During the Georgian era, gender differences in domestic goods became increasingly common. For example, a gentleman's writing desk was a sturdy, substantial piece of furniture, while a lady’s desk was a small, delicate writing table.  In this episode we sit down with art historian and museum curator Kristen Miller Zohn to discuss gender and the decorative arts in general, and how Austen’s references to consumer goods in her novels—from furniture and wallpaper to breakfast sets, muslin gowns, and toothpick cases—reveal important information about her characters.  Read the transcript, show notes, and guest bio:  https://jasna.org/austen/podcast/ep10Visit our website:  www.jasna.orgFollow us on Instagram and FacebookEmail: podcast@jasna.org

Professor Juliet McMaster, grande dame of Austen scholarship and one of the founding members of JASNA, joins us for a wide-ranging discussion about the genius that is Jane Austen. We touch on all six of her published novels, dip our toes in her teenage writings, and take a stroll down memory lane with Juliet as we chat about the early days of JASNA and how it's evolved over the past 45 years. Read the transcript, show notes, and guest bio:  https://jasna.org/austen/podcast/ep9Visit our website:  www.jasna.orgFollow us on Instagram and FacebookEmail: podcast@jasna.org

From roast mutton to white soup, pickled melon to Bath buns, Jane Austen and her characters enjoyed a variety of fascinating foods. To learn more about Georgian-era cuisine and culinary practices, we invited food historian Julienne Gehrer to guide us on a gastronomical journey through Austen's world. She provides glimpses into the daily life of our favorite author you won’t want to miss. Julienne has spoken and written on Jane Austen and food for more than a decade. Her most recent book brings the historic Martha Lloyd’s Household Book out from Jane’s kitchen and into our hands as an annotated facsimile version. Read the transcript, show notes, and guest bio:  https://jasna.org/austen/podcast/ep8Visit our website:  www.jasna.orgFollow us on Instagram and FacebookEmail: podcast@jasna.org

JASNA member Renata Dennis joins us to discuss the fascinating story of Dido Belle, a woman of color caught between two identities. Dido was the daughter of an enslaved woman and a British naval officer but was raised as a gentlewoman in the household of William Murray, Earl of Mansfield and Lord Chief Justice of the Court of the King's Bench. Until recently, she was lost to history.  Renata also shares her thoughts on Dido Belle as the inspiration for Jane Austen’s character Miss Lambe in Sanditon.Transcript and show notes:  https://jasna.org/austen/podcast/ep7Visit our website:  www.jasna.orgFollow us on Instagram and FacebookEmail: podcast@jasna.org

In this episode, we welcome Adrian Lukis, the actor who made the role of George Wickham his own in the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. We discuss his experience filming the beloved miniseries, his critically acclaimed one-man play Being Mr. Wickham, and his thoughts on everyone’s favorite Austen rogue!Transcript and show notes:  https://jasna.org/austen/podcast/ep6Visit our website:  www.jasna.orgFollow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TwitterEmail: podcast@jasna.org

Ending a Regency-era marriage was difficult and daunting! In this episode, attorney James Nagle helps us navigate the murky legal waters of dissolving marital ties, Regency-Style, in a variety of ways. We're talking scandal. We're talking Maria Rushworth running away with Henry Crawford. We're talking wives being sold at auction to the highest bidder. What?! Yes. Crazy, but true. Podcast Host:  Breckyn WoodTranscript and show notes:  https://jasna.org/austen/podcast/ep5Visit our website:  www.jasna.orgFollow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TwitterEmail: podcast@jasna.org

How "happy" are the endings of Jane Austen’s novels? In this episode we chat with Professor Inger Brodey about Austen’s endings: what she includes, what she leaves out, her unique mix of romance and satire, and her technique of “zooming out” that often leaves readers wanting more. Drawing from her forthcoming book, Jane Austen and the Price of Happiness, Inger also shares her thoughts on why Austen ended her novels as she did, her use of various forms of happiness, and how her endings differ from those of other authors she read.Podcast Host:  Breckyn WoodTranscript and show notes:  https://jasna.org/austen/podcast/ep4You can learn more about Inger Brodey on her website:  https://ingerbrodey.comVisit our website:  www.jasna.orgFollow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TwitterEmail: podcast@jasna.org

What did Jane Austen wear? Was she a stylish dresser? A dowdy spinster? In this episode, noted fashion and textile historian Hilary Davidson sets the record straight, revealing that Austen was much more fashion conscious and on-trend than many suppose. Join us as we discuss what would have been in Austen’s personal wardrobe, from headwear and gowns to everything in between, and Davidson shares fascinating insights gained while researching her new book, Jane Austen’s Wardrobe.Podcast Host:  Breckyn WoodTranscript and show notes:  https://jasna.org/austen/podcast/ep3You can learn more about Hilary Davidson on her website at http://www.hilarydavidson.net and follow her on Instagram and Twitter @FourRedShoes. She also has a Twitter account for her books @AustenDress.Visit our website:  www.jasna.orgFollow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TwitterEmail: podcast@jasna.org

Though never preachy, Austen’s novels have a rich moral depth that was heavily influenced by her faith. In this episode, we chat with Brenda Cox, author of Fashionable Goodness: Christianity in Jane Austen’s England. Brenda spent many years and several trips to England researching everything from Austen’s private daily devotions to the role churches played in the many social reforms of her time. We discuss all this, plus:Some crucial words in Austen’s novels that hold deeper religious meaning than you might think,A crafty countess who used a legal loophole to spread her Methodist faith, andA helpful way to finally remember the difference between a parson, a rector, a vicar, and a curate. (We don’t get into archdeacons, sorry!) Podcast Host:  Breckyn WoodTranscript and show notes: https://jasna.org/austen/podcast/episode2Visit our website:  www.jasna.orgFollow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TwitterEmail: podcast@jasna.org

Lizzie Dunford, director of Jane Austen's House, shares fascinating insights about the timeless author and her cherished cottage. She explores how Chawton Cottage fueled Austen's creativity and reveals the house's vital role in preserving her legacy. Lizzie discusses innovative conservation techniques for historical artifacts and highlights the emotional connections visitors have with Austen's home. The conversation also covers the successful virtual tours created during the pandemic, bringing Austen's world to life for global fans.