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Happy Jane Austen Day: A Roundup of Our Favorite Posts + An Epic Giveaway!

Happy Jane Austen Day, everyone! Today marks the very first Jane Austen Day, thanks to the Jane Austen Centre. The bookish Internet is celebrating, and of course, so are we. Because here at Quirk, we're huge fans of Jane Austen, from our books to our blog posts.

Posted by Eric Smith

NYC Lit Events: December 15th – 21st

Despite the rapidly approaching holidays, literary events in NYC show no signs of slowing down. This week brings opportunities to see legends like Neil Gaiman and Robert Gober, applaud the sartorial choices of awesome teen girls, and celebrate the power of the selfie. Rounding out the week will be the epic reading of A Christmas Carol by some of New York’s most beloved writers.

Posted by Jennifer Morell

Ten Books Inspired By Jane Austen

I know, I know. You’ve blown through all of Austen’s novels. You lament the death of handwritten letters. No proposal will ever measure up to Mr. Darcy’s. I’m right there with you. Here are ten books to nurse that Jane Austen hangover.

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding: Loosely based on Pride and Prejudice, Fielding’s 1996 novel follows thirty-something Bridget Jones and the two men in her life: Daniel Cleaver (a Mr. Wickham stand in) and Mark – you guessed it – Darcy. Hooked on Fielding’s Austen parallels? The book’s sequel – Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason – is loosely based on Persuasion.

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James: Elizabeth and Darcy have been married for six years and things seem to be going well at Pemberley. Jane and Mr. Bingley live nearby, Georgiana Darcy’s marriage prospects are looking great, and everything is on schedule in the planning of the annual autumn ball. But chaos descends on the estate when Lydia Wickham – Elizabeth’s shamed sister – arrives at Pemberley in hysterics. Wickham has been murdered.

Posted by Danielle Mohlman

A Jane Austen Nerd Recommends Movies

In a Jane Austen mood, but would rather relax on the couch with some popcorn? I know exactly how you feel. Here are some recommendations from a fellow Janeite on movies that’ll scratch that Austen itch.

Posted by Danielle Mohlman

In Training For a Heroine: The Great Northanger Abbey Re-read, Part II

Welcome back to part two of our Northanger Abbey recap. Last week we were introduced to Catherine, our daring heroine, and were given a taste of big city living in Bath. Will the smitten Mr. Tilney make a reappearance? Will there be a challenger for Catherine’s affections? All this and more, right now!

Posted by Alyssa Favreau

Rockin’ Like Jane Austen: A Spotify Playlist of Austen-Influenced Musicians

Perfect image via the BBC

In Emma, Jane Austen writes, “I condition for nothing else; but without music, life would be a blank to me.” A musician herself, Austen was known to play anything from romantic ballads to nursery rhymes to entertain herself and her family.

But Austen’s musical influence isn’t limited to her family’s parlor. Musicians today have taken characters and themes from her novels to write book report-style raps, scat jazz-influenced love letters, and compose beautiful instrumental ballads. These musicians are naming their bands and their songs after her characters. And one’s even named their band after her.

So grab a pair of headphones and give these Austen-influenced musicians a listen. I’m sure Jane would be nodding to the beat along with you. 

Posted by Danielle Mohlman