Jane Austen Internship Update

These past couple weeks at the Centre have been wonderful. I've had some great projects, like writing a letter as Jane Austen to a group of students who wrote to the Centre, authenticating a Georgian dress that was donated to the exhibition and then researching and writing a new information board on modern film adaptations. I'm also almost done with my final internship dissertation and yesterday I was also given the wonderful task of contacting a certain actor (From the BBC Sense and Sensibility and Downtown Abbey fame!) to add something to our collection of autographs and letters from actors involved in Jane Austen film adaptations. It has been a wonderful couple of weeks and I'm very sorry to have to leave such a wonderful place.

Jane Austen Grave Inscriptions

It's hard to see them in the pictures so here are the inscriptions on Jane Austen's grave and the plaque beside it. 

On her grave:

In Memory of JANE AUSTEN, youngest daughter of the late Revd GEORGE AUSTEN, formerly Rector of Steventon in this County. She departed this Life on the 18th of July 1817, aged 41, after a long illness supported with the patience and the hopes of a Christian. The benevolence of her heart, the sweetness of her temper, and the extraordinary endowments of her mind obtained the regard of all who knew her and the warmest love of her intimate connections. Their grief is in proportion to their affection, they know their loss to be irreparable, but in their deepest affliction they are consoled by a firm though humble hope that her charity, devotion, faith and purity have rendered her soul acceptable in the sight of her REDEEMER.

On her plaque:

Jane Austen. Known to many by her writings, endeared to her family by the varied charms of her character and ennobled by her Christian faith and piety was born at Steventon in the County of Hants, December 16 1775 and buried in the Cathedral July 18 1817. "She openeth her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness".

Jane Austen Day Part 1 (It should be a national holiday!)

Today was Austen Day (It's unofficial but I think I'll petition the Queen). With my Jane Austen class I visited Steventon, the village and her father's church where Jane spent the first 25 years of her life. Next was Chawton House Manor, the home of her brother Edward, that has now been turned into a library for early English women's writing. The building was beautiful and our guide kept expressing how much she'd love it for us to return and use the library for our own personal research. I might take her up on it! Then we walked down the lane to Chawton cottage, also owned by Jane's brother Edward. but where Jane and her sister and mother lived after the Reverend George Austen died. It was here in this tiny little cottage that Jane published her novels, and wrote almost continuously. It was a beautiful little cottage and I got a little teary-eyed. Unfortunately, Winchester Cathedral is closed today and tomorrow because of the enthronement of their new Bishop and so my class was unable to go see Jane's grave. I'm making a special trip out on Sunday because I can't possibly go home without seeing it. Instead, we visited The Vyne, a country estate that dates back to the tudor times that Jane's family were frequent visitors of.

Steventon and Chawton Today!

This weekend is all about Jane Austen. I couldn't be more excited.

Jane Austen Internship Update

It's a little late, but here's the most recent Internship update. Last week I worked with Jennie, the visitor services manager on a research project for our Haberdashery shop in the exhibition. In the shop we display a variety of products 18th century customers would have bought at a haberdashery and millinery shop such as fabric, trims, hats and household and millinery tools. Unfortunately, some of the items on display were a mystery to the Centre guides and managers. I researched the items and found out all about leather glove finger stretchers, millinery irons and hat making. And last but not least, Jennie and I created labels for the tools to help curious exhibition visitors. It was a fun project and a wonderful week. My lovely boss Holly left for her maternity leave and the staff all had a farewell dinner for her at the Garrick's Pub. I'm sorry to see her go but so excited for her first child, who's name is being kept a secret, but we know is a girl!  

Jane Austen Internship Update

This past week I've been working in the Regency Tea Room above the Jane Austen exhibition. The tea rooms are lovely and I got to learn about making and serving proper English loose-leaf tea. It's more complicated than it looks! And then I got to taste all of the different scones, biscuits and cakes we serve at the tea shop. And a little cleaning too of course so my visit wasn't entirely in vain.

Here's the menu to drool over: Tea Room Menu

Jane Austen Internship Update

This past week I worked with Jackie, the Jane Austen festival director. The festival is held each September for a week and gets bigger each year. With events like a promenade through the city, gorgeous balls and dances and lectures on every topic imaginable it is a lovely festival. Jackie and I walked through the city timing the length of the promenade route this year. It was an absolutely beautiful day for a promenade. I then got to work on the festival's social media sites and create photo albums for the festival from the past two years and this past summer's regency ball. I was drooling over these pictures and can not wait to eventually come back and go to one of the festivals myself. If you're interested just look up the Jane Austen Festival on Facebook or Twitter.

I cannot fix on the hour, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.     -Pride and Prejudice 

Internship Update!

     I've been enjoying my internship immensely. As an intern I do a mixture of activities around the Jane Austen Centre, including guiding, working in the tea room and gift shop, organizing group visits and helping to plan the Jane Austen festival we have in the fall. These past two weeks I got familiar with our exhibit and the running of the company. The exhibit is a collection of historical pieces from costume to other artifacts that describe Jane's life during her time in Bath. Jane Austen lived in four different houses during her time in Bath, and visited regularly during her childhood. 

       This past week I've been outside greeting visitors to the Centre. Although it's been a little chilly, I've enjoyed meeting the many visitors of the Centre and the passing Brits. Everyone loves to comment on my outfit, whether it's too cold or too hot for the weather. I've been poked once or twice to see if I'm a mannequin and the men in lorries like to honk once in a while. My favorite part, however, is the kids who just love to smile and wave at me. Little girls especially run up to me to look at my costume and say hello. 

Review: "Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Series" by Carrie Bebris

I loved this series of mysteries inspired by Jane Austen’s novels. The mysteries are not your modern day thriller but each plot is enjoyable and intricately involves the characters from the original novels. One of the best aspects of the novel was the unexpected characters who come in and out of the plot. The portrayal of Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship is loyal to the original, with all of the wit and affection between the couple delicately written. Thank you to Sydney for the recommendation!

“A mind lively and at ease, can do with seeing nothing, and can see nothing that does not answer.”    Jane Austen  

Jane Austen Centre

Video about the Centre!
http://www.janeausten.co.uk/the-jane-austen-centre/film-of-the-centre/

Jane Austen Internship

In honor of my upcoming trip to Bath I decided my first post should be dedicated to my future internship! The Jane Austen Centre is a permanent exhibition telling the story of Jane Austen's time in Bath and its effect on her writing and personal life. The Centre hosts an annual Jane Austen festival and has a regency tea room. It seems like a wonderful opportunity and I can't wait to start! For more info: http://www.janeausten.co.uk