JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA GREATER CHICAGO REGION etter rom hicago L f C Winter 2010 Saturday, February 20, 2010

The Parthenon Restaurant, 314 S. Halsted, Chicago Noon to 3:00 pm ] Free Valet Parking Northanger Abbey Lunch, Panel and Book Discussion

William Phillips—Gothic Inspirations bbbbbbb Ronnie Jo Sokol—Plot Development bbbbbbb Natalie Goldberg—Friendship bbbbbbb Jeffrey Nigro—The Role of Bath

LUNCH REGISTRATION FORM ¡ Members: $25; Guests: $35 Registration deadline: February 15, 2010 Member Name Guest(s) Name(s)

Address City State ZIP E-mail Phone Amount enclosed $ You can register by 1. Going online to www.jasnachicago.org or 2. Mailing your check—payable to JASNA-GCR—and and pay using your Visa or MasterCard. this form to Elsie Holzwarth, 1410 East 55th Street, Chicago, IL 60615-5409. RegionalCoordinatorFrom the Natalie Goldberg February Luncheon In rereading Northanger Abbey, I was dolmades, Athenian chicken and Baklava. struck by the way Jane Austen emphasizes Come hungry for food and conversation! Catherine Morland’s very ordinary qualities Panelist Ronnie Jo Sokol will direct as she grows up a tomboy with her attention to plot development, particularly brothers. She isn’t a striking beauty, she some “flaws” in the structure that Austen hasn’t an ironic wit or particular brilliance, had never corrected when she gave up and she lacks ambition. She thinks she’d trying to get the book published. (As you like to play the piano but is impatient with recall, NA is a posthumous novel.) I will practicing and glad to stop lessons. Her focus on the role of friendship, especially parents are kind and sensible but let their those changing relationships that reflect daughters “shift for themselves” when it Catherine’s coming of age. Jeff Nigro will comes to their education and feminine address the role of Bath and reflect on the accomplishments. When neighbors kindly dangers and pitfalls in this elegant and take Catherine to Bath, her mother’s sole complex social setting. William Phillips advice is for her to stay warm and keep an has been reading the Gothic novels that account of her expenses. We are told that Catherine Morland and Isabella Thorpe Catherine is as “ignorant and unformed as loved. He will share his insights about any young woman of seventeen.” Yet she which characters most reflect Austen’s has an affectionate heart, an open and satiric views of these novels. Following our pleasant disposition and “when in good panel presentations, Ronnie Jo will looks, pretty.” This unlikely heroine moderate the group discussion. marries Austen’s most appealing man. Okay, those who are infatuated with Colin Pride and Prejudice: the Musical Firth’s Darcy will argue that Henry Tilney is not the best suitor of all—but reread this Good news about Jane Austen’s Pride and novel and you will be struck by his Prejudice: A Musical Play. Chamber Opera intelligence, imagination and wit. Is he like Chicago scheduled three performances at Austen’s favorite brother Henry? Why the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. would this sophisticated man fall in love Southport, on February 27 and March 6 at with Catherine? Member Shirley Holbrook 7:30 pm and March 7 at 3 pm. reminded me that Catherine is good and Playwrights/composers Lindsay Warren appealing—she shows much empathy, even Baker and Amanda Jacobs introduced and if she’s quite naive—and she is a reader. performed selections for our Chicago AGM Now she focuses on her Gothic novels, but brunch in 2008 to great acclaim. This will she is capable of learning and being be the Chicago premiere of the full directed in her reading. “Maybe,” argued production. Baker and Jacobs focus on Shirley, “she’ll even read Jane Austen!” Jane Austen revising her rejected novel, First Impressions, and show the author Northanger Abby will be the focus of our interacting with her characters. Their play panel and open discussion at our winter “illuminates two compelling, intertwined meeting at the Parthenon. This hilarious love stories: Austen’s romantic novel and novel is the theme for the upcoming AGM the author’s own passion for her work.” in Portland. Join our discussion as you enjoy family style servings of saganaki, Tickets available via Ticketmaster or call gyros, salad, moussaka, pastitsio, 312-902-1500.

WINTER 2010 L ETTER FROM C HICAGO 3 Three Gothic Novels William Phillips

Some 18th Century Creepiness Several of us saw a recent stage version of Given Northanger Abbey as the theme of the tale written and produced by the First the 2010 AGM, a lot of us are showing an Folio ensemble in west suburban Oak Brook. interest in the Gothic genre. In The Jane When Jeff Nigro and I went to see it, we Austen Book Club, Grigg, the one male thought the company couldn’t quite make participant, hosts the discussion of NA. up its mind whether to play it for laughs or Grigg is a bit like Catherine Morland, be serious (so that Sir Walter Scott would thinking Anne Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of have liked it). My advice is to read Otranto Udolpho (1794) is great with its black veils and decide for yourself; it is, after all, brief. and skeletons, and he’s a bit like Henry The fact that it is only 12% of the length of Tilney, showing insight into the novel he’s Udolpho may well be its most endearing a part of. Grigg certainly understands the quality, according to me. influence of Udolpho on NA better than any Many would argue that Udolpho is at the other character. My own growing interest pinnacle of the Gothic genre. Its length and in NA suggested that I should read a few density, however, do not make a decision Gothic classics. to read it one to be taken lightly. I’m Horace Walpole is credited with having convinced that Henry Tilney was pulling invented the Gothic genre with his slim Catherine’s leg (or at least tugging a bit at volume (really a novella), The Castle of her muslin) when he says that he couldn’t Otranto (1764). According to E.F. Bleiler put it down and finished it in two days (1966), Walpole also gets credit for the with his hair standing on end the whole interest in the Medieval during the 18th time. If that isn’t Henry’s great joke, then it and 19th centuries. Bleiler admits that is ample proof of the idleness of the idle Otranto is not deathless prose. He notes rich; he would have had to do nothing else that some contemporary critics think for two days. Perhaps it’s both. As my bus Walpole was pulling off a massive social reading, it took me the better part of a joke. Otranto can certainly be read that month to finish Udolpho’s nearly 300,000 way (particularly in 2010). However, no words on my workday trips. It’s clear to me less a cultural force than Sir Walter Scott that Austen spent a lot of time with this praises Otranto in his introduction to an novel. I’ll be arguing elsewhere that in 1803 edition. Scott credits Radcliffe’s addition to being a ‘source’ of NA, Udolpho “genius” but then pretty much puts her provided Austen with a lot more stuff she down in relation to Walpole. (Old boys’ used in other novels, but that’s a club? Can’t stand quite so many words discussion for another time and place. written by someone other than himself? Udolpho is unquestionably over-long and Who knows?) He praises Walpole for there is nothing much to terrify today’s avoiding unnecessary physical description reader. Nevertheless, it has much to and for sticking to the kind of ‘primitive’ recommend it. Radcliffe always provides a belief system (in the supernatural) that naturalistic explanation for apparently would have existed at the time during super-natural events. Scott deplored this; I which Otranto is set. For example, a giant liked it. Emily’s literal journey, from the helmet crushes the heir to Otranto (off headwaters of the Garonne through stage) in the opening scene, providing the Roussillon, via Venice, to the mountain ‘hook’ for the whole story. I won’t test your fastness of Udolpho and back, expertly credulity with more detail. parallels her developmental journey.

4 L ETTER FROM C HICAGO WINTER 2010 Radcliffe can certainly be criticized for and relatively little interior. Lewis, who anachronisms, but finding them is part of traveled extensively late in his life, had the fun. One favorite is Emily’s reference to only been to Holland and Germany prior to painter Domenico Zampiere (1581–1641), writing The Monk (at age 19), set mostly in who would have been three years old at the Spain and France (as well as Germany). beginning of this story in 1584. Interestingly, given her remarkably painterly The female characters are sometimes descriptions of southern France (alluded to irritating to me; however Radcliffe’s 1794 by Catherine in NA), Radcliffe’s only foreign reference to the vulnerability of women in travel (ever) was to Holland and Germany. 1584 is worthy (another influence on She was a perceptive user of others’ travel Austen?). It has only been very recently writing, however. Jacqueline Howard (Intro that female characters could regularly be to Penguin Classic edition of Udolpho) notes credited with very much bravery. I have that Radcliffe drew heavily on Hester Thrale the same reaction to lots of great literature Piozzi’s descriptions of Venice. of an earlier time (Desdemona, honey—get Let’s turn briefly to The Monk. Unless you out of the house!). have literary credentials to maintain or The scenic descriptions are wonderful. other technical reasons, I wouldn’t inflict Having driven through the northern this novel on yourself. Ambrosio’s descent reaches of the Pyrenees plus Roussillon, from virtue into depravity and finally and having damnation is not that engagingly told. The spent time in writing style is long-winded, disjointed, Venice, I was sesquipedalian, often incomprehensible. much For me, the writing choices provide the impressed true “terror” in the novel. with I’m not a reader who requires a totally Radcliffe’s linear narrative. However, try this for descriptions of digression. Volume I, Chapter ii ends with these places Ambrosio falling into his first sexual she never embrace. The next chapter begins the back saw. Her story of Raymond and Agnes (one of the fabulously nice couples) which straddles the boundary creepy and into Volume II and occupies more text than crumbling the whole length of Otranto before we fortress of Northanger Abbey’s Blaize Castle return to the evil monk. Ambrosio’s violent Udolpho is end in the last few pages is no indeed atmospheric. It puts Otranto to compensation for the long slog through The shame for establishing a mood of mystery Monk. My advice: DON’T read this novel; icked Witch and anxiety. I thought of the W just read ABOUT it. of the West’s castle or Hogwarts School with Valdemort’s sign floating above it. Each novel has its “Gothic heavy,” but Udolpho’s Montoni is much more thoroughly Scott was correct when he says Radcliffe and believably drawn than either Manfred engages in very lengthy scenic descriptions (Otranto) or Ambrosio (The Monk). All three and interpolates long bits of poetry into tales have the required convoluted family her text. Environmental descriptions relationships to unravel. Here too, those in (mostly interior) are found to a lesser Udolpho get the highest marks for extent in Matthew Lewis’ The Monk believability in context. Read Otranto (1796). Like Radcliffe, though, Lewis because it doesn’t cost you much. Read ony is that includes lots of poetry. One ir Udolpho because it is challenging, often Walpole, who had traveled extensively, beautifully written, and clearly an influence wrote with almost no exterior description on Austen. Leave The Monk on the shelf.

WINTER 2010 L ETTER FROM C HICAGO 5 Report Elizabeth Lenckos Letter from Chawton views that allow “Everybody is very much concerned at our you to grasp going away, and everybody is acquainted immediately the with Chawton, and speaks of it as a lesson in remarkably pretty village, and everybody landscape knows the house we describe, but nobody appreciation fixes on the right.” Henry Tilney taught Catherine Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra, December 9, 1808 Morland in Northanger By the time my JASNA-GCR friends read Abbey. this article, I will have left the “remarkably Southwest pretty village” which Jane Austen, in the Hampshire is a letter above, described to her sister gorgeous Cassandra in eager anticipation, almost At the gate to Chawton House Gardens country, and the exactly half a year before she would move area around Chawton is a pastoral arcadia to Chawton and make it her home. My that still inspires writers, painters and month’s stay here has been delightful, and scholars. I am not quite reconciled to the speed with which my days have passed. Hampshire And then there is Chawton House Library loves its traditions and celebrates them in itself, not to be confused with Jane Austen style, and it seems only days since the House Museum, also located here. The village had its luminous November Guy Jane Austen House Museum, her home Fawkes Bonfire celebrations; yet by now, from 1809, is devoted exclusively to her Alton and Winchester have switched on memory and legacy. Neighboring Chawton their Christmas lights and begun the House was one of several estates owned by Advent season. To understand my her brother Edward Austen-Knight, who reluctance to leave, you must have the offered his sisters, their mother and a same idea of heaven as I: reading in a rare- friend the former bailiff’s cottage in the books library and living in Austen-land. I village. Austen would walk up to the great had both for the month of November, and I house when her brother was in residence; am sad to see it all come to an end. she dined and danced here, and one descendant of the Knight family claimed The weather was perfect for almost the that she wrote in one of the rooms, as entire month. “Seasons of mists and well, although that assertion remains yet mellow fruitfulness,” as Keats described it to be proven. Chawton House is now in his Ode to Autumn, which he penned on perhaps grander than when Austen knew one of his walks around the river meadows it, restored by Sandy Lerner and the trust that surround the lovely, ancient city of she founded, transformed into a library for Winchester, where, of course, Jane Austen women writing during “the long eighteenth died and is buried. I followed in Keats’ and century.” Austen’s footsteps, recreating the excursions that she made into the country, The reason for my visit has been to to Alton, and to neighboring villages, each research my book on Austen and love, and one almost as picturesque as Chawton. I have consulted eighteenth-century You can still pass through the arbors and novels, conduct books, religious works, climb up hills from where you may enjoy marriage guides, and philosophical

6 L ETTER FROM C HICAGO WINTER 2010 Report continued treatises. The Chawton House staff has building that was once the stables, I did been most helpful: Librarian Jacqui not mind. I felt as if I were back in Grainger has been an excellent resource, Austen’s time, warming myself by the glow who found answers to my questions about of the fire and reading by candlelight. At Austen’s possible connections and heart, I was even sad when the lights came inspirations. Educational Officer Sarah back on, and the evening, so like the ones Parry has been kindness itself, turning out I imagined Austen spent, was at an end. to be an authority on the history of the Chawton still feels much as it did in country house. Gillian Dow organizes the Austen’s time. The village is a true haven fellows’ programs, among them the where can one envision oneself back in her seminars, meetings between the world and find inspiration to write, as she researchers, University of Southampton did when she lived at Chawton cottage. staff, and students. Friends of Chawton House Library and interested members of the public add a friendly, collegiate Birthday Tea atmosphere over tea and cakes to the Although our Program Chair Elisabeth otherwise academic setting of the Fellows’ Lenckos could not be with us, the annual lectures. Jane Austen Birthday Tea was another smashing success. Jane Hunt, a member The seminar at which I gave my lecture of The Fortnightly, enlightened us on the had record attendance, I am happy to say: history of this beautiful and distinguished to Austen and the subject of love must go club. William Phillips wrote and directed the credit. However, before Austenites the Reader’s Theatre in First Find a Good apply to Chawton House, they should Place to Plant Potatoes: Tales of Chawton understand this important fact: the library Cottage, 1809–2009. The fine cast was is dedicated to eighteenth-century women’s Anna Cooper-Stanton, Jeffrey Nigro, literature in general, and Austen is only Lori Davis and Anne Davis. This was the one among the many female writers to culmination of our commemoration of the whom its collection pays tribute. Among bicentenary of Austen’s move to Chawton four fellows in residence this autumn, I “where five novels were written or put into was the only who worked on Austen and final form” with a total of 730,000 words. excited to be living in the village just for Austen moved there with her mother (the the sake of breathing “the spirit of the potato planter), sister Cassandra and place.” Thus, I spent several of my lunch friend Martha Lloyd. Not only were we breaks walking down to Jane Austen’s amused and entertained, but also House and visiting Louise West, whom educated. Who realized that Martha Lloyd, JASNA AGM attendees know from her by later marrying Austen’s brother wonderful work as the museum’s Francis, would, after his knighthood in educational director. Sarah Parry, who has 1837, be the only one who could be called also been visiting our annual JASNA “Lady Austen”? Rebecca Dolin gave a meetings to report on Chawton House, champagne toast to Austen and Ronnie sometimes accompanied me. We both loved Jo Sokol made a toast to one of her the new shop, and I bought plenty! great admirers Maggie Cantrall. As Yesterday night, the winds raged always, the tea fare was delicious and (Northanger Abbey again), and Chawton the companionship delightful. House lost power in the evening hours. But housed in the beautifully restored

WINTER 2010 L ETTER FROM C HICAGO 7 Tea Photos

Readers’ Theatre: Anna Cooper-Stanton, Jeff Nigro, Anne Davis, Lori Davis, William Phillips

Toasters Rebecca Dolin and Ronnie Jo Sokol Registrar Martha Jameson

8 L ETTER FROM C HICAGO WINTER 2010 Review Natalie Goldberg

Not just your Grandmother’s Jane Austen! an essay written after a “pilgrimage to A Truth Univerally Acknowledged: Winchester Cathedral” and subsequent 33 Writers on Why We Read Jane Austen. reflection on “the affection that Austen and her work inspire.” Woolf focuses on the how Ed. By Susannah Carson and why of this personal investment in Random House, 2009. v + 292 pages, Hardcover. $25.00. Austen—and I recommend this selection to you. Other essays also can be read My only regret is that I did not receive my elsewhere, but here are treasures ready to copy of this book in time to recommend it for discover. Read how Lionel Trilling, in your holiday gift list. Surely this is a book to interviewing students for his prospective provide hours of entertainment to any reader seminar on Jane Austen, discovered their of Jane Austen, serious or frivolous, or, like passion felt for no other class—“something me, a fan and collector of all things Austen. they wanted from Jane Austen.” Writer Fortunately, this book has received much Eudora Welty’s essay press and blog coverage since it was first focuses on Austen’s released in November, and it is not too late to sparking vitality; critic put it on your gift list for upcoming occasions Ian Watt examines the —or to gift yourself! I would certainly return cultural background of to reread my favorite commentators over a Austen’s language. cup of tea or possibly some steaming Fay Weldon’s book, cappuccino. (Austen fans cross cultures.) Letters to Alice on first reading Jane I returned with delight to Michael Amis’s Austen, written while article on Pride and Prejudice which first adapting the 1985 appeared in the New Yorker in 1999. He was BBC Pride and the first one I recall pointing out “Austen’s Prejudice (with celebration of ‘the amorous effects of brass’: Elizabeth Garvie), is that is, of money, and old money, too.” excerpted here. I recommend the full book, Americans know how sexy that can be—think but here is a letter sure to delight. of Fitzgerald’s Jay Gatsby chasing his Daisy and our fascination with the lives of the Quite a few pieces were commissioned for Kennedy clan. Amis’s essay examines how this collection; let me mention just three. Austen “makes Mrs. Bennets of us all.” Susanna Clarke points out important differences in women’s choices today, but we A number of the collected works has been can still understand how marriage then seen in print before. In fact, one of my GCR became a career choice—“a parson’s wife mugs, which Margo Goia designed to raise (Elinor, Fanny and Catherine), a landowner’s funds for our GCR programs, has a sentence wife (Elizabeth and Emma), or a ship’s from E.M. Forster: “I am a Jane Austenite, captain’s wife (Anne).” You will love the article and therefore slightly imbecile about Jane by Amy Heckerling which explains how she Austen.” This 1993 mug now holds my cup of came to write Clueless for teens. Benjamin tea; the full essay can be savored in this Nugent explains why today’s adolescents collection. My 1995 mug includes a need to read Austen: “to open their eyes to statement by Virginia Woolf: “Whatever she defeats and victories they otherwise wouldn’t writes is finished and turned and set in its even have noticed . . . it can also feel like relation, not to the parsonage, but to the waking up.” Buy this book and send it to universe.” This quotation appears midway in your favorite high school English teacher!

WINTER 2010 L ETTER FROM C HICAGO 9 Review Lori Davis

Austen on Stage escape the lecherous clutches of Manfred, I caught the preview of First Folio he’s obligated to fall in love with her. Like Shakespeare Festival’s original adaptation goslings, romance readers latch on to the by David Rice of The Castle of Otranto, the first potential partner who shows kindness Horace Walpole tale of gothic dread. To or interest in the heroine—however current viewers Otranto reads (and plays) improbable the match. Most readers need a like an extended cliché, but that’s easily lot of convincing that a first-encountered forgiven. As author of the debut Gothic, isn’t “the one”: he has to be her brother Walpole could counter, “In my novel, it’s (Star Wars), unattracted to women (Dark all, well, novel.” Labyrinth, It Had to Be You), married (All She Ever Wanted), out on bail for solicitation Though Catherine Morland never mentions (Summer on Blossom Street). Jennifer Otranto, I entered the theatre as her proxy, Crusie, editor of Flirting with Pride and quivering with dread-filled delight at first Prejudice, says she takes pains to make sight of the stage. If only a staircase in sure Mr. Right knew the girl first, if ever he Northanger had led to this skull-strewn won’t show up until after her readers meet catacomb! Spending an evening with Mr. Not-Quite-So-Right. Seeing Princess Manfred (a villain “with gimlet-eyed gusto” Isabella left in the dust made me grateful and the prospective father-in-law of an that Austen played by the rules. Catherine innocent girl) would have sated any urge to Morland, and indeed every heroine in the turn General Tilney into a wife murderer. Big Six, winds up with the first man with Perhaps Catherine and Mr. Tilney could whom she establishes a rapport. have avoided that blowup. And what if Mr. Tilney had escorted me to the play? I I must admit I’ve harbored cruel thoughts imagined Tilney beside me, equally of Marianne Dashwood. Returning home engrossed in chuckling at the show and, from Emma Thompson’s Sense and possibly, at himself for caring. Walpole Sensibility, I called a friend: “I just had one once wrote to Anne, Countess of Ossory, question. When Marianne was dying, why “This world is a comedy to those that did Elinor cry?” Let’s admit it: until she think, a tragedy to those that feel.” nearly expires from a thorough wetting, Accordingly, Otranto is a campy comedy as Marianne is uncooperative, self-focused, well as a pulse pounder. If Austenland excluding, imprudent, uncivil, self- decides to add rides, the Catherine indulgent, ungrateful, and intolerant. If she Morland ride could be First Folio’s Castle were Lydia Bennett, we’d smack her. But, of Otranto. she deserved the chance to grow up. But why didn’t Miss I didn’t realize how much Marianne’s youth M. ever gush over was her sole defense until I sat front row Otranto? Perhaps center in The Theatre of Western Springs’ Catherine decided to Sense and Sensibility and saw Marianne give the cut direct to played by a woman who was in grade Otranto’s charming school when Kennedy was shot. Knowing hero, Theodore, for that Mary Martin played Peter Pan just choosing the second didn’t help. What I saw was a woman my girl he charms. Any age acting like a brat. Marianne’s romance reader knows repentance speech couldn’t come soon that once Theodore helps Princess Isabella enough; however, with the age difference

10 L ETTER FROM C HICAGO WINTER 2010 erased, never before had completely gagged man; he needs to use her marriage to Colonel speaking looks and slight gestures to Brandon seemed so communicate his frustration, vulnerability, understandable. Less and passion. And when the gag is removed, understandable was the his words must sell. The GreenMan interpretation of Edward production hammered this home for me. Ferrars, whom Joe Scott Surowiecki’s silences did not further Stead, a reviewer with no his point, but when he opened his mouth, preconceptions, called it was all over. When I saw the show, he “hapless,” “a cheerful hadn’t conquered the Darcy accent, despite loafer,” and “meek but mannerly.” Yet Vicki much coaching and effort. An entire cast of Ann Blair’s interpretation of Elinor was excellent actors couldn’t quite make up for charming and fresh. With excellent comedic a missing Mr. Darcy. Yet memories remain timing, her wry acceptance of her of skillfully woven dances, Lizzie’s flawless increasingly untenable situation elicited our delivery, Mrs. Bennet’s humanity, compassion, and we laughed ruefully with Charlotte’s deliberate contentment, and her. Elinor and Mrs. Jennings remind us Lady Catherine’s presence. why this is a romantic comedy. I would love to throw money at GreenMan In Memoriam: Maggie Cantrall Theatre Troupe for a number of reasons. Margarete (“Maggie”) Their Pride and Prejudice showed deep Cantrall had her own respect for Austen’s novel. They chose love of the theatrical. Christina Calvit’s careful adaptation and “We attended the let Austen’s work guide their interpretation. Stratford Canada Indeed, a goal was to know the story in a Shakespeare Festival fuller way by the end of their seven weeks for about 20 years,” of rehearsals. Such a commitment resulted remembers Yuki in nuanced performances—proof being Shelton. Yuki and Maria Knoll Benner’s Mrs. Bennet, who did Maggie also took a tour with David Grey, a not begin and remain at one shrill decibel, JASNA founder, which followed Anne Marie a common failing of Mrs. Bennets. Edwards’ book In the Steps of Jane Austen. Explaining her performance, Benner said Maggie then shared her slides with Ronnie she tried to “look at her from the inside, Jo Sokol when she made the trip to Austen- not just the outside.” And it didn’t take country. Maggie was an early member of our Holly Robison’s admission that she loved region whom Yuki met more than 20 years Elizabeth Bennet to convince me; she was ago when meetings where held at the one of the finest Lizzies I’ve ever seen, even Newberry Library. Ronnie Jo notes, “One of on screen. Here was another production Maggie’s passions was looking for citations that sharpened my opinions as much as it referring to Jane Austen in other authors’ entertained me. writing. She especially hunted down Austen I came to realize that Darcy’s my deal citings in detective fiction. Her Austen breaker. No big surprise, Birthday Tea toasts were always well I guess. I’ve long believed researched and educational.” Maggie was he’s the hardest Austen one of the quilters who created our Jane role to play well. Darcy Austen quilt replica. has so much to Yuki rightly says, “She was an outstanding communicate—to JASNA member.” Maggie taught at various excuse—with so few educational institutions, including chances. For most of a Downers Grove North High School and production, Darcy is like College of DuPage. a loosely bound and

WINTER 2010 L ETTER FROM C HICAGO 11 LETTER FROM CHICAGO JASNA-GCR Elsie G. Holzwarth 1410 East 55th Street Chicago, IL 60615-5409

Saturday February 20 Lunch

Calendar

Wishing all a healthy and happy 2010. January 24 Three-part new adaptation of Emma begins on PBS Masterpiece Classic. Reprise of Northanger Abbey on February 14 and of Persuasion on February 21. February 20 Luncheon, panel and book discussion on Northanger Abbey, The Parthenon Restaurant, 314 S. Halsted St., Chicago. Noon–3:00 pm. Free valet parking. April 24 Annual Gala. Horrors, Hats, and Helpless Young Heroines: Aspects of Northanger. Maggiano’s Little Italy, 111 W. Grand, Chicago. Continental breakfast and lunch. 9:00 am–3:00 pm

Our website is www.jasnachicago.org