The Amateur Austenite

We discuss Mrs Johnson's advice that Lady Susan marry Reggie My guest joining us all the way from Barcelona is Elsa Juarez, you can find her on Twitter . Her Twitter handle is from the book Pepita Jimenez by Juan Valera Letter 1.10 Discussion 2.27 Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Frances? Contact her to request a time Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find F...

Letter 1.17.5 Discussion 4.36 Mrs Vernon shares her concerns with her mother that Lady Susan may be hunting Reginald. Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Frances? Contact her to request a time Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube , Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble or Zazzle Book for a Jane Austen Society of Aotearoa New Zea...

We discuss if Jane Austen was an economist and if Mrs Vernon is attracted to Lady Susan Letter .40 Discussion 4.53 The poem mentioned is by W. H Auden: " It makes me most uncomfortable to see An English spinster of the middle-class Describe the amorous effects of 'brass', Reveal so frankly and with such sobriety The economic basis of society" Pippa can go a little off topic (an...

"It's me. Hi. I'm the problem, it's me." What Taylor Swift songs relate to Lady Susan? I ask a fan for their input. Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Frances? Contact her to request a time Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube , Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble or Zazzle Book for a Jane Austen Soci...

Amme returns to discuss Mrs Vernon's reaction to Lady Susan's arrival. We compare Lady Susan to a mean girl, a spin doctor, a marketing executive and a girl boss. I mention the webseries Rational Creatures (check out Season 6 which is on this series!) Want a little more? There's an extended version of this episode available for streaming or purchase on Ko-Fi Want to join a private o...

Emma returns to discuss Letter 5. We compare Lady Susan to Sun Tzu and Mr Vernon to Scrooge McDuck.  Letter 46.5 seconds Discussion 3.49 Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Frances? Contact her to request a time Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube , Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble or Zazzle Book for a Jane Austen Society...

Amme joins me to disuss letter 4; Mrs Vernon tells her brother of Lady Susan's arrival.  "Stunning. Shocking. Absolute powerful monstrous move. I love her" Letter 54 seconds Discussion 2 minutes 52 seconds Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Frances? Contact her to request a time Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube , Instagram or...

Pippa joins me to look into this "world of undeserved privilege" where she compares my interest in Jane Austen to drugs. She observes that Lady Susan is "living beyond her means" and is "poor, yo"     Letter 1 minute 23 seconds Discussion 4 minutes 51 seconds    Want some unfiltered Pippa? There's a special extended version of this episode available on Ko-Fi , yo...

Craig joins me to discuss Letter 2 of Lady Susan who he thinks would be fun at parties, just don't introduce her to your boyfriend Letter 37 seconds Discussion 4 minutes 20 seconds Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Frances? Contact her to request a time Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube , Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Re...

"I’m dashing off a note as I leave the house. I’m on my way, see you soon." Lady Susan invites herself to Churchill in a letter that raises a lot of questions  Letter 1.42 Discussion 3.10 If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitter , Instagram or at her website   Want to join a private one-on-one book club with...

In the long anticipated final there are dates in the real world as the men are whittled down from 3 to 2. Then the final 2 face the Remy's senior and dance with Miss Remy at the diamond ball. Miss Remy continues to mistake chemistry for compatibility in a predictable ending. If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitt...

In the penultimate episode there are more bad puns, a picnic is rained out (literally as well as metaphorically), there's a declaration of love and one man leaves. If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitter or at her website   Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Frances? Contact her to request a time S...

The Remy family decide to divide and conquer to help Miss Remy decide which of the suitors should be joining their ranks. If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitter or at her website   Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Frances? Contact her to request a time Support the podcast and hear episodes early on K...

Miss Remy's two favourites are having commitment issues and all of them take their shirts off. If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitter or at her website   Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Frances? Contact her to request a time Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on Y...

The parents Remy reappear and hold a dinner then shooting the following day. There is more crying, not nearly enough kissing and some queer representation. Two gentlemen leave. If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitter or at her website   Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Frances? Contact her to request...

The drama keeps coming with a masquerade ball and another intruder! This one has a history with one of the other suitors. If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitter or at her website   Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Frances? Contact her to request a time Support the podcast and hear episodes early on K...

There is drinking and debauchery and an overnight stay. The Gods are very pleased. If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitter or at her website   Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Frances? Contact her to request a time Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube , Instagra...

There is a shakeup in the court as the elder Remy's leave to be replaced by Miss Remy's brother. A once favoured suitor is falling from grace in our eyes but not in the eyes of the lovely heroine. If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitter or at her website   Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Fr...

Sian still isn't sure about this whole thing and Frances worries listeners may have dropped off but we continue with episode 4 of The Courtship . There is a lot of kissing, some sword play and double entendre. We meet the two new suitors and two men leave - will it be those that have just arrived? If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You ca...

This episode has all the drama! Someone behaves badly and pays for it, someone leaves in tears and there are visitors. If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitter or at her website   Want to join a private one-on-one book club with Frances? Contact her to request a time Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-f...

References to Austen are dwindling but we carry on with our watch of The Courtship . We are back to relationship advice as Sian reveals she was ghosted as a teen (once Frances defines ghosting for her) and we agree that you shouldn't kiss and tell. If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitter or at her website   Want...

And now for something completely different... The Courtship is basically the The Bachelorette in Regency dressing. Sian isn't sure but Frances loves it! In the first episode we meet Miss Remy, the heroine, and her suitors. There is anachronisms and bad use of Austen quotations. If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Tw...

TW: rape, sexual abuse, racism The 1999 adaptation of Mansfield Park has a lot of changes from the original text but somehow manages to keep the main story points. The Crawfords are weak, Sir Thomas is a monster and Fanny is, well, Austen. If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitter or at her website   Want to join a pri...

We review the 2007 made for TV movie adaptation of Mansfield Park with Billie Piper as Fanny Price. We agree that Fanny's hair isn't quite right and that Tom is hot. Some aspects are cut for length but they manage to squish an awful lot into 90 minutes. If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitter or at her webs...

In this episode we wrap up our reading of Mansfield Park by looking at which characters we feel differently about than previously. In particular we discuss Sir Thomas, Susan,  Mr Yates, Julia, Mrs Norris and, of course, Mr Crawford.  If you'd like to support the podcast and hear episodes early you can donate on Ko-fi You can find Frances on Twitter or at her website   Want to join a private o...