Jane Austen July 2026 discussion

What are you thinking of reading this year?

Challenge one: Mansfield Park
Challenge two: Jane Austen Selected Letters and some of her Juvenalia.
Challenge 3: finish Jane Austen's Bookshelf and maybe some others if I have time.
Challenge 4: Pride and Pyramids and reread Seeking Persephone if the library holds come in on time.
Challenge 5: finish The Monk, maybe Lover's Vows if I can find a copy.
Challenge 6: 2008 Sense and Sensibility
Challenge 7: From Mansfield With Love or rewatch Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

1️⃣ Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
Mansfield Park 📚 5 stars
Persuasion

2️⃣ Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
Love and Freindship: and Other Youthful Writings

3️⃣ Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things by Paula Byrne 📚 5 stars

4️⃣ Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book OR a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen’s time
Suitors and Sabotage by Cindy Anstey 📚 5 stars
Jane and His Lordship's Legacy by Stephanie Barron 📚 5 stars
Old Friends and New Fancies by Sybil G. Brinton 📚 5 stars
Jane and the Barque of Frailty by Stephanie Barron 📚 5 stars
The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus 📚 5 stars
Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier 📚 5 stars
Haunting Mr. Darcy: A Spirited Courtship by KaraLynne Mackrory 📚 5 stars
Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev 📚 4 stars
Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee 📚 5 stars
Behind Five Willows by June Hur 📚 3.5 stars

5️⃣ Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen
Ivanhoe by Walter Scott 📚 5 stars

6️⃣ Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
Persuasion, 2008 movie 🍿🍿🍿🍿
Persuasion, 1995 movie 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Pride & Prejudice, 2005 movie 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Emma, 2009 BBC series 🍿🍿🍿🍿
Pride & Prejudice, 1980 BBC series 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Sense & Sensibility, 2008 BBC series 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Mansfield Park, 1999 movie 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Emma, 1996 movie 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

7️⃣ Watch something with a connection to Jane Austen that is not a direct adaptation
🍿

8️⃣ Knit/needlework something that is Jane Austen/Regency inspired
Knit: from The Best Of Jane Austen Knits: 27 Regency-Inspired Designs by AmyClarkeMoore, Love & Loyalty Pin Ball
Needlework: Mulberry Trees chart by Darling & Whimsy Designs

These are my possibilities for the Challenges:

Challenge 1 Novel: Mansfield Park, on audio, read by Juliet Stevenson (a many times re-read)

Challenge 2: Not a novel: either some Letters or a few misc. pieces from the juvenilia

Challenge 3: Non-Fiction: Either a re-read of John Mullan's What Matters in Jane Austen?: Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved or finish Lucy Worsley's Jane Austen at Home, which I started last JA July & didn't get very far.

✔️Challenge 4: Re-telling: Introducing Mrs. Collins, a new book by Rachel Parris or Celia's House by D. E. Stevenson, supposedly "inspired" by Mansfield Park

Challenge 5: Contemporary: A Simple Story by Elizabeth Inchbald or Ennui by Maria Edgeworth

Challenge 6: Screen adaptation: Not sure yet--may depend on my reading to see what strikes my mood

Challenge 7: Other screen: possibly the group watch of Lucy Worsley's documentary

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
Not sure yet but probably P&P

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
"Jack and Alice"
"Love and Freindship" (illustrated editions)


3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen

I have Jane Austen: A Life I have yet to read plus a whole lot of other new books.

plus others

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book OR a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen’s time
Suitors and Sabotage by Cindy Anstey

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen
The Female Quixote: or The Adventures of Arabella

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book

Persuasion (1995)

7. Watch something with a connection to Jane Austen that is not a direct adaptation

The Other Bennet Sister on BritBox (99 cents/month for two months through Amazon Prime)

QNPoohBear wrote:."

I will be interested to read your thoughts on Patchwork.

I read The Female Quixote last year. I had a hard time with my print edition (no quotation marks and unusual 18thc printing style), so I switched to audiobook, read by Juliet Stevenson. It worked really well and Stevenson brought out the humor for me.

Kathy wrote: "
I had a hard time with my print edition (no quotation marks and unusual 18thc printing style), so I switched to audiobook, read by Juliet Stevenson. It worked really well and Stevenson brought out the humor for me"

Oh good thank you for that. I'll see if I can follow it and work at the same time.

Jane Austen July 2026

The Challenges

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s main six novels
- [ ] Mansfield Park
2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
- [ ] The Watsons (finished by Claudia Gray)
3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
- [ ] What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew
- [ ] Jane Austen Pocket Portrait
4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book OR a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen’s time
- [ ] The Murder of Mr Wickham
- [ ] Pride Before a Fall
- [ ] Austenland
5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen (i.e., published between 1775–1817)
- [ ] The Mysteries of Udolpho

This year I am focusing on Persuasion, so I am reading (again) this, my favourite book, plus one or two retellings: Siempre nos quedará Seúl by Mikey Fernández (literally: "We'll always have Seoul", set in Korea, I think, with two male main characters), and (hopefully, if I remember where I left it) Persuading the Captain by Rachel John.
Of course, I'll also watch every film adaptation I can find (this challenge I have already started with the 1971, 1972 [Spanish], and 1995 versions. Only 2007 and 2022 left, apart from all the contemporary versions I can find).
[P.S.: edited a typo]

I’m currently listening to the audio Sense and Sensibility. Rosamund Pike’s narration is brilliant. I plan to read Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective and maybe Jane Austen at Home. I think I’ll try and get Mansfield Park on audio too.

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s main six novels : Mansfield Park
2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels: Lady Susan
3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time: The Real Jane Austen, A life in Small Things, by Paula Byrne
4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book OR a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen’s time: The Elopement
5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen (i.e., published between 1775–1817): TBC
6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book: Emma, P&P, S&S, Mansfield Park
7. Watch something with a connection to Jane Austen that is not a direct adaptation: Austenland, The Jane Austen Book Club, Jane Austen Wrecked my Life

Last night I watched the 2007 version of Persuasion. I really liked it but will watch another version this week.

Theresa wrote: "Last night I watched the 2007 version of Persuasion. I really liked it but will watch another version this week."
My favorite is the 1995 with Ciaran Hinds & Amanda Root. Really captures Anne's spirit for me.

Kathy wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Last night I watched the 2007 version of Persuasion. I really liked it but will watch another version this week."
My favorite is the 1995 with Ciaran Hinds & Amanda Root. Really cap..."

Yes!! Totally agree, that's the best Persuasion around!

I absolutely adore the 1995 version and it's one of my most watched movies ever. Amanda Root portrays Anne perfectly and almost all the supporting cast is fantastic.

Sorry for not participating much this year. I had been on vacation at the beginning of the month and didn't get around to posting. But I am, of course, doing JAJ!

Currently listening to Northanger Abbey (#1), narrated by the sublime Juliet Stevenson, and reading Cecilia by Fanny Burney (#5). I have already finished Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle by Georgette Heyer (#4).

I am not sure I can get the 1995 version.

Lindenblatt wrote: "I absolutely adore the 1995 version and it's one of my most watched movies ever. Amanda Root portrays Anne perfectly and almost all the supporting cast is fantastic.

Sorry for not participating m..."

I love Juliet Stevenson audiobooks! Where can I find her reading Northanger Abbey?

Rachel wrote: "I love Juliet Stevenson audiobooks! Where can I find her reading Northanger Abbey?..."

She's the best, isn't she? I listen to her on Audible. She has read each of Austen's novels and many more.

Kathy wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Last night I watched the 2007 version of Persuasion. I really liked it but will watch another version this week."
My favorite is the 1995 with Ciaran Hinds & Amanda Root. Really cap..."

The ONLY one worth watching, in my opinion. I recorded it from the TV and will watch it soon.

I finished The Other Bennet Sister. It was different. Look at it as a Regency romance/coming of age story where a young woman with an abusive mother, whose sisters over look her, goes on a journey to find herself and find love. If you're actually looking for Mary from Pride and Prejudice, this is not a story for you. It was different even from the novel on which it was based. The last episode had a twist I didn't see coming.

I want to watch Pride and Prejudice from 1967 next. Then Persuasion 1995 probably on the weekend when I have more time.

Rachel wrote: "I love Juliet Stevenson audiobooks! Where can I find her reading Northanger Abbey?."

Me too! If you don't subscribe to Audible, you can get it at downpour.com on the Naxos label. I bought it years ago as part of a large Naxos CD set (very expensive birthday gift to myself!), that included all the novels, Lady Susan and The Watsons. Juliet Stevenson reads all the complete novels except P&P, I think because she had recorded it somewhere else previously. Also, the Lady Susan in that Naxos set is also really good--great readings of the letters by different actors.

Theresa wrote: "I am not sure I can get the 1995 version."

I hope you can find it. I think I originally got it on DVD at my library and then it was so good I purchased it.

I think it's on BritBox, or if you can suffer through all the ads, I found it's free on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VwE5...