Category: Location

Ep59: The Thing about the Bath Assembly Rooms

1/21/2023

Catherine Morland has arrived in Bath, and she is ready to be introduced to a man with a keen knowledge of muslin. This episode we explore both the Upper and Lower Assembly Rooms, including breaking down the role of the Master of Ceremonies, aka Bath's best matchmaker.

Selected Sources

Berg, Maxine. Luxury and Pleasure in Eighteenth-Century Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
Byrne, Paula. “‘The Unmeaning Luxuries of Bath’: Urban Pleasures in Jane Austen’s World.” Persuasions 26 (2004): 13–26.
Chambers, Ephraim. Cyclopedia: Or, an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. Vol. 1. London, 1728.
Kingsbury, Pamela D. “Assembly Rooms.” In Oxford Art Online, by Pamela D. Kingsbury. Oxford University Press, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.T004633.
Lane, Maggie. A Charming Place: Bath in the Life and Times of Jane Austen. Bath: Millstream Books, 1988.
New Bath Guide or Useful Pocket Companion for All Persons Residing at or Resorting to This Ancient City. Bath: R. Cruttwell, 1791. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_New_Bath_Guide_Or_Useful_Pocket_Comp/y65ayAEACAAJ?hl=en.
Stabler, Jane. “Cities.” In Jane Austen in Context, edited by Janet Todd, 204–14. Cambridge University Press, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316036525.020.
Thompson, Allison. “The Rules of the Assembly: Dancing at Bath and Other Spas in the Eighteenth Century.” Persuasions On-Line 31, no. 1 (2010). https://www.jasna.org/persuasions/on-line/vol31no1/thompson.html.

Ep58: The Thing About Sir John's Club

1/18/2023

Boodle's and Brooks's and White's, oh my! Gentlemen's clubs were a large part of the elite social landscape in Austen's time, and we're here to give you a look inside these exclusive gatherings.
If you have ever wanted to be in the room where it happens, this episode is for you.

Select Sources

Capdeville, Valérie. “The Ambivalent Identity of Eighteenth-Century London Clubs as a Prelude to Victorian Clublife.” Cahiers Victoriens et Édouardiens, no. 81 Printemps (September 6, 2015). https://doi.org/10.4000/cve.1976.
Heath, Sidney. Exeter. London: Blackie and Son Limited, 1912. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24635/24635-h/24635-h.htm.
Marsh, Charles. The Clubs of London; With Anecdotes of Their Members, Sketches of Character, and Conversations. Vol. 1. London: Henry Colburn, 1828.
Milne-Smith, Amy. “Coffeehouses to Clubhouses: Understanding the Gentlemen’s Clubs of London.” In London Clubland, by Amy Milne-Smith, 17–34. New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137002082_2 .
Morrison, Robert. The Regency Years: During Which Jane Austen Writes, Napoleon Fights, Bryon Makes Love, and Britain Becomes Modern. New York: Norton, 2019.
Murray, Venetia. An Elegant Madness: High Society in Regency England. New York: Viking, 1999.
Rendell, Jane. The Pursuit of Pleasure: Gender, Space & Architecture in Regency London. London: Athlone Press, 2002.
Tomalin, Claire. Jane Austen: A Life. London: Viking, 1997.

Ep52: The Thing About Bath's Baths

10/13/2022

Grab your floating potpourri and come along for this dip into the history of Bath and its waters, as this episode we are diving into the baths in Bath. If you have ever wished that towel service was included, this episode is for you.

And, as promised, here is a snippet from the 1987 Northanger Abbey when Catherine attends the baths.

Selected Sources:

Historic UK. “Bath.” Accessed September 27, 2022. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/Bath/.
Bradely, Ian. “Why Is 18th-Century Bath Considered the Model for Modern Day Spas?” Literary Hub (blog), January 22, 2021. https://lithub.com/why-is-18th-century-bath-considered-the-model-for-modern-day-spas/.
Lane, Maggie. A Charming Place: Bath in the Life and Times of Jane Austen. Bath: Millstream Books, 1988.
———. Jane Austen’s England. London: Hale, 1996.
Le Faye, Deirdre. Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels. London: Frances Lincoln, 2003.
Stabler, Jane. “Cities.” In Jane Austen in Context, edited by Janet Todd, 204–14. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316036525.020.
The Original Bath Guide, Considerably Enlarged And Improved ; Forming An Indispensible Pocket Companion For The Visitor And Inhabitant. Meyler, 1818.
“The Roman Baths in Bath- A Deep Dive into Britain’s Ancient History - World History Encyclopedia.” Accessed September 27, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1427/the-roman-baths-in-bath--a-deep-dive-into-britains/.
Tillyard, S. K. Aristocrats: Caroline, Emily, Louisa, and Sarah Lennox, 1740-1832. London: Chatto & Windus, 1994.

Ep45: The Thing About Weymouth

8/5/2022

This week we're headed to Weymouth to check out the scene of Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill's courtship. Join us as we first peruse the daily schedule of resort lifestyle activities and then examine the ways in which Austen uses Weymouth as a breadcrumb trail clue.

Selected Sources:

Brodie, Allan, Colin Ellis, and Gary Winter. Weymouth’s Seaside Heritage. Swindon: English Heritage, 2008.
Burney, Fanny. The Diary of Fanny Burney. Edited by Lewis Gibbs. London: Dent, 1972.
Crane, John. Cursory Observations on Sea-Bathing; the Use of Sea-Water Internally, and the Advantages of a Maritime Situation, as Conducing to Health and Longevity To Which Is Added, a Concise History of Weymouth. S. Margrie, 1795. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Cursory_Observations_on_Sea_bathing_the/3OS4-hCxKUQC?hl=en&gbpv=1.
Lyme Regis Museum. “Enslaving People.” Accessed January 28, 2022. https://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/related-article/enslaving-people/.
Love, John. A New Improved Weymouth Guide: Containing a Description of Weymouth, Portland, Lulworth Castle, and Every Place in the Neighbour Hood Worthy of the Observation of Strangers. Weymouth: Virtue, 1800. https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_New_Improved_Weymouth_Guide_Containing/VbGnWsr7znAC?hl=en&gbpv=0.

Ep38: The Thing About Louisa's Fall with guest Dr. Matthew Reznicek

5/12/2022

This week we're joined by guest Dr. Matthew Reznicek as we discuss one of the most pivotal scenes in Persuasion. In addition to Louisa's injury and the treatment she receives, we also examine the role of Anne as caregiver and the various ways that health and illness come up in the novel.

Episode content warning: Discussion of traumatic brain injury and depression.

Thank you so much to Matthew for joining us for this episode! You can find him on Twitter @drreznicek.

Selected Sources

Klass, Perri. “‘A Sick Child Is Always the Mother’s Property’: The Jane Austen Pediatric Trauma Management Protocol.” The Journal of Medical Humanities 42, no. 1 (March 2021): 121–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-020-09664-0.
Richardson, Alan. “Of Heartache and Head Injury: Reading Minds in Persuasion.” Poetics Today 23, no. 1 (2002): 141–60.

Ep37: The Thing About Petty-France

5/5/2022

If General Tilney's chaise leaves Bath at 10 am and Henry's curricle also leaves Bath at 10 am and there are x postilions and y outriders and Catherine really, really, really just wants to get to the abbey, how many capes are on Henry's greatcoat?

This episode we're all about schedules and mileage (and Henry's greatcoat), as we journey along with Catherine and stopover at Petty-France.

Selected Sources

Austen, Jane. Northanger Abbey. Edited by James Kinsley and John Davie. Oxford World’s Classics. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 2008.
Cantrell, Dean. “Yes, There Is a Petty France.” Persuasions 9 (1987): 36.
Jones, Hazel. Jane Austen’s Journeys. London: Hale, 2014.
Lane, Maggie. Jane Austen’s England. London: Hale, 1996.
Le Faye, Deirdre. Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels. London: Frances Lincoln, 2003.
Mogg, Edward. Mogg’s Pocket Itinerary of the Direct and Cross Roads of England and Wales, with Part of the Roads of Scotland. London, 1828.
The Bodkin. “Stay.” Accessed April 30, 2022. https://thebodkin.co.uk/.

Ep30: The Thing About Lydia's Trip to Brighton

3/3/2022

Why exactly was Lydia Bennet so eager to visit Brighton and why was Elizabeth so right to be concerned? Brighton was the playground of the wealthy and free-wheeling in Austen's time, and we're here to give you the tour. If you have ever wanted to vacation with royalty, this episode is for you.

Selected episode sources

Cannon, John, and Robert Crowcroft. “Brighton.” In A Dictionary of British History. Oxford University Press. Accessed February 25, 2022. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780191758027.001.0001/acref-9780191758027-e-508.
Dinkel, J. “The Royal Pavilion.” Historic England. Accessed February 25, 2022. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1380680.
Imms, Adrian. “History of the Barracks That Came and Went.” The Argus, October 4, 2016. https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/14781207.history-of-the-barracks-that-came-and-went/.
Le Faye, Deirdre. Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2002.
Morrison, Robert. The Regency Years: During Which Jane Austen Writes, Napoleon Fights, Bryon Makes Love, and Britain Becomes Modern. New York: Norton, 2019.
Sakula, Alex. “Doctor Brighton: Richard Russell and the Sea Water Cure.” Journal of Medical Biography 3, no. 1 (February 1995): 30–33. https://doi.org/10.1177/096777209500300105.
Royal Pavilion. “Short History of the Pavilion.” Accessed February 25, 2022. https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/royalpavilion/history/short-history-of-the-royal-pavilion/.
Weis, Heather. “‘Brighton Possesses All the Requisites ... for Either Amusement or Dissipation’: Frivolity in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.” Pride and Prejudice: The Bicentennial, October 10, 2013. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/celia_pride/preconference/posters/5.

EP28: The Thing About Blaize Castle

2/18/2022

Wave goodbye to Henry and Eleanor Tilney because this week we're headed to Blaize [Blaise] Castle. Except not really, because John Thorpe is a big liar.

If you have ever gone on an ill-advised outing, this episode is for you.

Selected Sources

Alexander, Christine. “The Prospect of Blaise: Landscape and Perception in Northanger Abbey.” Persuasions 21 (1999): 17–31. https://jasna.org/assets/Persuasions/No-21/1e6d94a95c/alexander.pdf
“Blaise Castle - Bristol.” Parks & Gardens. Accessed February 11, 2022. https://www.parksandgardens.org/places/blaise-castle.
“Blaise Castle House Museum.” Bristol Museums. Accessed February 11, 2022. https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/blaise-castle-house-museum/.
“Blaise Castle.” Historic England. Accessed February 11, 2022. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1208115.
Lane, Maggie. “Blaise Castle.” Persuasions 7 (1985): 78–81. https://www.jasna.org/persuasions/printed/number7/lane.html
Wenner, Barbara Britton. Prospect and Refuge in the Landscape of Jane Austen. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2006.

EP23: The Thing About Circulating Libraries

1/20/2022

This episode we cover the history of circulating libraries in the UK with a little help from our Northanger Abbey friends. We also discuss the reputation of novels in Austen's time and offer up at least one excellent hiding place for your most scandalous books. If you have ever hidden your novel behind a decoy dust jacket, this episode is for you.

Selected episode sources

Austen, Jane. Jane Austen’s Letters. Edited by Deirdre Le Faye. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011.
Byrne, Paula. The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things. New York: Harper Perennial, 2014.
Erickson, Lee. “The Economy of Novel Reading: Jane Austen and the Circulating Library.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900 30, no. 4 (1990): 573. https://doi.org/10.2307/450560.
Jacobs, Edward. “Circulating Libraries.” In The Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature. Oxford University Press, 2006. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195169218.001.0001/acref-9780195169218-e-0102.
Nettleton, George Henry. “The Books of Lydia Languish’s Circulating Library.” The Journal of English and Germanic Philology 5, no. 4 (1905): 492–500.

EP13: The Thing About the Cobb

10/3/2021

Captain Wentworth is headed to Lyme Regis, so obviously we must tag along. Pack a pair of sturdy shoes and tie your bonnet strings on extra tight because this episode, we're out walking on the Cobb. If you have ever wished you had a wind machine to follow you around in real life, this episode is for you.

Selected episode sources

Bull, Richard. “Sea Defences - The Cobb Breakwater.” Lyme Regis Museum, March 11, 2015. https://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/sea-defences-cobb-breakwater/.
Lyme Regis Museum. “Enslaving People.” Accessed January 28, 2022. https://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/related-article/enslaving-people/.
The Independent. “Storm on the Cobb: Historic Harbour Defence Starts to Crack in Lyme Regis.” The Independent (London, England). February 13, 2014.

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