Jane Austen Society of North America

SouthwestNovember 2016 Newsletter

In This IssueJane Austen in the News

Winter Meeting

Board Nominations

Fall Meeting Recap

2016 AGM Highlights

Reading Groups

Connect on Social Media

Jane Austen inthe News!

"The real reason JaneAusten nevermarried," according toBBC HistoryMagazine.

Join Us for the JASNA-SW

Winter Meeting

Will and Jane: Learn what two of the most popularauthors of all time have in common.

Join us onSaturday, December 3

Registration/Coffee/

"These real-life JaneAusten-inspiredvacation spots need togo on your bucket listASAP," fromverilymag.com.

The Valley AreaEnglish RegencySociety welcomesJASNA-SW membersto its Third SundayEnglish RegencyDancing program inPasadena on Nov. 20from 1:30-5:30 p.m.The event will includelight refreshments,conversation andRegency dancing,including a Cotillion.Suggested donation is$8, and bringing asnack to share isappreciated. Costumesadmired but neverrequired. Noexperience or partnerrequired.

Continental Breakfast/Shopping: 9-10 a.m.

Program: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Luminarias Restaurant3500 W. Ramona BoulevardMonterey Park CA 91754

Free parking adjacent to restaurant

Registration email coming soon!$65 -- JASNA-Southwest members

$80 -- Nonmembers$45 -- Students with ID

We also will hold a White Elephant Sale.Members are invited to donate books and

other items of interest to JASNA-SW members.Proceeds will support JASNA-SW.

Speakers:Janine Barchas -- Will and JaneBarchas joined the faculty of the University ofTexas at Austin, and previously taught at theUniversity of Auckland in New Zealand. Sherecently co-curated the exhibition "Will & Jane:Shakespeare, Austen, and the Cult ofCelebrity" at the Folger Shakespeare Library inWashington, D.C. In 2013, she unveiled thefirst installment of the "What Jane Saw"website, which offers digital reconstructions oftwo Georgian museum blockbusters as theylooked to Austen in 1796 and 1813. Her booksinclude Graphic Design, Print Culture, and theEighteenth-Century Novel (CambridgeUniversity Press, 2003) -- which won theSHARP book prize -- and Matters of Fact inJane Austen: History, Location, and Celebrity(Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012).

Visit the JASNA-Southwest

website for more aboutprograms, reading groups and

more.

And look for our brand-newwebsite coming soon!

Sarah Raff -- Comparing MansfieldPark to Measure for MeasureRaff is an associate professor of English atPomona College. Her scholarship seeks todefine how authors foresee and shape theirinfluence upon readers. Her first book, JaneAusten's Erotic Advice (Oxford University Press,2014), interprets didacticism as a seductiverhetorical mode and shows how Austen'snarrators use didactic speech-acts to elicitreaderly devotion. Her current book-in-progress, supported recently with grants fromthe Lewis Walpole Library and the HuntingtonLibrary, tracks the rise of the novel in Englandagainst the cultural and legal history ofguardianship. Tentatively called Author-Guardians in the English Novel, it identifies astrand of novels running from the 18th centuryto the end of the 19th century in which fictionalguardian/ward interactions prefigurenovelist/reader relations.

Board Nominations At our December 3 Winter Meeting, memberswill vote on the following 2017 JASNA-Southwest board nominations:

Regional Coordinator--Cheryl ColeSecretary--Jay Scholl BohlenTreasurer/Meeting Concierge--Sonya SamuelsMembership/Meeting Concierge--Carol KrauseNewsletter/Webmaster/Social Media--SusieWamplerProgram Planners--Jan Fahey and Lynda HallEvent Planner--Glenda PinneyPress Liaison--Brittany GashFestival of Books Coordinator--Emily BergmanPast Regional Coordinator--Nancy GallagherAssistant Treasurer--vacantArchivist--vacantEducation Outreach--vacant

Board Advisors:Claire BellantiDiana BirchallErika KotiteTerry RyanCarla Washburn

Contact Cheryl Cole for more information.

Beyond the BonnetFall Meeting Recap

Robert Rodi

A record number of members andguests attended JASNA-Southwest'sFall 2016 Meeting, "Beyond theBonnet," on October 1 at the PasadenaCentral Library. Guest speaker RobertRodi, author of the Bitch in a Bonnetblog and books, enthralled theaudience with his witty enthusiasm forAusten and deep engagement with herworks. He began by sharing his inspiration forthe blog, which began with the 2005film version of Pride and Prejudicestarring Keira Knightley. "I think it isfair to say I did not like this movie,"he said. "So much about it justalarmed me. Lady Catherine deBourgh showing up at Longbourn inthe middle of the night. Lizzy andDarcy being pelted by rain on themoor like they're Heathcliff and

Cathy." What troubled him most of all, hesaid, was the reduction of Austen'sdialogue. "To me, Jane is all about thelanguage," he said. "It is the weaponthat she wields against society. In thismovie, it was just completely flattenedout." He compared dialogue from the novelto its transformed lines in the film.One example he shared was the scenewhen Charlotte informs Lizzy she hasaccepted Mr. Collins' proposal ofmarriage. First, he quoted from thenovel: "Why should you be surprised,dear Eliza? Do you think it incrediblethat Mr. Collins should be able toprocure any woman's good opinionbecause he was not so happy as tosucceed with you?" And then from thefilm: "Don't judge me, Lizzy. Don't youdare judge me." Rodi told the audience that he isusually able to shrug off a filmadaptation of a favorite novel thatdoesn't please him. "In this case thatwas impossible because, in theensuing weeks, I kept seeing reviewssaying, 'Finally, someone has capturedthe spirit of Austen.' I could not let itpass," he recalled. "In Jane Austen, we have one of thegreat social satirists of all time.Because she was a woman, living in atime when marriage was the onlymeans by which a woman could alterthe condition of her life, that's whatshe wrote about. To call her, for that

reason, a writer of romances is thekind of cloddish thinking that shewould take relish in eviscerating," headded.

"Despite her admittedly limitedpalette, her psychological acuity easilymatches Shakespeare's, and her wit aswell," he wrote in the "manifesto" thatserves as an introduction to his blog.

At first, he began writing a book tosupport his thesis that Austen isactually the most unsparing socialsatirist of her century. Eventually hecame up with the idea of doing a blog.He started with Sense and Sensibilityand would re-read a few chapters andthen post about them, trying "to makethem as amusing as possible." He struggled the most with MansfieldPark, his least favorite of Austen'sworks, and his posts became longerand longer as he justified his concernsabout heroine Fanny Price. "This iswhere what started as a six-monthproject turned into a five-yearproject," he said. His favorite Austennovels, he told the crowd, are Prideand Prejudice ("I know I am not alone

there.") and Northanger Abbey, whichhe likes to envision being performedentirely by members of the MontyPython troupe. After finishing the blog in 2014 andcollecting the essays into two self-published volumes, Rodi found hemissed "being in the Austen sphere."He decided to return to the canon butdo something different. "I wanted totry a novel, but not a sequel orprequel. I really love her Juvenilia. It'shilarious. It really gives you a sense ofwhat a firebrand she was as a youth."So he took one of her early farces, thefour-page Edgar and Emma, and turnedit into a full-length comedy ofmanners in his best approximation ofher style. He plans to publish the novelin December 2016.

Also at the Fall Meeting, memberSusan Ridgeway demonstrated variousmethods of wearing the new silkscarves commissioned by JASNA-Southwest to promote the 2017 AGMour region is hosting next October.

The scarves are available as gifts witha minimum $30 donation to the 2017AGM. They come in navy or a creamyyellow. Contact Nancy Gallagher fordetails.

Susan Ridgeway

Attendees at the 2016 Fall Meeting

Youngest attendee, J.J., who came with his mother,

Marguerite Martins

2016 AGM Highlights

More than 800 people, includingnumerous JASNA-Southwest members,attended the 2016 Annual GeneralMeeting (AGM) of the Jane Austen

Society of North America, held inWashington, D.C., Oct. 19-22 andfeaturing the theme Emma at 200, "NoOne But Herself."

Plenary speakers Bharat TandonLabours Not Her Own: Emma and theInvisible World

Susan Allen FordNot What You Would Think AnythingOf: Robert Martin and Harriet Smith

Juliette WellsThe 1816 Philadelphia Emma: AForgotten Edition and Its Readers

Will & Jane exhibition at the FolgerShakespeare Library

This wonderful exhibit was a particularhighlight for many conferenceattendees.

Cassandra Austen's copy of Emma, from 1816, and

Stephen Fry's student copy (circa 1977) of MansfieldPark, with his annotations (part of the Will & Janeexhibition at the Folger Shakespeare Library)

The Will & Jane exhibition also featured "The Shirt"from the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice,with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle

Regency Ball and attendeecostumes

One attendee had this Clueless-inspired outfit

specially made.

Preview of the 2017 AGM At the Sunday brunch, 2017 AGMCoordinator Nancy Gallagher, RegionalCoordinator Cheryl Cole and aflashmob of JASNA-SW memberspresented the delightful promotional

video created by Erika Kotite,encouraging attendees to come toHuntington Beach, Calif., next Octoberfor our very own AGM.

Reading GroupsUpcoming Meetings/Info

Dessert at the October meeting of theSanta Monica Reading Group

Saturday, November 5, 12:30 p.m.Long Beach Reading Group

Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady(second half) by Samuel RichardsonFor more information, contact Gerda Kilgore,562-496-4452.

Sunday, November 6 Pasadena Area Reading GroupThe Chronicles of Barsetshire by AnthonyTrollopeThis group is at capacity and cannot acceptnew members. Current members may contactSusan Ridgeway, 626-357-1397.

Sunday, November 6, 2-4 p.m. South Bay Reading GroupEmma by Jane AustenNew and returning members are welcome.For more information, contact Jeanine Holguin,805-444-8999.

Sunday, November 13, 12:30 p.m.Orange County Reading GroupEmma by Jane Austen and review of the AGM For more information, contact Viki Barie, 714-309-6702.

Sunday, November 13, 1-3 p.m.NEW Riverside Reading Group Lady Susan by Jane AustenLove and Friendship by Whit StillmanLocation: home of Vicki BroachContact Cristi Hendry for more information.

Sunday, November 13, 2-4 p.m.San Fernando Valley Reading GroupDean's Watch by Elizabeth GoudgeFor more information, contact Cheryl Cole,310-422-5475.

Friday, November 18, 1-4 p.m.Temecula Valley Reading Group Lady Susan by Jane AustenPride & Prejudice & Zombies by Seth Grahame-SmithLocation: Grace Mellman Library, 41000County Center Drive, TemeculaFor more information, contact RebeccaWeersing, 951-595-7046.

Saturday, November 19, 11:30 a.m.Ventura Reading GroupLieutenant Hornblower by C.S. ForesterJane Austen's Letters (Deirdre Le Faye, ed.):Letters 155-CEA/3Location: E.P. Foster Library, 651 E. MainStreet, Ventura, California 93001For more information, contact Linda Terry, 805-302-0855.

Saturday, November 26, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.San Gabriel Valley Reading GroupLady Susan by Jane AustenLocation: Mt. San Antonio Gardens meetingroom, ClaremontBring an item for the potluck lunch.For more information, contact Kelly Duir, 909-967-6630.

Saturday, December 10, 1 p.m.Westside/405 Reading GroupEvelina by Fanny BurneyFor more information, contact Karen Berk,310-477-6753.

Sunday, December 11, 5 p.m.Santa Monica Reading GroupThe Six: The Lives of the Mitford Sisters byLaura ThompsonLocation: home of Diana BirchallFor more information, contact Diana Birchall,310-394-2196.

Sunday, December 18, 1:30-4:30 p.m.West Los Angeles Reading Group The History of England, by Jane Austen Discussion leader: Dr. Charles Lynn Batten This group is at capacity and cannot acceptnew members. Current members may contactClara Browda, 310-278-8759.

San Diego RegionAlthough San Diego is a separate JASNAregion, many JASNA-Southwest members areinterested in San Diego JASNA events and viceversa. For information on upcoming San DiegoJASNA meetings, contact Jeanne Talbot, 808-342-0666.

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