Jane Austen Society of North America, Southwest (JASNA-SW)

JASNA-SW Events & More

Coming Up
Save the date 19 May 2012 for a seaside holiday with Jane Austen at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica.
Events Gone By
On Saturday, 3 December 2011, we learned about Regency women's health issues at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Our first-ever super-regional weekend at the Huntington Gardens & Library and the Westin Pasadena was a spectacular success. Click on the title above for a photo recap.
Our first-ever JASNA-SW booth at the Festival was a resounding success. Please click on the title above for photos.
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Please click on the title above for a report of this exciting event!
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Please click on the title above for a text-and-photo recap of this program.
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JASNA members were treated to a sneak preview of the film about Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Click on the title above to see a trailer of the movie.
"Silver Forks, Golden Memories, and Library Treasures." Featured talk: Ed Copeland on Silver Fork Novels.
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Domestic Entertainments in Jane Austen's Time
History
Diana Birchall and People take us on a nostalgic journey.
In Memoriam
Sundries

2009 Spring Meeting: A Day of Pride, Prejudice, and Politics
Saturday, May 2, 2009

Spring Meeting speakers, from left to right: Dr. Charles Lynn Batten, Syrie James, Laurie Viera Rigler, Dr. Margaret Horvitz. Front row: Colin Firth, who didn't need to say a word. Photo by Barbara Smith


A Recap of the Event

by Jaye Scholl Bohlen
[PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT]

Jane Austen disliked the Prince Regent, George IV, especially for the cruel way he treated his wife, Caroline. But Austen was a political and behavioral conservative. Shaken by the violence of the French Revolution, Austen favored preserving the social order at any cost.

That’s the view of Charles Lynn Batten, a UCLA English professor who addressed the question, “Jane Austen, Liberal or Conservative?” at the spring meeting of JASNA-Southwest Region, held May 2, 2009. Batten, a popular lecturer with Los Angeles Janeites, said he was not swayed by contemporary literary critics who see Austen as a feminist or even as a progressive.

Margaret Horowitz, the JASNA 2009 Traveling Lecturer, analyzed three film adaptations of Austen’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, focusing on how screenwriters brought the epigrammatic qualities of her novel to life. The Grants Committee of the Jane Austen Society of North America provided a $1,500 grant to JASNA-SW to cover costs of bringing speakers to a regional chapter.

Laurie Viera Rigler read from her upcoming novel, RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, a sequel to CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT. In her new novel, which will published June 25, a young woman named Jane Mansfield is transported to the 21st Century, where she struggles to comprehend television, iPhones and rock concerts. Ms. Rigler also serves as JASNA-SW’s webmaster.

Syrie James, author of THE LOST MEMOIRS OF JANE AUSTEN, read from her new book, THE SECRET DIARIES OF CHARLOTTE BRONTE, which will be published in June.

The program, A DAY OF PRIDE, PREJUDICE, AND POLITICS, was held at the UCLA Faculty Center and was organized by JASNA-SW board member Carla Washburn. A sale of Austen-related books from the estate of Vivian Hall and made possible by Viki Barie raised more than $600. The proceeds will be used to sponsor future JASNA-SW events.

Our spacious room in the lovely UCLA Faculty Club, where we began the day with coffee, tea, and scones. Photo by Barbara Smith.

Nancy Gallagher, our new President and Regional Coordinator, welcoming us to the event. Photo by Barbara Smith.

Dr. Margaret Horvitz. Photo by Barbara Smith.

Dr. Charles Lynn Batten with Past Presidents and Ex-officio Board Members Claire Bellanti (L) and Mimi Dudley (R). Photo by Barbara Smith.

Another view of the room. Photo by Barbara Smith.

Syrie James. Photo by Barbara Smith.