readers to enjoy. If you would like to view the original, you can do so here. http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/austen/accessible/introduction.html


********



The History England opens with the following:

The History of England
from the reign of
Henry the 4th
to the death of
Charles the 1st.

By a partial, prejudiced, & ignorant Historian.
__________________________________

To Miss Austen eldest daughter of the Revd George
Austen, this book is inscribed with all due respect by
The Author

N.B. There will be very few Dates in this History.






The copy that I possess is a newer edition published in 2006 by Icon Books Ltd… It contains a forward by David Starkey as well as an excerpt of Charles Dickens’ A Child’s History of England. I do like this version, although I wished that it would have contained the miniatures that Cassandra painted. Other than that, this version remains true to the original manuscript. It offers a witty account of the monarchs through the eyes of a 15 year old. I liked the little quips and conclusions that Miss Austen makes throughout the book. She deems that Richard III was a respectable man because he was a York. Henry VIII’s only merit was that he was not quite so bad as his daughter Elizabeth. Also, that it was her (Jane’s) Duty to declare that this amiable woman, Anna Bullen (Anne Boleyn), was entirely innocent of the Crimes with which she was accused, of which her Beauty, her Elegance, & her Sprightliness were sufficient proofs…

This is a book that all Janites should take a look at. I found it highly amusing I hope you do as well.


I HAVE 1 COPY TO GIVEAWAY. CONTEST IS INTENTIONAL. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR NAME AND A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS. CONTEST ENDS 26TH OF MAY.

Winners!

Robert Burns once wrote, "The best laid schemes o' Mice and Men gang aft aglee", or as we would say it “The best laid plans of Mice and Men often go awry.” I have to say that statement seems to be holding true when it came it getting this site up and running.

A few of the technical problems are still playing up, such as some of the pages are refusing to display what is on them, although I have decided to go ahead and start the blog up! Fingers crossed the whole site will be up and running within the next few days!





Ok first things first, we have winners for our first contest!

The first prize winner of The Addicted to Jane Austen Pride & Prejudice Survival kit is TRACEY RHOADES.

The second place winner who will be receiving a copy of The Trouble With Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan is SUSIEBOOKWORM.

I will be emailing you both shortly.


I would like to thank everyone who entered. If you did not win please try again next time. Also I would like to thank everyone for the lovely comments about the blog!

All winners are chosen at random by Random Number Generator.

Don’t forget to cast your vote for your favorite Jane Austen novel.

Tomorrow we will be taking a look at Jane Austen’s The History of England!

CONTEST!

Unfortunately, there have been a few technical problems with getting this site up and running so please bear with me as I work out the glitches. Rather than starting on the 1st as I had planned Addicted to Jane Austen will go live on the 9th of May. I apologize for the delay although I want to ensure that this site is operating at its best for the reader. In the mean time please take this extra week to tell your friends about the site and please enjoy this giveaway!

As a thank you for bearing with me, I am posting a giveaway for an Addicted to Jane Austen Survival kit as. I will also be holding a 2nd prize winner who will receive The Trouble With Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan.

The Addicted to Jane Austen Pride & Prejudice Survival kit includes:

1 Copy of Pride & Prejudice
1 Copy of Pemberley Ranch by Jack Caldwell
1 Copy of Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange
1 Copy of Wickham’s Diary by Amanda Grange
1 Copy of The Man Who Loved Pride & Prejudice by Abigail Reynolds

Also included in this survival pack is a selection of Twining’s Tea

1 box of Lady Grey
1 box of Earl Grey
1 box of English Afternoon


********************************************************************************

To enter please leave your name and a valid email address. Contest is international! And ends May 9th. I will contact the winners on the 10th.