With Christmas around the corner, perhaps you are looking for some Jane Austen gift ideas for friends and family… or maybe you are looking for a nice treat for yourself! If you are like me, then you probably love receiving anything Jane Austen related and will be happy with anything from DVD’s and books to action figures and T-shirts. Some of these items you may already know about, some may be new to you, hopefully you will find this post helpful!
Books, Movies, and Music:
– The Jane Austen Collection: A collection of the six BBC productions of Jane Austen’s six novels made from 1971-1987. This lovely box set is currently selling for $30.99 on amazon.com! What a bargain! I had never seen any of these older adaptions, but I would like to! This box set is sure to please any fan of the current movie adaptions and would be an asset to any collection.
– The Sense and Sensibility Collector’s Set: In this 3 disc box set you can find three of recent adaptions featured on Masterpiece Theatre: Sense and Sensibility (2008), Miss Austen Regrets (2008), and Persuasion (2007). On amazon.com this box set is priced at $25.49, again another reasonable price for a DVD set that includes more than one Austen adaption!
– Pride and Prejudice 10th Anniversary Collector’s Set: The beautiful and lush 1995 Pride and Prejudice adaption with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle is no longer celebrating its 10th anniversary, but this dvd set can still be found from third-party vendors on amazon.com. This DVD collection includes a hard cover slipcase, a bonus disc featuring the Jane Austen Biography episode, and the 120 page book, The Making of Pride and Prejudice. I bought this collection for myself last April and I am very happy to own it. The case is lovely, and The Making of Pride and Prejudice was an enjoyable and enlightening read.
– Emma: This soundtrack from the 1996 (Gwenyth Paltrow) version of Emma has to be one of the best and most loved CD’s I own. I have had it for years and I love reading to it or having it on in the background when we have company over. Even my husband and brother love listening to this music!!!
– Pride and Prejudice: This soundtrack from the 2005 (Keira Knighley) version of Pride and Prejudice is beautiful and diverse. In this collection of songs composed by Dario Marinelli there beautiful piano pieces, serene string pieces, lively dances, and a militia march. My favorite pieces are “Dawn” which is the plays during the opening titles and “The Living Sculptors of Pemberley.”
– Sense and Sensibility: Another beautiful soundtrack that is filled with wonderful, relaxing music. This music from the 1995 (Emm Thompson) adaption is perfect for when you are reading or for when you are in the mood for some quiet music. I especially love “My Father’s Favorite,” this song is so gorgeous and romantic.
– Jane Austen: An Illustrated Treasury by Rachel Dickson: This book is a collection of art work, copied manuscripts and letters by Jane Austen, and commentary by Rachel Dickson’s commentaries about Jane Austen’s novels and her life. This book is no available at amazon.com, but it is available at Barnes and Nobles. The book is about 150 pages long and includes copied manuscripts and letters in these little envelopes that are removable and look so authentic! I loved learning interesting things about Jane Austen in this book and I adored its beauty an its elegance.
– Murder at Longbourn: A Mystery by Tracy Kiely: A charming mystery novel that takes place at a bed and breakfast in Cape Cod where a Murder Mystery Dinner Party produces a real murder mystery…
– The Other Mr. Darcy by Monica Fairview: An endearing and beautiful Pride and Prejudice sequel that will banish your dislike of Caroline Bingley…
– Searching for Pemberley by Mary Lydon Simonsen: An exceptional Austen-Inspired novel that explores the possibility of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice being inspired by real people…
– My BFF: A Romance by Ruth Phillips Oakland: A brillaint updated version of Pride and Prejudice where Elizabeh and Darcy fight falling in love and instead become best friends…
– Willoughby’s Return: an tale of almost irresistable temptation by Jane Odiwe: A wonderful Sense and Sensibility sequel that brings John Willoughby back into Marianne’s life and shows what happens to Margaret Dashwood…
– Must’ve Done Something Good by Cheryl Cory: A sparkling Austen-Inspired novel about teaching, first impresssions, and finding your own Mr. Darcy or Captain von Trapp…
***The Importance of Being Emma by Juliet Archer: (I have not read this one yet but it is on my wishlist!) A modern adaption of Emma.
***The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte be Syrie James: (Again, I have not read this one and I know it isn’t an Austenesque Novel either, but I am a fan of the Brontes and of Syrie James!)
Fun and Games:
– Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice Board Game: Available at ashgrovepress.com. Choose your hero and heroine and move around the board, answering questions about Pride and Prejudice, and taking a chance on a Regency Life card. Be the first couple to the church with all your tokens to win! My mom surprised me with this game 5 years ago! I dearly love it, I only wish I had more people to play it with.
– Jane Austen Puzzle: A 500-Piece Puzzle available at amazon.com (I spend a lot of time there, can’t you tell?) This is on my wishlist this year! I love doing puzzles for fun and I would love to work on a Jane Austen puzzle and then frame it when finished!
– Jane Austen Action Figure: This 5-inch tall Jane Austen action figure, available at amazon.com, comes with a mini Pride & Prejudice and a writing desk with a removable quill pen. I don’t have this item yet, but I would love to add it to my collection!
Clothing and Apparel:
Woo hoo! Some things to add to my Christmas list! I think the Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice set will go to the top of my list… 😉
I’ve been wishing that board game for couple of Chritmases. But I know there is no one who could play it with me!. 🙁
I love those movies. So yes i will be watching Emma, Northanger Abbey, Pride and Predujice one more time before 2010 begins. 🙂
I love those movies. So yes i will be watching Emma, Northanger Abbey, Pride and Predujice one more time before 2010 begins. 🙂
Great list! I really love the old BBC adaptations (though I have yet to see Northanger Abbey) – most of them are almost word for word strict to the books. Mansfield Park is the best (mostly because I have yet to see anyone do it better). I’d love to know what you think of them if Santa comes through.
Great list! I really love the old BBC adaptations (though I have yet to see Northanger Abbey) – most of them are almost word for word strict to the books. Mansfield Park is the best (mostly because I have yet to see anyone do it better). I’d love to know what you think of them if Santa comes through.
Great list, Meredith. I didn’t know about the board game, but like Milka said, I wouldn’t have anyone to play with. I’d have to bring it to a JAFF get-together.
Great list! Hey, if you’re willing to fill out surveys, I got the Sense and Sensibility 3 DVD collector’s set through my free membership at Zoompanel.com There’s nothing in it for me; I just thought you might want to know. It “costs” 5,000 points, and each survey is on average 50-75 points. So, it takes a while, but SOOO worth it!
I hope Santa brings you lots of goodies under your Regency Christmas tree!
Laura Hartness
CalicoCritic.blogspot.com
Great list! Hey, if you’re willing to fill out surveys, I got the Sense and Sensibility 3 DVD collector’s set through my free membership at Zoompanel.com There’s nothing in it for me; I just thought you might want to know. It “costs” 5,000 points, and each survey is on average 50-75 points. So, it takes a while, but SOOO worth it!
I hope Santa brings you lots of goodies under your Regency Christmas tree!
Laura Hartness
CalicoCritic.blogspot.com
I have and treasure all the movies you mentioned. I’m going to look into purchasing the books you’ve listed. Thank you for so much wonderful info.
I have and treasure all the movies you mentioned. I’m going to look into purchasing the books you’ve listed. Thank you for so much wonderful info.
Thank you, everyone, for checking out the list. I am glad so glad you like it and found it helpful.
Thanks for the info about the survey, Laura. I might try that after Christmas!
Alexa, I really am interested in seeing the older adaptions and hope to find some that will becme favorites of mine. Right now I love th 95 (Gwenyth version) of Emma, 95 S&S, 95 Persuasion, 99 Mansfield Park, and 1940 P&P. I really don’t have a favorite for Northanger Abbey. Of course, people will then laugh at my DVD collection and say why do you hav 4 copies of P&P?