Jane Austen's World

Inquiring readers,

The 2025 AGM in Baltimore has come to an end. I was too late in registering for this conference, the largest ever held in the U.S., with over 900 attendees. I did have the pleasure of going to the conference site for several hours on Friday and meeting up with Sarah Emsley, Brenda Cox, and Deborah Barnum. I also visited the emporium, where I purchased books, and the pop up sessions, where one can examine the precious objects that many well recognized attendees brought over from England to show us. Caroline Jane Knight, whose presentation of her life in Chawton Manor was marvelous, brought the serving spoons commissioned by Edward Austen, the creamware plates, two keys from Godmersham Park, and much more. Janice Golder brought a modern reproduction of the quilt made in 1810 by Jane Austen, her sister Cassandra, and her mother. (Image of the reproduction was taken by me at the conference.)

I registered for the streaming sessions, and so partially enjoyed both the onsite experience and the at-home fun of watching the presentations online in my pj’s. Their links will be available to us streamers until February. Whew! I can still catch up on the presentations I missed.

Below are some of the fabulous books I purchased!

I walked portions of Jane Austen’s London the four times I visited that city. Every day I found a new path, which I at times revisited in subsequent trips. Louise Allen’s book is a treasure, heavily illustrated with maps and images of the buildings during Austen’s era. It’s a book I’ll treasure and will help me fondly reminisce those paths I once walked. This slim book is entitled Walking Jane Austen’s London: A Tour Guide for the Modern Traveller, and is well worth its purchase.

I met Hillary Davidson in a previous AGM and bought her marvelous new book back then: Dress in the Age of Jane Austen: Regency Fashion. I obtained her latest book at this AGM, A Guide to Regency Dress: From Corsets and Breeches to Bonnets and Muslins. It’s a treasure trove, and quite different in format from her other book – more like a reference guide, which makes it easy to look up information, and filled with images that are so helpful! Both aforementioned books are modest in size, and will fit very well in my overflowing room length bookcase.

When Sarah Emsley sent me her latest book, The Austens, I didn’t quite get to my review or send her a series of questions for added interest. It turns out that Brenda Cox, who also writes for this blog, had the same plans in mind. So we agreed on a change. At the AGM I purchased Jane Austen’s Transatlantic Sister: The Life and Letters of Fanny Palmer Austen by Sheila Johnson Kindred. Since The Austens deals with Jane’s relationship with the Palmers, I decided to read both books and then write about the relationship between Jane and Fanny with more knowledge. I can’t wait to read the books and compare and contrast them!

At each AGM I purchase copies of the magazine entitled “Jane Austen’s Regency World”. Published in the UK, they are published every other month. I chose 3 from 2024: July through December. And four from 2025: March through October. Sadly, I missed the Ja/Fe 2025 edition. The latest issue in the Sept/Oct two-month period includes these topics, although there are more than these few: “Of No Fixed Abode: Mrs Austen’s search of a home”; Cover Story: “Georgians and Cats – the feline as a pet is a modern concept”; “Miss Tilney Wore White: The process of bleaching cloth”; and “A Jane Austen Pilgrimage: Reminiscences from a self-organized UK tour”.

For inquiries re: the magazine, contact Jackie Herring – Editor at editor@janeaustenmagazine.co.uk or click on http://www.janeaustensmagazine.co.uk.

The purchase of “A Year with Jane Austen: A Calendar for 2026” is a first for me (I usually buy dog calendars!) But this one is a treasure. Filled with C.E. Brock illustrations, Austen quotes, and tidbits of information, such as “Did you know that Mr Darcy first proposed to Elizabeth Bennet on May 1 – and that she finally accepted a marriage proposal on October 6?”

The Worlds of Jane Austen: The Influences & Inspiration Behind the Novels, by Helena Kelly is a lovely, lavishly illustrated book. It was a gift from Brenda Cox, who writes wonderful posts for this blog. These are its contents listed by pages: 6-The Rectory; 22-Revolution; 44-Army and Navy; 56-Give a Girl an Education; 80-City; 96-Countryside; 114-Seaside; 128-Empire and Slavery; 148-Legacies; 174-Austenmania; and 188-Present Day.

Lastly, my acquisitions before the AGM:

As a livelong member of JASNA, I opted to receive the physical print of “Persuasions: The Jane Austen Journal” printed by the Jane Austen Society of North America. I received the latest edition #47 recently last summer. This volume published the main presentations during “AGM 2024 in Cleveland, OH: Austen Annotated: Jane Austen’s Library, Political, and Cultural Origins.” Persuasions Online 45, No.1 lists the rest of the workshops.

After reading a review this spring of Kathryn Sutherland’s Jane Austen in 41 Objects, I ordered it. I learned that I have personally seen a few in person: Jane Austen’s small watercolour portrait by her sister, Cassandra; some of her letters and a few pages of a manuscript in an exhibit at the Morgan Library in New York City; and the Octagon Room in Bath (in fact I saw most of the buildings she frequented in Bath, including the houses she lived in). I’ve seen additional personal Austen memorabilia at Goucher College’s important Jane Austen Collection.

This has been a special long weekend in Baltimore for Austenites, the largest AGM in the U.S. so far. I was so pleased to have made the time to both come in person and to watch the live streams from home. Let us know in the comment section which books you purchased at the AGM in Baltimore!