Reading Jane Austen
Books & Literature
About
Ellen and Harriet are a mother and daughter who have been talking about Jane Austen together since Harriet was first old enough to read her. In this podcast, we will be doing a close reading of the books.In each episode, we will look at a few chapters. As well as talking about anything that strikes us in the chapters, we will also pick a favourite sentence, have a discussion about one of the characters, and then Ellen will give a social historian perspective about some element of the nineteenth century that seems pertinent, and Harriet will talk about the chapters in pop culture adaptations of the book.
Episodes
- S05E11 Persuasion, Chapters 23 to 24
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…
- S05E10 Persuasion, Chapter 22
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 Ann…
- S05E09 Persuasion, Chapter 21 and the cancelled Chapter 22
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…
- S05E08 Persuasion, Chapters 19 to 20
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…
- S05E07 Persuasion, Chapters 16 to 18
In this episode, we talk about the upward and downward social interactions taking place, what the implications are behind the Dalrymples being Irish aristocracy, the introductions of Mrs Smith and Nurse Rooke, the comedy of Mary’s letter a…
- S05E06 Persuasion, Chapters 13 to 15
In this episode, we talk about these transitional chapters between the events at Lyme and the move to Bath. We consider the position of the old nurse in the Musgrove household, how Anne is feeling a bit sorry for herself, the delightful sc…
- S05E05 Persuasion, Chapters 11 and 12
In this episode, we talk about Lyme, the connection between Anne and Captain Benwick, whether these chapters make us wonder if Anne will end up with someone other than Captain Wentworth, and Louisa’s fall from the steps. The characters we…
- S05E04 Persuasion, Chapters 9 and 10
In this episode, we talk about how how Jane Austen has solved the problem of the infodump, the realism of the scene with little Walter, how she shows the relations within families, and how events on the walk to Winthrop affect Wentworth’s…
- S05E03.5 Persuasion, EXTRAS from Chapters 7 and 8
This is an in-between ‘extras’ episode. Our episodes are normally not more than an hour in length, which means that we usually have to cut a certain amount of material in the editing. But for Episode 3, we had much more material than usual…
- S05E03 Persuasion, Chapters 7 and 8
In this episode, we talk about how how Jane Austen tells us about the feelings of Anne and Captain Wentworth, and how the narrator captures Anne’s emotions; the building up of the relationship between Charles and Mary, and their reaction t…
- S05E02 Persuasion, Chapters 4 to 6
In this episode, we talk about how the backstory of Anne and Wentworth is presented without comedy, and yet is absolutely enjoyable. We then move on to the introduction of Mary, and why she is the way she is, the generational change we see…
- S05E01 Persuasion, Chapters 1 to 3
In this episode, we talk about the publishing history of Persuasion , the precise dates we are given in the book, the fact that we learn very little about Anne in the first chapters, and how well Mr Shepherd is managing Sir Walter. The cha…
- Persuasion season starting in November
Just a quick update to let you know that our Persuasion season will be starting in November. We've recorded the first few episodes, but Harriet has been too busy at work to finish editing them. She's going to be away for a few weeks, but w…
- S04E11 Emma, Chapters 51 to 55
In this episode, we finish up Emma with chapters 51 to 55. We talk about the decision for Mr Knightley to move to Hartfield, the resolution of Harriet’s story, and the final scenes between Mr and Mrs Elton. We also reflect on the insights…
- S04E10 Emma, Chapters 46 to 50
In this episode, we are joined by Harriet’s partner, Michael, and read chapters 46 to 50 of Emma . We talk about Emma’s emotional roller coaster, reactions to the Frank-Jane revelation, the proposal scene and Emma’s commitment to her fathe…
- S04E09 Emma, Chapters 42 to 45
In this episode, we read chapters 42 to 45 of Emma . We talk about the dropping of clues about Jane and Frank, Donwell Abbey and Mr Knightley’s arrangements for the strawberry picking, how nobody is enjoying themselves at Box Hill, and the…
- S04E08 Emma, Chapters 37 to 41
In this episode, we read chapters 37 to 41 of Emma . We talk about the parallel narratives, the ball at the Crown, Emma’s awareness of Mr Knightley, the section from Mr Knightley’s point of view and the tension between Jane and Frank. The…
- S04E07 Emma, Chapters 32 to 36
In this episode, we read chapters 32 to 36 of Emma . We talk about the civil society of Highbury, why Jane puts up with Mrs Elton, and Emma’s dinner party. The character we discuss is Mrs Elton, and Ellen talks about governesses. In the po…
- S04E06 Emma, Chapters 27 to 31
In this episode, we read chapters 27 to 31 of Emma . We talk about the entwined group of people who visit one another, how so many scenes read differently the second time through, Miss Bates’s monologues, Jane and the piano, reactions to t…
- S04E05 Emma, Chapters 22 to 26
In this episode, we read chapters 22 to 26 of Emma . We talk about Frank’s arrival, the dinner at the Coles, and the way so much looks different in a second reading, The characters we discuss are Mr and Mrs Weston, including a consideratio…
- S04E04 Emma, Chapters 16 to 21
In this episode, we are joined by Harriet’s partner, Michael, and read chapters 16 to 21 of Emma . We talk about the mystery plots, Emma’s fantasies, Emma and Mr Knightley’s interactions, and Harriet’s encounter with Mr Martin (which had u…
- S04E03 Emma, Chapters 11 to 15
In this episode, we read chapters 11 to 15 of Emma . We talk about the introduction of John and Isabella Knightley, how Emma really doesn’t understand the social world, the clash between Isabella and Mr Woodhouse about health – and how Emm…
- S04E02 Emma, Chapters 6 to 10
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…
- S04E01 Emma, Chapters 1 to 5
In this episode, we read the first five chapters of Emma . We give a brief publishing history, and talk about how much we learn about the occupants of Highbury, the introduction of the relationship between Emma and Mr Knightley, Emma’s man…
- S03E11 Mansfield Park: Episode 11, Chapters 46-48
In this episode, we finish up reading Mansfield Park , with Chapters 46 to 48. We talk about contrasts within the book, the attitude to Maria and Henry, Edmund and Fanny’s views of Mary, Sir Thomas’s reflections in the final chapter, the w…
- Bonus mini-episode - 'Rational Creatures' co-creators
In this bonus mini-episode, Harriet has a discussion with three of the co-creators of webseries Rational Creatures . This series, based on Persuasion , started in 2019, but then had to go on a long and unexpected hiatus due to the global p…
- S03E10 Mansfield Park: Episode 10, Chapters 40-45
In this episode, we read Chapters 40 to 45 of Mansfield Park . We talk about the plot of a girl brought up in privileged circumstances returning to her family, Mary’s letters and how Fanny responds to them, the success of Henry’s visit, Ed…
- S03E09 Mansfield Park: Episode 9, Chapters 35-39
In this episode, we read Chapters 35 to 39 of Mansfield Park . We talk about how Edmund and Mary dismiss Fanny’s concerns about Henry, Sir Thomas’s decision to send Fanny back to Portsmouth, Fanny and William’s journey, the comedy of the a…
- S03E08 Mansfield Park: Episode 8, Chapters 31-34
In this episode, we read Chapters 31 to 34 of Mansfield Park . We talk about Fanny's initial failure to realise she has received a true proposal, the amount of pressure placed on her to accept, the picture everyone has of little, modest Fa…
- S03E07 Mansfield Park: Episode 7, Chapters 26-30
In this episode, we read Chapters 26 to 30 of Mansfield Park . We talk about Fanny’s preparations for the ball, the amber cross, her emotion reactions after Edmund gives her the chain, her post-ball meeting with Mary, and the scene where H…
- S03E06 Mansfield Park: Episode 6, Chapters 22-25
In this episode, we read Chapters 22 to 25 of Mansfield Park . We talk about the friendship between Fanny and Mary, the tension between Mary and Edmund, Henry’s plan to make Fanny fall in love with him (and Mary’s reaction), William’s view…
- S03E05 Mansfield Park: Episode 5, Chapters 17-21
In this episode, we read Chapters 17 to 21 of Mansfield Park . We talk about Fanny’s moral trajectory during the theatricals, Mary’s casual acceptance of Henry’s behaviour with Maria, the cliffhanger ending of Volume 1 in the first edition…
- S03E04 Mansfield Park: Episode 4, Chapters 12-16
In this episode, we read Chapters 12 to 16 of Mansfield Park . We talk about why Fanny refuses to act, why Edmund agrees to join in, the sheer amount of comedy in the scenes of the theatricals, and the Cinderella aspect of the plot. We tal…
- S03E03 Mansfield Park: Episode 3, Chapters 8-11
In this episode, we read Chapters 8 to 11 of Mansfield Park . We revisit the issue of how Jane Austen opposes Fanny and Mary, and look at the flirting techniques of Mary and Henry, Fanny’s expectations of Edmund, whether there is symbolism…
- S03E02 Mansfield Park: Episode 2, Chapters 4-7
In this episode, we read Chapters 4 to 7 of Mansfield Park . We talk about the character-revealing scenes, how the presentation of Fanny may make some readers dislike her, why Maria became engaged to Mr Rushworth, and Henry Crawford’s beha…
- S03E01.5 Mansfield Park, Extras from episode 1
This is a bit of an in-between episode. About two months ago, when we were getting ready to record Episode 2, Ellen came down with a bad virus – not COVID, but recovery has been a slow process. We’re just about to start recording again, bu…
- S03E01 Mansfield Park, Chapters 1 to 3
In this episode, we read the first three chapters of Mansfield Park . We give a brief publishing history, and talk about how the opening chapters really prepare the way for the rest of the book, with all of the characters and relationships…
- S02E10 Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 47 to 50
In this episode, we read the final chapters of Sense and Sensibility . We talk about Elinor being the ‘moral spokesperson’ for the book, why Marianne marries Colonel Brandon, how Edward is less dashing than both Willoughby and Brandon, the…
- S02E09 Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 42 to 46
In this episode, we read Chapters 42 to 46 of Sense and Sensibility . We talk about how Marianne’s illness is presented (including the un-dramatic way in which she gets sick, and the lack of emotional response), what Colonel Brandon could…
- S02E08 Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 37 to 41
In this episode, we read Chapters 37 to 41 of Sense and Sensibility (which was where Volume 3 started in the original publication). We talk about how the news of Edward and Lucy is spread, the picture we get of Lucy and Anne’s relationship…
- S02E07 Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 32 to 36
In this episode, we read Chapters 32 to 36 of Sense and Sensibility . We talk about how this is a transitional section, and yet contains some of the funniest scenes in the book. We consider the different styles of the intertwined plots (th…
- S02E06 Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 26 to 31
In this episode, we read Chapters 26 to 31 of Sense and Sensibility . We talk about how unsatisfying Ellen found several of these chapters, the role of gossip, the similarity between Elinor’s and Marianne’s situations, the importance of re…
- S02E05 Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 21 to 25
In this episode, we read Chapters 21to 25 of Sense and Sensibility . We talk about Jane Austen’s use of compound sentences, Lady Middleton’s concern with gentility, the verbal fencing match between Elinor and Lucy, Elinor’s emotions, and M…
- S02E04 Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 16 to 20
In this episode, we read Chapters 16 to 20 of Sense and Sensibility . We talk about how Marianne indulges her feelings, whether Jane Austen knew what Marianne and Willoughby talked about before he left, the clearer picture we get of Edward…
- S02E03 Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 12 to 15
In this episode, we read Chapters 12 to 15 of Sense and Sensibility . We talk about how Margaret's contribution to the plot, how Elinor and Marianne's debate on sense vs sensibility moves from the theoretical to the practical, the linking…
- S02E02 Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 6 to 11
In this episode, we read Chapters 6 to 11 of Sense and Sensibility . We talk about how Barton Cottage and its location are described in some detail, consider how the bedrooms are shared out, the closeness between the two sisters in spite o…
- S02E01 Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 1 to 5
In this episode, we read the first five chapters of Sense and Sensibility . We give a brief publishing history, and talk about the themes of sense and sensibility, the lack of dialogue in the first chapter, how much money the Dashwoods hav…
- Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 58 to 61
In this episode, we read the final chapters of Pride and Prejudice . We talk about the dialogue in the final proposal scene, and more generally about proposals in Jane Austen; Mr Bennet’s response to the news, and also Mrs Bennet’s; what t…
- Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 53 to 57
In this episode, we talk about how Jane Austen keeps up the suspense so close to the end of the book, the fact that Kitty has forgotten Mr Darcy, Elizabeth’s embarrassment at her mother, Bingley and Mr Bennet shooting together, the physica…
- Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 47 to 52
In this episode, we talk about the steps taken to find Lydia and Wickham, how much Darcy paid to get them married, the moral and social approach towards what Lydia has done, why Mrs Bennet thinks there will be a duel, the letter from Mr Co…