Reading Jane Austen

In this episode, we talk about the way Darcy is reintroduced into the narrative, Jane Austen’s thoughts on architecture and landscaping, the possible connection between Pemberley and Chatsworth and how Georgiana Darcy is presented in a very different manner from Anne de Burgh. We discuss Elizabeth Bennet, perhaps Jane Austen’s most popular heroine. Ellen talks about the landed gentry, and Harriet...

In this episode, we talk about Darcy’s letter and Elizabeth’s reaction to it, consider what Wickham might have done in his youth, revisit the Collins marriage, discuss Mr Bennet’s abrogation of parental responsibility and look at how Elizabeth is now seeing her family through new eyes. We then look at the character of Lydia. For this episode, we are joined by Michael, who gives us some background...

In this episode, we talk about Elizabeth’s feelings towards Wickham and Colonel Fitzwilliam, the married life of the Collinses, why we find Lady Catherine de Burgh more funny than Mr Collins, and what we know about Anne de Burgh. We discuss Mr Darcy in some detail, and then Ellen talks about the the presentation of livings to country rectors. Harriet looks at how the film and television adaptation...

In this episode, we talk about the two marriage proposals by Mr Collins, the precise timetabling of the events, and the matter of obedience to one’s parents. We discuss Charlotte Lucas in some detail, and then Ellen talks about the ‘marriage market’. Harriet looks at where the two mini-series versions of Pride and Prejudice have their episode breaks in this section, the fact that in some versions...

In this episode, we talk about the arrivals of Mr Collins and Mr Wickham, and the Netherfield Ball: we consider how Mr Bennet didn’t give the family any warning about Mr Collins’s arrival, the number of letters in the book, the amount of foreshadowing we’ve seen, how Wickham was able to fool Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s conversation while dancing. We discuss Mr Collins in some detail, an...

In this episode, we talk about Jane and Elizabeth's visit to Netherfield: we consider why Jane was invited, Darcy's feelings about Elizabeth, the types of conversations everyone has and what Darcy reads. We discuss Mr Bingley in some detail, including how he and Darcy might have met, and then Ellen talks about accomplishments. Harriet looks at how Mr Bingley has been presented in the var...

In this episode, we look at chapters 1 to 6 of Pride and Prejudice. We talk about how the book sets up the relationship between love and marriage, the way the characters are introduced so gradually, what we see in Darcy and the fact that we quickly learn how much money everyone has. We discuss Mrs Bennet in some detail, and then Ellen talks about class in the early nineteenth century, and the type...

We explain what our podcast is going to be about, and how it will be structured.