jane austen society – Exact Words

Explaining what I’ve uncovered in Jane Austen’s “Emma”

❧ Between Chapter 1 and Chapter 32 there are a total of 4 exceptions to the Miss Bates Rule.
❧ How “Miss Bates”—the device—commonly works.
❧ Finding Frank on those walks with Mr. Dixon, Miss Campbell, and Jane.
❧ The piano scene is romantic?

Austen’s Insidious Poisoners – Mr. Collins: the spider

Can anyone believe that he meant the nice things wrapped up in knives early in the book, but not the ones later in it? That his cruelty is a new affliction?

Jane, Jane! What’s in a name? Mrs. Elton’s most unpardonable sin.

What Mr. Knightley cannot fathom is that anyone—even Mrs. Elton—could address someone with the dignity and pride of Jane Fairfax like an inferior to her face. And by calling Miss Fairfax “Jane,” Mrs. Elton is indeed “continually insulting” her.

Regency Dinner Parties and Mrs. Bennet’s “two full courses”

WTF does Mrs. Bennet mean by “courses”? Your intrepid reporter went in search of answers.
“…she had the consolation of thinking that Mr. Bingley would be soon down again, and soon dining at Longbourn; and the conclusion of all was the comfortable declaration, that, though he had been invited only to a family dinner, she would take care to have two full courses.”