EPISODES - The Thing About Austen

The Thing About Austen

Ep47: The Thing About Depictions of Roma in Emma with guest Amanda-Rae Prescott

8/18/2022

Writer and period drama expert Amanda-Rae Prescott joins us for this episode to discuss depictions of Roma in Emma, starting with the novel and then moving on to the various adaptations. In addition to Emma, Amanda-Rae also talks about the representation of Roma in some other recent period dramas.

Thank you so much to Amanda-Rae for joining us for this episode! You can find her website at www.amandaraeprescott.com and follow her on Twitter @amandarprescott.

Ep41: The Thing About Harriet's Treasure Box with guest Damianne Scott

6/13/2022

Nothing says "I'm over you" like a ceremonial burning with your bestie. Guest Damianne Scott joins us to break down the scene where Harriet finally moves on from Mr. Elton. If you have always known that Robert Martin was the real prize, this episode is for you. Thank you so much to Dami for joining us for this episode! You can find her on Twitter @BlackGirlLoves3 and on the Black Girl Loves Jane Facebook page.

EP32: The Thing About Jane's Irish Melodies

3/17/2022

Jane Fairfax has recently received a selection of music, and we're here to unpack the significance of that "new set of Irish melodies." Spoiler alert: Frank Churchill has some explaining to do. If you have ever received a mystery gift, this episode is for you.

Thank you to Salonnières for letting us share part of their gorgeous arrangement of "The Last Rose of Summer" as our outro music this week. You can learn more about Salonnières on their website, www.salonnieres.org and find their albums on iTunes.

Selected Sources:

Hunt, Una. “The Harper’s Legacy: National Airs and Pianoforte Music.” Journal of the Society for Musicology in Ireland 6 (2010): 3–53. https://doi.org/10.21427/D7MB3C.
Libin, Katheryn L. Shanks. “Music, Character, and Social Standing in Jane Austen’s Emma.” Persuasions 22 (2000): 15–30.
McCleave, Sarah. “The Genesis of Thomas Moore’s Irish Melodies, 1808–1834.” In Cheap Print and Popular Song in the Nineteenth Century, edited by Paul Watt, Derek Scott, and Patrick Spedding, 47–70. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316672037.004.
Montagne, Renee, and Miles Hoffman. “The ‘Irish Melodies’ Of Poet Thomas Moore.” Morning Edition. NPR, March 17, 2015. https://www.npr.org/2015/03/17/393530786/the-irish-melodies-of-poet-thomas-moore.
Moore, Thomas, and John Allen Stevenson. A Selection of Irish Melodies. Vol. 1. London and Dublin: James and William Power, 1808.
Piggott, Patrick. The Innocent Diversion: Music in the Life and Writings of Jane Austen. London: Cleverdon, 1979.

EP19: The Thing About London Air with guest Dr. Rena Jones

11/20/2021

Take a deep breath, everyone! This episode we're discussing Mr. Woodhouse's concerns about the air in London with epidemiologist, Dr. Rena Jones. If you have ever played a game of dueling apothecaries, this episode is for you. Thank you so much to Rena for joining us for this episode! You can find her on Twitter @Epi_Rena.

EP16: The Thing About Harriet's Riddle Book with guest Dr. Lynn Festa

10/24/2021

There's this very cool trend called acrostic and chill, and we're here to tell you all about it. This episode we're diving into Emma and taking a look at Harriet's riddle book with our guest, Dr. Lynn Festa. Will we uncover any salacious tidbits? Let's just say that Mr. Woodhouse might know a dirty joke or two. Consider yourself warned. Thank you so much to Lynn for joining us for this episode!

EP14: The Thing About Emma's Unfinished Artwork with guest Georgie Castilla

10/20/2021

This week you get two episodes in one! In the first half we discuss Emma's unfinished artwork with Georgie Castilla of Duniath Comics. Then we chat with Georgie about his own work creating Austen inspired comics and learn more about his creative process. Thank you so much to Georgie for joining us for this discussion! You can find him online at www.duniathcomics.com and follow him on Instagram @duniathcomics.

EP10: The Thing About Box Hill

10/3/2021

This episode we're all about Emma as we head out to Box Hill to take in the view. There's nothing like sublime landscape and awkward social tension to get your day off to a great start! If you have ever made it seem like you had a great time when the reality was a dumpster fire, this episode is for you.

Selected episode sources:

Bertelsen, Lars Kiel. “The Claude Glass: A Modern Metaphor Between Word and Image.” Word & Image 20, no. 3 (July 2004): 182–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/02666286.2004.10444015.
“Box Hill | National Trust.” Accessed September 07, 2021. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/box-hill.

EP07: The Thing About Spinsters

10/3/2021

While the word "spinster" never comes up in Austen's novels, the role of spinster or "old maid" is a frequent occurrence. This episode we're having a bit of etymological fun with the word spinster, in addition to digging into just why a woman might choose marrying Collins over remaining blissfully single. If you have ever been the lone singleton at the annual turkey curry buffet, this episode is for you. (Spinster does come up in the hilarious authorial demand prefacing Lesley Castle, but that's a story best saved for another episode.) Trigger warning for this episode: Brief mention of sexual assault around 13:50.

Selected episode sources:

St. Clair, Kassia. The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History. London: John Murray (Publishers), 2018.
Vickery, Amanda. The Gentleman’s Daughter: Women’s Lives in Georgian England. New Haven, Conn.: Yale Univ. Press, 2003.
Worsley, Lucy. Jane Austen at Home. First U.S. edition. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2017.

EP03: The Thing About Regency Scrabble

10/3/2021

We could have just as easily called this episode The Thing About Frank's Blunder, as that is the moment in question. On this episode we provide some context for what we are calling Regency Scrabble before unpacking Frank's blunder with the help of Detective Knightley. Grab your deerstalker hat and join us as we attempt to solve the mystery of why Frank thinks any of this is a good idea.

Selected episode sources:

Jill Shefrin. “‘Make It a Pleasure and Not a Task’: Educational Games for Children in Georgian England.” The Princeton University Library Chronicle 60, no. 2 (1999): 251. https://doi.org/10.25290/prinunivlibrchro.60.2.0251.
R.R. Invited Alphabet, or, Address of A to B : Containing His Friendly Proposal for the Amusement and Instruction of Good Children, 1809. https://dpul.princeton.edu/cotsen/catalog/37720h064.