For The Love of Austen

(Bigskyboys just had a slight heart attack reading that title, as she likely thought I have a crush on her husband. She was probably also irritated that I don't know how to spell his name right.)

Book trends come and go: witches and wizards, vampires, zombies, hula-hooping aliens, but in the realm of fiction, there is one thing that is constant: the love of Jane Austen. You would think that as each generation grows old and passes on, the passion for words written some 200 years ago would turn to dust, but as each young woman (and all sensible young men) come of age, they too find a kinship with Jane's long-gone world.

Not only is there a deep and abiding love for Jane's stories, there's also the desire to find anything similar to her works, be it a modern spin on her classics, or other regency romances that pull us into a world of gowns and cravats, midnight balls and afternoon strolls in the park.

Why is this?

I think it's quite simple, really: we long for the days of decorum.

Men looked like this:

and not this:

Women dressed like this to stroll about town:

Instead of like this:


Insert picture of any one of a large handful of celebrity women "dressed" for a night out here
Hint hint, the clothes resemble a "bare" skinned rug, which has recently been stolen, leaving the wood floor bare. Get it?

I think we long for the day when men courted women instead of whistling from across the street.

I think we long for the day when men called the object of their affection, "my darling," or "my love."

I think we long for the day when women were (dare I say it?) treated delicately. Women are different from men, and that's how our Maker intended it. Not to say that women are inferior or should be treated as property, as they were during Austen's era, but there was a certain gentleness with which women were treated back in her day. I think we all desire to be treated as a delicate rose--at least occasionally--do we not?

LivingstonslifeinMontana and I had a conversation last week about the scene from Emma where Mr. Knightly scolds Emma for being rude to Mrs. Bates, as it was not only using bad manners, it was actually considered immoral and socially irresponsible. Oh how times have changed! Nowadays, we are celebrated for being able to speak our minds, even if what we are saying is crass, uncouth, and oftentimes downright mean. I personally like the Thumperian Principle, in that if you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all. 

Certainly, there are many things about the past that should be left in the past; like separation of classes and races, poor working conditions for the lower classes, and unrighteous judgement from those in upper society towards others who were not like them. But am I right that much of that which was good in their society has been abandoned by us modernists?

Would you have liked living in a Jane Austen novel? Are you a fan of Regency Romances? What other classic authors do you enjoy? How about modern novelists writing historical romances: who do you love? Do you love costume TV dramas or movies like Downton Abbey?

What aspects of a Regency Era (or later, as I prefer the Gilded Age) do you miss in modern living? (Afternoon naps were a common and respected form of recreation. I would have fit in well in that society!)

Phew, I'm long winded today, aren't I? (Speaking of long winded, I wonder if we like the Regency Era because there's never any flatulence jokes.)

Talk to me: tell me everything you love about Jane. And the era. And then some!