Oh, the elegance of it all.
Long before the arrival of bloodthirsty zombies and sly cephalapods and peckish langoustes clinging to necks (don’t ask, you’ll know soon enough), Quirk was a member of the Jane Austen fan club. And our love dates back to the distant days before the arrival of the literary monster mash-up.
To wit: The Jane Austen Handbook: A Sensible Yet Elegant Guide to Her World is Quirk’s 2007 publication detailing the mores and misunderstandings of Regency England. Within the volume’s pretty peacock-blue pages the dear reader shall find information on becoming an accomplished lady, whiling away her leisure time, ridding herself of pesky guests, and declining an unwanted proposal. Counsel and comportment as pertinent today as in the long-ago 1800s.
As devoted Janeites, we delight in her gothic tales being updated with undead and underwater creatures — anything to keep our beloved authoress in the spotlight. But we also do not wish to lose sight of the cherished figure at the center of it all.
So let this post stand as a testament to the charm and appeal of Miss Austen, whose prickly prose and well-crafted stories lend themselves so nicely to new interpretations.
Long live Jane!
{ M.E.W. }
