This year marks the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, one of the most beloved novels of all time. On the surface, it’s the romantic tale of the dashing Mr. Darcy’s courtship of Elizabeth Bennett, but Austen also wrote it as a social commentary of Regency-era England. Tuesday, we’re discussing the enduring appeal of Pride and Prejudice and Austen’s writing. We’ll also talk about the clique of fans, called “Janeites,” who obsess over Jane Austen and yearn for their own Mr. Darcy to sweep them off their feet.
GUESTS
- Shannon Hale is the the New York Times best-selling author of seven children's and young adult novels, including multiple award winners The Goose Girl and Newbery Honor winner Princess Academy. Her book Austenland [Amazon|Indiebound]has been adapted into a film. It premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and Austenland is screening for onenight only on Tuesday August 6th at 7 p.m. The screening is free and it's ladies only! At 1 p.m. that day, you can attend a special Tea Party celebrating the film, Hale's book and Jane Austen's work. That event is at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City and it's a fundraiser for the Salt Lake Film Society. You can learn more about that event and the free screening on the Salt Lake Film Society's web site.
- Claire Harman is the author of four literary biographies, including Jane's Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World[Amazon|Indiebound].
