Jane Austen Addict Blog

Persuasion, Twitter Version: Chapter 13-15

One of my favorite blogs, The Guardian Books Blog, has a piece on Twittering the classics. I see I'm not the only insane person doing this.

And on that note, here is a recap of Persuasion, Chapters 13, 14, and 15, Twitter version:

["Mrs. Clay had freckles, and a projecting tooth, and a clumsy wrist, which he was continually making severe remarks upon, in her absence; but she was young, and certainly altogether well-looking, and possessed, in an acute mind and assiduous pleasing manners, infinitely more dangerous attractions than any merely personal might have been."]

Read it here, or follow the story on Twitter!

Chapter 13:

The news from Lyme: Louisa's "intervals of sense and consciousness… believed to be stronger."

To Anne "There could not be a doubt, to her mind there was none, of what would follow her recovery."

Anne leaves Uppercross with a sigh. "Scenes had passed...which made it precious… pain, once severe, but now softened."

There had been "some breathings of friendship and reconciliation, which could never be looked for again..." Hanky, please.

Chapter 14:

Charles Musgrove tells Anne that Capt Benwick has been praising her & will visit soon. Mary, ever jealous, denies it.

Anne is flattered, but Benwick never does show up.  Meanwhile, " Louisa was now recovering apace."

Anne and Lady Russell arrive in Bath, Anne to live with her father and Elizabeth (oh joy); Lady Russell for the season.

The 1st thing Anne learns is that Mr. Elliot, her admirer from Lyme, has been attempting a reconciliation with her father.

Chapter 15:

Anne, "anticipating an imprisonment of many months," must now endure Sir Walter's & Elizabeth's company. And Mrs. Clay.

Mrs. Clay, Elizabeth's friend, and sycophant extraordinaire, clearly has her sights on being the next Lady Elliot.

So does Elizabeth, but as Lady to Mr. Elliot, heir-presumptive of the Elliot family. He's been sucking up to Sir Walter.

Mr. Elliot is perfectly charming. But why, Anne wonders, is he suddenly so interested in her family? Is it Elizabeth?

A Day of Pride, Prejudice, and Politics

The theme of the Spring Meeting of JASNA-SW, the Southwest Region of the Jane Austen Society of North America, was "A Day of Pride, Prejudice, and Politics," and I had the good fortune of being on the program with a stellar group of speakers:

First, there was Dr. Charles Lynn Batten, the UCLA professor about whom I've been hearing for years. The conversation with my fellow Austen addicts usually goes like this:

"You mean you've never heard Lynn Batten speak?"

"No."

A disbelieving shake of the head and pitying look follows.

Well, now I have heard Dr. Batten speak, and he is not only exceedingly knowledgable and insightful about Jane Austen, he was also downright hilarious. Dr. Batten's talk was called "Jane Austen: Conservative or Liberal?" His verdict: Austen was most likely a moderate Tory.

My opinion? I see his point, which is far more well-researched than my own belief, which is, quite simply, that Jane Austen had exactly my politics and beliefs. Same favorite colors. Would have like the same movies, too. As Karen Joy Fowler put it in THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB, "each of us has a private Austen."

[Back row, from left, Dr. Charles Lynn Batten, Syrie James, Laurie Viera Rigler, Dr. Margaret Horwitz. Front: Colin Firth! Photo by Barbara Smith.]

Then there was Margaret Horwitz, JASNA's Traveling Lecturer, who gave an illuminating talk called “The Legacy of Her Voice: Ethics and Wit in Austen’s Novel Pride and Prejudice and Its Filmed Adaptations." Dr. Horwitz's talk made me want to go back and watch both the BBC mini and the 2005 movie (as if I need an excuse) to see all the symbolism in props and camera angles that Margaret pointed out in her lecture.

Syrie James,  author of the best-selling LOST MEMOIRS OF JANE AUSTEN, gave us a sneak preview of her upcoming SECRET DIARIES OF CHARLOTTE BRONTË. Can't wait to read it.

As for me, I gave the very first public reading of my upcoming novel, RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT. If I am to judge by the laughter in the audience, then everyone was having as good a time as I did.

If that wasn't enough fun, there was a white elephant sale of – you guessed it—Jane Austen related books and tschotschkes. I spent $60 on 12 back issues of PERSUASIONS, the wonderful bound journal of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Such a deal! My bookshelves are groaning. But I'm all smiles.

RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT: the first copy!

If there's anything more thrilling than holding the first copy of one's finished book in one's hands, I'm hard pressed to say what it is.

It's here. In my hands. RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.  And all I can say is…WOW.

Just five more weeks, and it will be out there in the world. No longer just a story inside my head, but a story inside other people's heads.

Guess I've just figured out what's more thrilling than holding the finished book in my hands. You holding it in yours. And having a smile on your face as you read it.

May this book spread happiness wherever it goes.

Persuasion, Twitter Version: Chapter 12

And so, friends, we've reached the end of another chapter in the Twitter version of Austen's masterpiece, Persuasion. If you haven't read the book yet, do it now! Here are the tweets:

 

Persuasion, Ch12: At the seaside, Anne notices a gentleman admiring her. & Capt W noticing, too. Nothing like a little jealousy to get their attention.

Turns out the man checking out Anne is her cousin, the heir to the Elliot estate and very much on the outs with Sir Walter

Yes, cousins could flirt and even marry. Not that Anne gives any of that a thought. Especially after what happens next...

Anne and friends descend the steep steps of the Cobb, but Louisa insists on being jumped down them by Capt. W.

"In.. their walks, he had had to jump her from the stiles; the sensation was delightful to her." Sexual innuendo, anyone?

Capt W thinks the jump too steep, but Louisa is determined. She jumps; he misses—she falls lifeless to the ground. OMG.

Everyone freaks. Benwick running to get surgeon, Henrietta fainting, Mary hysterical. Anne is the only clear-headed one.

Louisa is carried to the Harvilles, where she must stay until—if—she awakens. Capt W wants Anne to stay and nurse her.

Mary jealous (surprise) at idea of Anne staying instead of her, so Anne returns to Uppercross with Capt W & Henrietta.

Soon as Capt W (gulp) breaks the news to Mr. & Mrs. Musgrove, he leaves Anne and Henrietta and rides back to Lyme. Buh-bye.

Next up: Chapter 13, in which Anne takes her bittersweet leave of Uppercross.

A Jacket Pretty Enough to Wear

A couple of days ago two jackets for RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT arrived in my mailbox. Of course I had already seen the cover art on my computer screen. Nevertheless, there is nothing like holding the finished jacket in one's hands, seeing the colors in vibrant, real-life glory, running one's fingers over the raised letters, and best of all, imagining the jacket wrapped around an actual book. That pleasure is still to come…

 

Persuasion, Twitter Version: Chapter 11

And now for your reading pleasure, a recap of my latest tweets from Persuasion, Chapter 11:

Anne, Capt W, Mary, Charles, Louisa, & Henrietta take a fateful trip to Lyme to visit Capt W's dear friend Capt Harville.

So welcoming are the Harvilles to the whole party that Anne cannot help but think, "These would have been all my friends."

Staying with the Harvilles is Capt. Benwick, who is mourning the loss of his dead fiancée, sister of Capt. Harville.

Anne befriends Capt. Benwick by talking to him of his other great love, poetry. She relates to his sense of loss.

And yet, she thinks, "[Benwick] is younger than I am; …He will rally again, and be happy with another."

END OF CHAPTER 11. Next up: A succession of life-changing events.

Persuasion, Twitter Version: Chapter 10

Here's a recap of Persuasion, Chapter 10, in all its 140-character-per-tweet glory (minus the repetition of "Persuasion, Chapter 10" at the beginning of each installment):
 

Anne believes Capt W in love with neither Louisa nor Henrietta and oblivious to the jealousies & rivalries of all.

Then, on a long walk, she has occasion to hear, unseen, Capt W & Louisa together. And what she hears is a game-changer.

Anne hears Louisa telling Capt W that Anne refused Charles (Mary's hubby's) hand years ago, persuaded to do so by Lady R.

Anne also hears Capt W praising Louisa for being unpersuadable. And when Henrietta returns with smiling BF, all is clear.

"Everything now marked out Louisa for Captain Wentworth; nothing could be plainer."  The era of Anne is over.

Admiral & Mrs. Croft happen by in their gig, and Capt W makes sure Anne rides w/them; his hands place her in the carriage.

"she owed it to his perception of her fatigue...He could not forgive her, but he could not be unfeeling."

"it was a proof of his own warm and amiable heart," and she knows not whether it gives her more pleasure or pain.

Admiral & Mrs. Croft entertain Anne with speculations as to whom Capt W will marry. Mrs. C seems unimpressed w/ the girls.

....END OF CHAPTER 10. Next up: Anne, Mary, Charles, Captain Wentworth, Louisa, and Henrietta go on a fateful journey to Lyme.

Read it here, or follow it on Twitter.

Persuasion, Twitter Version: Chapter 9

Oh how I love Persuasion! I'm sure I've read it twenty times and never tire of it. And I'm having so much fun tweeting it in 140-character bits.

Here are my Chapter 9 tweets. You can also follow the story on Twitter.

Persuasion, Ch 9: It is Louisa Musgrove whom Capt W loves. No, it is Henrietta. Such is the horserace that Anne must watch.

Persuasion, Ch9: One morning Anne & Capt W find themselves almost alone—only the little injured boy is there. Capt W as discomposed as Anne.

Persuasion, Ch9: Then Charles Hayter, Henrietta's jealous BF comes in. So does the little boy's brother, who clings to Anne's back.

Persuasion, Ch9: Hayter commands the boy to leave Anne alone, but it is Capt W who actually removes the boy from Anne and carries him away.

Persuasion, Ch9: Capt W's kindness & proximity to her person require "a long application of solitude and reflection" before Anne can chill.

Persuasion: Twitter Version, Chapter 8

Here's a recap of Chapter 8. Enjoy, and follow me on Twitter!

Persuasion, Ch8: Anne often sees Capt W at the Musgroves, but they are "worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted." Sigh.

Persuasion, Ch8: Capt W declares naval ships unfit for the comfort of ladies, while his sister, Mrs. Croft, declares him an idiot. Politely.

Persuasion, Ch 8: Anne's eyes fill with tears as she watches Capt W dance with the other ladies, while to her he is frosty freeze.

Persuasion: Twitter Version, Chapters 1-7

Some days ago I had the silly idea to chart the story of Persuasion, which is my favorite Jane Austen novel, on Twitter.  I must say that I'm finding the challenge of tweeting plot points, 140 characters at a time, and attempting to make them interesting, and even amusing at times, exhilarating.

And the comments they're receiving on Facebook and Twitter are really gratifying. As well as hilarious.

Here's a recap of my tweets so far, Chapters 1-7:

Persuasion, Ch.1: Sir Walter Elliot, baronet, engages in 19th cent. Wikipedi-ing: Rereads and edits entry on the Elliots in The Baronetage.

Persuasion, Ch1: Sir Walter drowning in debt and vanity. 911s agent Mr. Shepard and friend Lady Russell for advice.  On the down low.

Persuasion, Ch2: Lady R and Anne, Sir W's daughter, make repay plan. Sir W and eldest daughter Elizabeth prefer to dine and dash. To Bath.

Persuasion, Ch.2: Anne hates Bath. But must cohab with her peeps. Family crib, Kellynch Hall, will be rented out. Also on the DL.

Persuasion, Ch.3: Shepherd wants Sir W to rent Kellynch to Admiral Croft. Sir W offended at very idea of a mere sailor occupying his home.

Persuasion, Ch4: Anne discomposed for another reason entirely. Admiral Croft is the bro in law of one Capt. Wentworth. Fans self. Sighs.

Persuasion, Ch4: 7 years ago Anne and Capt. Wentworth were engaged. He had no $, so Sir W & Lady R (almost a mother to Anne) said no way.

Persuasion-Ch4: Anne yielded to her fam. And never got over it. Nor did Capt. Wentworth. Who took off, made a bundle, and never called.

Persuasion, Ch.5: Anne delays joining the fam in Bath because she's summoned to Uppercross by hypochondriac married sister Mary. What fun!

Persuasion, Ch6: Escaping to Uppercross does not = escaping a meet w/Anne's ex, as the Musgroves (Mary's in-laws) are determined to meet him

Persuasion, Ch7: Anne steels herself for the inevitable reunion w/Capt. Wentworth: a dinner party at the Musgroves. Fate intervenes.

Persuasion, Ch7: Mary's eldest boy dislocates collarbone day of the fateful dinner. Anne, not Mary, is happy to stay home--& dodge bullet.

Persuasion, Ch7: Anne figures if Capt W wanted to see her he would have reconnected long ago when he made his fortune.  But he never had.

Persuasion, Ch7: Next morning Capt W stops by to pay respects. No one knows he and Anne were once engaged. Awkward beyond words.

Persuasion, Ch7: Capt W is as gorgeous as ever. But, says he, Anne is "so altered he should not have known [her] again.'" Ouch, dude.

Persuasion, Ch7: He has not forgiven Anne. And is ready to fall in love with either of the Miss Musgroves; it matters not which one.

More to come later. Follow me on Twitter and see for yourself! More important, if you haven't read Persuasion--and I mean the actual book--do treat yourself to a most wonderful story about second chances.