Show Notes
In this episode, we read chapters 6 to 10 of Emma. We talk about the hints Jane Austen gives us about Emma’s blunders, Emma’s manipulation of Harriet after Mr Martin’s proposal, the argument between Emma and Mr Knightley, Harriet’s riddle book, Emma’s and Mr Elton’s respective views of his place in the social hierarchy, and Emma’s lack of need to get married. (There was also a lengthy discussion of ‘Kitty, a fair but frozen maid’, which we ended up editing out, and just pointing to Lona Manni...
More from Reading Jane Austen
You probably noticed that in the last few episodes of our Persuasion season, Ellen had reduced her role in the podcast. This was because her health had begun to decline. I'm very sad to say that she passed away this week, after a short stay in hospital. At this stage, I have not made any decision about whether it will be possible to continue the podcast without her, or if so, who else might join it. I do know that she was very pleased that we were able to complete Persuasion.
In our final episode on Persuasion, we talk about how much more satisfactory this is than the original ending, the purpose of the discussion between Mrs Croft and Mrs Musgrove, the conversation between Anne and Captain Harville, Wentworth’s letter, his feeling that he had a moral obligation to marry Louisa and the wrap-up of the story. The character we discuss is Anne Elliot. In the historical section, Michael talks about the British Navy at the end of, and after, the Napoleonic Wars, and for...
In this episode we look at the published version of Chapter 22. We talk about how proactive Anne is in these final chapters, the arrival of Charles, Mary and the Musgrove clan, Louisa’s change in personality, how the Musgroves all want Anne to be with them, and the first time Wentworth actually refers to the time he and Anne were together. The characters we discuss is are Charles and Mary Musgrove. In the historical section, Michael talks about the shooting, and for popular culture Harriet lo...
In this much-delayed episode (recorded months ago, but stuck in editing limbo), we look at Chapter 21, and the original version of Chapter 22, which Jane Austen rewrote before publication to become the Chapters 22 and 23 we now have. This cancelled chapter is available in many modern editions of the book. We talk about Mrs Smith’s infodump about Mr Elliot, her change in tone, her patronising attitude towards Nurse Rooke, how in the cancelled chapter Anne was more of an observer (compared to t...
In this episode, we talk about private communications in public spaces, Wentworth’s possible feelings in the encounter at Mollands and in the Assembly Room, the question of whether Lady Russell was legitimately trying to identify a set of curtains, and Anne’s feelings towards Mr Elliot. The character we discuss is Elizabeth Elliot. In the historical section, Michael talks about the Bath Assembly Rooms, and for popular culture Harriet discusses the 2023 independent film Persuasion. Things we m...