Jane Austen Bedtime Stories

The weather is getting warmer, and that means it's the perfect time to explore the great outdoors. When the initial plan of going to Box Hill is delayed, Mr. Knightley invites a party of friends to his home at Donwell Abbey to partake in his bountiful strawberry harvest. Mrs. Elton quickly tires herself out, Mr. Woodhouse spends his time indoors with a fire, and Jane Fairfax departs Abbey earl...

After a week in Bath, Catherine Morland has finally made an acquaintance, and he's a delightful one. She's introduced to a young man named Tilney, who is lively, intelligent, and nearly handsome. He's a witty dance partner, and Catherine is smitten. Mr. Tilney's knowledge of muslins even charms Mrs. Allen. Meanwhile, Mr. Allen's inquiries leave him satisfied that Mr. Tilney is...

Summer has arrived at Hartfield, and it's full of schemes and connivances, at least for Emma. But Mr. Knightley isn't so sure that her hopes will come to fruition. He's lately observed that there appears to be some sort of understanding, perhaps even admiration, between Frank Churchill and none other than Jane Fairfax. The more he sees, the surer he is, and he knows he must let Emma kn...

Armed with advice from her mother and ten guineas from her father, Catherine Morland is ready to set off on her journey to Bath with the Allens. But when they arrive, they realize that it will be harder than they realized to fit in. Though they are well-dressed, thanks to Mrs. Allen's fashion sense, they have no acquaintances in Bath. Catherine's first ball involves more watching from the...

Harriet has recovered from her unfortunate run-in after the ball, and with her recovery has come a new mental clarity. She is at last completely over her attachment to Mr. Elton. To mark the end of her affection, Harriet has come to Hartfield to participate in the time-honored tradition of burning her mementos of her former beloved. Emma is both shocked and bemused, not realizing how deep Harriet&...

Catherine Morland may not have been born to be a heroine, but she's about to find out what it's like to become one. She has emerged from a childhood filled with dirt, sports, and other tomboyish pursuits into an adolescence of novels and poetry, perfect preparation for a soon-to-be heroine. All that remains is for her to find a hero, which is hard to do in her small Wiltshire village of Fu...

Emma is still buzzing from the wonderful night at the Highbury ball, when Frank Churchill and a dazed Harriet show up on her doorstep. She soon learns the whole story: Harriet was attacked by ruffians on her way home from the ball, and was saved by the dashing Frank. Emma knows better than to intervene with Harriet again, but after such a heroic rescue, who wouldn't fall in love? Our latest Fr...

We've once again made it through another novel, and we're back in your feed to announce what's coming next! We're so grateful for your continued support as we made our way through Sense and Sensibility, and we're thrilled to announce that our next bedtime stories novel will be: Northanger Abbey! As the weather becomes cooler and the nights get longer, Jane Austen's foray in...

With Frank Churchill back in town, there is at last nothing to prevent the long-awaited Highbury ball from taking place. Though Frank is noticeably cooler towards Emma than before, it doesn't bother her too much, because her night is full of laughter, dancing, and lots of chatter from Miss Bates. And when Mr. Knightley gallantly steps up to save Harriet from a terribly rude snub from Mr. Elton...

At long last, the Dashwood sisters' is coming to a close. Edward and Elinor are married and settled at Delaford, allowing Marianne to get closer to Colonel Brandon and deepen her own attachment. Meanwhile, the Ferrars family reconciles in its own way, allowing Edward, Robert, and Lucy back into the fold. Even Willoughby's story gets a conclusion, unsatisfying as it may be for him. It's...

This week's Friday Favorites brings us the final stretch of Emma's Hartfield dinner party, and Mr. Weston and Mrs. Elton have found each other for a lively conversation. That is, if you consider Mr. Weston musing about his son while Mrs. Elton puts on airs as lively. Nonetheless, it's an entertaining exchange, and it's the source of the most important development of all: the news o...

Upon learning of his freedom from Lucy Steele, Edward's immediate destination was Barton, to seek Elinor's hand in marriage. With his objective achieved at last, the two lovers are free to reflect on the past and plot what is to come. Meanwhile, Colonel Brandon has also returned to Barton to seek Marianne's affections, leaving Mrs. Dashwood's cottage full of love and happiness. Col...

With the meal concluded, the ladies make their way to drawing room for post-dinner conversation. Mrs. Elton, ignoring Emma entirely, focuses all her attention on Jane Fairfax, eager for an early intervention to help Jane secure a position as a governess. But Jane is determined to wait until summer, and steadfastly refuses Mrs. Elton's help. Meanwhile, Mr. Weston joins the party after a day out...

Elinor must come to terms with Edward's marriage to Lucy. That's what she's trying to convince herself of, when none other than Edward himself shows up at the Dashwoods' doorstep. They all believe he must be at Barton to break the news himself, and so they wish him and Mrs. Ferrars joy. But their wishes are met with confusion, and then the realization that they have been misinforme...

Mrs. Elton continues to be the talk of the town in Highbury, and Emma, not to be outdone, arranges a dinner party for her. The dinner also gives Emma a chance to make good on her renewed desire to be a friend to Jane Fairfax by including her in the party. When they all discover that Jane walked to the post office this morning in the rain, it quickly becomes a hot topic of conversation. Emma is con...

Back at Barton, the Dashwoods come together to reflect after Elinor tells her family of what was said during Willoughby's visit. Marianne is slowly understanding that Willoughby would never have been a good match for her, though it takes her time to come to terms with the realization. Elinor helps as best she can, but her calm is suddenly disrupted when the Dashwoods' manservant comes home...

Mrs. Elton is settling into Highbury, and has yet to give Emma any reason to reconsider her initial opinion of her. In fact, Mrs. Elton fixes on another young lady as the target of her attention, none other than Jane Fairfax. What is most surprising to Emma is that Jane Fairfax seems to go along with it, even though Emma is sure she knows better. A discussion with her friends Mrs. Weston and Mr. K...

Marianne's recovery continues, and the Dashwoods are at last able to depart Cleveland and make their way back home to Barton. Illness has made Marianne more reflective than usual, and she is sincere in her desire to improve herself and express gratitude to her loved ones. The contrition convinces Elinor that it is all right to tell Marianne about Willoughby's visit and the feelings he expr...

Highbury has a new resident, and she is certainly something. At long last, Mr. Elton's bride has arrived, and Emma finds her positively insufferable. Between Mrs. Elton's comparisons between Highbury and her brother's estate, Maple Grove, her insistence that she and Emma start a musical club, and her overly familiar way of speaking about Emma's friends, Emma is hard-pressed to find...

Willoughby may be gone, but Colonel Brandon and Mrs. Dashwood have arrived, and they are thankful to hear that Marianne is on her way to recovery. And Mrs. Dashwood brings even better news: Colonel Brandon has confessed his love for Marianne. She is delighted that such a kind and honorable man is in love with her daughter, and is sure that Marianne will be happier with Colonel Brandon than she eve...

Frank Churchill has left Highbury, leaving Emma to contemplate her feelings. Could she be in love? Emma is unconvinced of her own feelings for Frank, though it's evident that he has clearly formed an attachment to her. And an offhand comment in his latest letter suggests that he could be convinced to have some affection for Harriet, which is a comfort to Emma, because Mr. Elton's wedding d...

Willoughby has arrived at Cleveland, and he is demanding to be heard. Though Elinor is skeptical, she gives him a chance to tell his side of the story. He is apologetic in his own way, confessing his real love for Marianne, while feeling constrained by circumstances to enter into a loveless marriage. All Elinor can do is listen as he tells his story of woe and lost love. It's an engrossing tal...

Preparations are well underway for the Highbury ball when Frank Churchill receives an unexpected summons back to Enscombe. The news is a shock to everyone, and Frank dolefully calls on his Highbury friends: Miss Fairfax and the Bateses, and Miss Woodhouse, of course. Emma is surprised by how genuinely heartbroken Frank seems to be leaving, and realizes he must be more in love with her than she tho...

Marianne is still unwell, and her illness is worse than everyone first thought. When the apothecary mentions an infection, the Palmers quickly set off to protect themselves. Mrs. Jennings is convinced of the worst, while Elinor does not allow herself to imagine such an outcome. But when Marianne becomes feverish and delirious, they send Colonel Brandon to fetch her mother. Eventually, her recovery...

It may be possible to do without dancing entirely, but now that Frank Churchill has gotten a taste of dancing in Highbury, he wants more. That's why he's taken it upon himself to plan a ball, and he's enlisted the help of Emma and the Westons to make it happen. After considering Randalls, he realizes that the Crown Inn is perfect for his plans, and all that's left to do is work out...