Summer course in Cambridge
Wolfson College,
Cambridge, is playing
host to a summer
literature course in
which participants can
explore ideas of “home”
in literature from Jane
Austen’s books through
to the present day. It will
look particularly at how
the home is depicted in Pride & Prejudice and
Northanger Abbey, and consider when a house
becomes a home.
There will be lectures, seminars and
supervisions (tutorials), as well as an evening
talk and excursions to places of interest in
Cambridge. Among the lecturers is Alison
Hennegan (pictured), a fellow of Trinity Hall,
Cambridge, and a lecturer at the university.
The course runs from July 21 to 26. For
details: literaturecambridge.co.uk/home-
Gremlins in the works
A photograph purporting to be of Ann
Radcliffe appeared on p42 of JARW No
- Radcliffe died in February 1823 and
is unlikely ever to have seen a camera or
to have been photographed by one. The
identity of the mid-19th century lady in the
picture (right) is a mystery to the editor.
How wonderful it would have been if
Radcliffe – and indeed Jane Austen – had
lived into the photographic era.
The answer given to question four of
Wilkes packages her Vignettes
Sue Wilkes, a regular
contributor to Jane
Austen’s Regency
World, has published
an e-book, Vignettes:
Literary Lives in the
Age of Austen, based
on almost 30 articles
previously published
in the magazine, plus
a couple of other
publications.
In it Wilkes explores how Austen drew
inspiration from the writers who came before
her, such as Dr Johnson, James Thomson and
William Cowper, and how she faced stiff
competition from the rival novelists of her
day including Ann Radcliffe, Mary Brunton,
Fanny Burney and Walter Scott.
Vignettes is available online through
Amazon.P&P staging at historic theatre
The historic Theatre Royal Bury St
Edmunds is to stage Simon Reade’s
adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. The show,
which is directed by Marcus Romer, will
run from August 23 to September 7 and will
feature members of the theatre’s summer
school alongside professional actors.
The theatre, which opened in October
1819, is currently celebrating its 200th
anniversary. It was restored to its Regency
origins in 2005 and has since become known
as one of the most beautiful theatres in the
country. Hundreds of people turned out
earlier this year to learn about the celebratory
events to mark the anniversary.
Austentatious, the improvised show
that plays regularly in London, will also be
visiting the Theatre Royal. They appear for
two nights on October 31 and November 1.
Full details from theatreroyal.orgthe Quiz in JARW
No 99, “Which
American collector
donated a lock of
Jane Austen’s hair to
Jane Austen’s House
Museum”, was
incorrectly given as
Augusta Burke. Her
name was in fact
Alberta Burke.