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 📚 5 stars

2️⃣ Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
Love and Freindship: and Other Youthful Writings 📚 4 stars
Sanditon: Jane Austen's Last Novel Completed 📚 4 stars

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
Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley 📚 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
The Elopement by Gill Hornby 📚 4 stars
Pirates and Prejudice by Kara Louise 📚 4.5 stars
Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman 📚 3.5 stars
Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron by Stephanie Barron 📚 5 stars
Caytee by Susanna Kanto 📚 4 stars
Jane and the Canterbury Tale by Stephanie Barron 📚 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 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Sanditon, 2019 PBS series 🍿

7️⃣ Watch something with a connection to Jane Austen that is not a direct adaptation
The Other Bennet Sister 🍿🍿🍿
Lucy Worsley's Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

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, finished knitting
Needlework: Mulberry Trees chart by Darling & Whimsy Designs, started this year

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...

Kathy wrote: "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..."
Thank you

I started Pride and Prejudice 1967. Yes 1967! And it's surprisingly not bad after 1 1/2 short episodes. It includes dialogue I don't remember hearing in other adaptations and Sir William and Lady Lucas are in a few scenes. Louisa Bingley Hurst has more of a speaking role but I think Mary Bennet was cut out of the story. Mr. Bingley stands up to his sisters a bit. With only 6 half hour episodes, it will be abridged but so far it's not bad.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_a...

Fun fact: Jane Bennet is played by actress Polly Adams who was the mother of Susannah Harker who played Jane in 1995!

QNPoohBear wrote: "I started Pride and Prejudice 1967. Yes 1967! And it's surprisingly not bad after 1 1/2 short episodes. It includes dialogue I don't remember hearing in other adaptations and Sir William and Lady L..."

I've seen bits of this one; I found a YT channel a couple of years back that had various videos, each with a different scene from P&P, and had clips from 1967, 1980, 1995, etc. in one video. It was an interesting comparison to see how they were done differently. Too bad I can't remember how I found it.

ETA: I found it! Here's "Darcy's Second Proposal":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqTaX...

Once you're there, you can navigate to all the scenes.

Kathy wrote: "ETA: I found it! Here's "Darcy's Second Proposal":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqTaX...

Once you're there, you can navigate to all the scenes."

I saw that pop up. That was the first video I clicked on. I wanted to watch the whole show. I've seen all the others. I was looking for 1967 because I saw Susannah Harker at the JASNA Annual General Meeting last year and it was mentioned her mom played Jane.

Lost is a 1938 adaptation - not the Olivier version.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414386/...

There's also a 1950s adaptation now lost https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335734/...

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477530/...

and a couple of other interpretations I haven't seen. I've been avoiding the trailer for the new Netflix version. This can't be right. Some of these characters have to be in more than one episode!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36475261...

I still want to sit down with my nephew and watch Zombies. He's entering high school and it's high time he was familiar with Pride and Prejudice enough to impress the girls and pass English class LOL!

Uh what? Since when is this the plot of P&P? From imdb.com
What IS this?
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37676171...

"Lizzie Bennet prefers spinsterhood until her ill father's condition forces her into courtship. Meeting wealthy Mr. Darcy challenges her to choose between family duty and unexpected love."

This contemporary mini series doesn't sound good either.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39797233...

QNPoohBear wrote: "There's also a 1950s adaptation now lost https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335734/...
"

Ooh, sorry that one's lost--I would love to see a young Prunella Scales as Lydia!

There's a lost Pride and Prejudice adaptation starring Peter Cushing as Mr. Darcy.

Rebecca wrote: "There's a lost Pride and Prejudice adaptation starring Peter Cushing as Mr. Darcy."

Yes, I think that's the same with Prunella Scales as Lydia, from 1952.

I watched the 1999? version of Persuasion last night and I really liked it. I still think I like the 2007 one better.

I've set up a Wrap-Up thread....come share your thoughts.

1. Read one of Jane Austen's main 6 novels: Mansfield Park

2. Read one of Jane Austen's not main novel: Lady Susan DONE

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time: Jane Austen, the Secret Radical by Helena Kelly

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book or a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen's time:

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen published between 1775-1817: Lovers' Vows by Elizabeth Inchbald DONE

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book: Love & Friendship (based on Lady Susan) DONE

7. Watch something related to Jane Austen that is not a direct adaptation: Lucy Worsley's Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors on YouTube DONE