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, but it means there’s going to be more of a gap before Episode 2, and probably between the other episodes as well, since we don’t have any edited and ready to go in advance. To fill in the space before Episode 2, we’ve put together some of the bits we had to edit ...
Dec 05, 2021•20 min•Season 3Ep. 1
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 being set up, how the three Miss Wards come from a not dissimilar background from Pride and Prejudice’s Miss Gardiners (Mrs Bennet and Mrs Phillips), and how the novel’s themes of education and principle are introduced. The character we talk about is Mrs Norri...
Nov 23, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 1
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 social and financial gap between Elinor and Marianne after their marriages, and Lucy’s marriage to Robert. We also revisit the sense vs sensibility concept, and how the novel is both flawed and wonderful. We discuss the character of Elinor, then Ellen talks ab...
Jun 28, 2021•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 10
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 be doing all day, how Mrs Dashwood is pushing Colonel Brandon and Marianne together, and Jane Austen’s use of grotesques. We discuss Willoughby (with a digression onto Miss Grey), and Ellen talks about medical practitioners in the early nineteenth century. Harr...
Jun 02, 2021•59 min•Season 2Ep. 9
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, the resurgence of the ‘cautionary tale’, and how this is the second time Colonel Brandon asks Elinor to deliver a message for him. We discuss the character of Edward, including our disagreement with Helena Kelly’s view in Jane Austen: the Secret Radical (and ...
May 11, 2021•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 8
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 (the ‘Marianne plot’, the ‘Elinor plot’ and the ‘moral story’), talk about the comic scenes with Robert Ferrars and with John Dashwood, and the emotional – but also funny – scene with Edward. We also talk about primogeniture and family obligations. We discuss Mrs ...
Apr 17, 2021•56 min•Season 2Ep. 7
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 reputation, and whether the turnaround in our perception of Mrs Jennings was planned for by Jane Austen. We discuss the character of Marianne, then Harriet’s partner, Michael, talks about duelling in Regency England. Harriet talks about how the adaptations presen...
Mar 23, 2021•59 min•Season 2Ep. 6
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 Mrs Jennings’ invitation to Elinor and Marianne. We discuss Lucy and Anne Steele, and then Ellen talks about childhood in the time of Jane Austen. Harriet talks about adaptations, and two of the modernisations. At the end of the episode, we respond to some liste...
Mar 01, 2021•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 5
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 in these chapters, and Edward’s invisible servant. The characters we discuss are Mr and Mrs Palmer. Ellen talks about sensibility and romanticism, which leads into a discussion of Marianne and Elinor’s different views of feelings and behaviour. Harriet talks a...
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 4
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 of propriety with morality, how the mystery subplot is quite unusual in Jane Austen, and the nasty tone of some of Willoughby's jokes about Colonel Brandon. We discuss the character of Colonel Brandon, then Harriet’s partner Michael talks about the military, wi...
Jan 25, 2021•52 min•Season 2Ep. 3
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 of their differences, the theme of sense vs sensibility, and the way Willoughby and Marianne criticise Colonel Brandon. We discuss the character of Mrs Jennings, then Ellen talks about how members of the gentry spent their time, and Harriet talks about how adapt...
Jan 11, 2021•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 2
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 have, the emphasis on caring about the arts, how very young the girls are, and the lack of presentation of Edward. We discuss the characters of John and Fanny Dashwood, then Ellen talks about wills and marriage settlements, and Harriet gives an overview of the pop...
Dec 27, 2020•57 min•Season 2Ep. 1
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 the final chapter, and James Austen-Leigh’s Memoir , tells us about what happens next to the characters; the passing reference to the “restoration of peace”; and how the closing sentence is far less memorable than the opening sentence. We discuss the character o...
Jun 17, 2020•59 min•Season 1Ep. 10
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 physical descriptions of Longbourne, the question of how Lady Catherine got her news and the meeting between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth. We discuss the character of Jane, then Ellen talks about what makes someone a gentleman, or gentlemanlike, and Harriet looks at h...
Jun 01, 2020•52 min•Season 1Ep. 9
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 Collins, and Elizabeth’s changing feelings towards Darcy. We discuss the character of George Wickham. Ellen talks about marriage settlements and marriage laws, and Harriet looks at how some modernisations of the book adapt the Lydia plot. We also revisit the subj...
May 16, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 8
In this episode, we talk about the way Darcy is reintroduced into the narrative, Jane Austen’s thoughts on architecture and landscaping, the possible connection between Pemberley and Chatsworth and how Georgiana Darcy is presented in a very different manner from Anne de Burgh. We discuss Elizabeth Bennet, perhaps Jane Austen’s most popular heroine. Ellen talks about the landed gentry, and Harriet looks at how the film and television adaptations treat the visit to Pemberley – including the scene ...
Apr 28, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 7
In this episode, we talk about Darcy’s letter and Elizabeth’s reaction to it, consider what Wickham might have done in his youth, revisit the Collins marriage, discuss Mr Bennet’s abrogation of parental responsibility and look at how Elizabeth is now seeing her family through new eyes. We then look at the character of Lydia. For this episode, we are joined by Michael, who gives us some background information about the militia and the regular army in Jane Austen’s time. Harriet looks at how the f...
Apr 14, 2020•59 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this episode, we talk about Elizabeth’s feelings towards Wickham and Colonel Fitzwilliam, the married life of the Collinses, why we find Lady Catherine de Burgh more funny than Mr Collins, and what we know about Anne de Burgh. We discuss Mr Darcy in some detail, and then Ellen talks about the the presentation of livings to country rectors. Harriet looks at how the film and television adaptations present Mr Darcy, and also which is her favourite screen version of Lady Catherine de Burgh. Thing...
Mar 31, 2020•59 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this episode, we talk about the two marriage proposals by Mr Collins, the precise timetabling of the events, and the matter of obedience to one’s parents. We discuss Charlotte Lucas in some detail, and then Ellen talks about the ‘marriage market’. Harriet looks at where the two mini-series versions of Pride and Prejudice have their episode breaks in this section, the fact that in some versions Mr Bennet can see through Wickham, how Charlotte is presented in the 2005 movie, and her favourite s...
Mar 16, 2020•51 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode, we talk about the arrivals of Mr Collins and Mr Wickham, and the Netherfield Ball: we consider how Mr Bennet didn’t give the family any warning about Mr Collins’s arrival, the number of letters in the book, the amount of foreshadowing we’ve seen, how Wickham was able to fool Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s conversation while dancing. We discuss Mr Collins in some detail, and then Ellen talks about entails. Harriet looks at how Mr Colllins and Mr Wickham have been presente...
Mar 02, 2020•50 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode, we talk about Jane and Elizabeth's visit to Netherfield: we consider why Jane was invited, Darcy's feelings about Elizabeth, the types of conversations everyone has and what Darcy reads. We discuss Mr Bingley in some detail, including how he and Darcy might have met, and then Ellen talks about accomplishments. Harriet looks at how Mr Bingley has been presented in the various film and television versions of Pride and Prejudice . Things we mention Books: Sue Birtwistle, Sue Conkli...
Feb 17, 2020•46 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In this episode, we look at chapters 1 to 6 of Pride and Prejudice. We talk about how the book sets up the relationship between love and marriage, the way the characters are introduced so gradually, what we see in Darcy and the fact that we quickly learn how much money everyone has. We discuss Mrs Bennet in some detail, and then Ellen talks about class in the early nineteenth century, and the type of neighbourhood Pride and Prejudice is set in. Harriet gives an overview of the pop culture versio...
Feb 02, 2020•44 min•Season 1Ep. 1
We explain what our podcast is going to be about, and how it will be structured.
Feb 01, 2020•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
