Happy Birthday Jane

(Image by Trina Dalziel for Simple Things magazine). When I first stumbled upon Jane Austen I was at secondary school and her second novel Pride & Prejudice was part of my English Literature O level syllabus. Thinking back I don't believe I had any concept of how such a book or any book, could reveal and share with me the social history of another time. I did enjoy it in a superficial way, but now of course it is a sheer delight to read. I was extremely lucky to go to a school that introduced me to the arts in all of it's forms. I saw a young Vanessa Redgrave performing Shakespeare at a small modern theatre in London, I went to see an Opera at The Royal Opera house, and as our school was close to Hurlingham tennis club, I also saw Billy Jean King amongst other world class tennis players. The school was also quite close to the Kings Road and Fulham Road with it's wonderful shops, galleries and green spaces. I was a very lucky girl indeed. But I digress......back to Miss Austen. The BBC recent drama starring Keeley Hawes was a fascinating semi-fictional account of Jane's relationship with her sister Cassandra. If you are an Austen fan I urge you to watch it, I found it quite remarkable and tremendously entertaining.

During this year which is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, there are to be many many events, probably world wide. I have a yen to visit her last home , Chawton in Hampshire. It is now a museum and how fascinating it looks. Jane wrote, revised and published all of her six novels whilst living there.

But perhaps it may be a little busy to explore this year? I would like to extend another very warm welcome to a new follower who has kindly pressed the follow button, Peggy Poole.