Pssst… hey, buddy do you want some Austen?
Hello. My name is Tracy Kiely, and I am a Jane Austen pusher.
I don’t know when it first started. Like most addictions, it began innocently enough. I was about twelve when I saw the 1940 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I liked it, but I do remember thinking that Lawrence Olivier, well, seemed “old.” In my humble opinion, he had nothing on Sean Cassidy. (Since I’m confessing here, I might as well bare it all, and I guess that includes the embarrassing TigerBeat addiction.)
But, anyway, the movie must have made an impression, because I soon read the book and discovered that it was waaaay better than the movie (the first of many such revelations). I don’t remember thrusting it at my friends, demanding that they read it, but they all insist that I did this. A lot.
In 1995, my “pushing” reached epic proportions when the BBC’s released its version of Pride and Prejudice. Honestly, it was as if Andrew Davies ripped out the pages directly from the book and used them for a script. It was perfect. And it had Colin Firth, and he was perfect. Oh, let’s face it; the whole thing was perfect.
Soon I was forcing my husband to watch it. Repeatedly. When my sister-in-law came down to spend New Year’s with us, I made her watch all five hours of it. Then I bought her the book and sent her home on the train to Boston, firmly in the throws of her own budding addiction (which blossomed all the way into a lovely college thesis).
But really, can you blame me? How could you not fall in love with Jane Austen and her writing? How could you not love her characters and her razor sharp wit? How could you not want to share all that with your friends and family?
Of all the many reasons there are for reading Jane Austen (and there are many), I think that it was her characters that first drew me in. And, don’t get me wrong…I adore Elizabeth Bennet and Ann Elliot, and my feelings for Mr. Darcy and Captain Wentworth are best left unarticulated here as I am a happily married woman and would like to remain that way. But, it was Austen’s creation of secondary characters such as Lydia Bennet and Mary Musgrove that really hooked me. Seriously, we all went to high school with a Lydia Bennet, and I think most of us have a Mary Musgrove in our family tree – you know who I mean – the One Who Must Be Endured during the holidays. These are the characters that made me realize that a) we all have annoying people in our lives, and Jane Austen was apparently no exception, and b) It would have been a blast to sit next to Jane at Thanksgiving (well, you know…had she celebrated that particular holiday).
I think that is what really makes her books so timeless; her characters. They are so real they practically leap off the page. And a fair amount of them are eerily like the people we know and have to endure in our own lives. I think it is her deft depiction of these universally trying souls that forms a large part of the enduring connection that readers have with her. After all, annoying is annoying, no matter if it is wearing Indian muslin or faded jeans.
In fact, it was her secondary characters that actually got me thinking about my own writing. For years I had wanted to write a book, and I knew I wanted it to be a mystery (I also grew up watching – and pushing – Hitchcock films, but that’s for another confessional). But, the characters of Pride and Prejudice kept swirling around in my head. What, if after years of living with unbearably rude and condescending behavior, old Mrs. Jenkins up and strangled Lady Catherine? What if Charlotte snapped one day and poisoned Mr. Collins’ toast and jam? I didn’t want to retell any of Jane Austen’s stories mind you, (she did that just fine the first time), but I did want to explore some of her themes and some of the personality clashes she depicted.
By writing books that celebrated Jane Austen and – perhaps – encouraging those unfamiliar to her to take a closer look, I took my pushing to a whole, new level.
So, that’s me. Tracy Kiely. Jane Austen Pusher. Thanks for letting me share my story.
CHECK OUT:
Tracy’s WEBSITE
Tracy’s NEW RELEASE Murder Most Persuasive
I do like the idea of a JA mystery, needs a bit of mystery there too, lol
I love the idea of a JA-inspired mystery, and I completely agree with you about her characters being timeless and leaping right off the page. We’re given so little info on some of them that you can’t help but give them their own stories and personalities in your imagination.
Yay for JA Murder mysteries!!! 😀
Sounds brilliant! On my ever-growing booklist!
great to meet you Tracy & thanks for sharing your story! these sound FaB and going straight onto my wishlist!
I do wish Jane had written a mystery. She certainly knew how to create lasting villains. And for those of us on the east coast today – it’s the perfect weather for curling up with your favorite Austen book – – so what’s everyone reading?
Perfect. I just spelled my name wrong.
The mystery idea does sound really good!
I love the title Murder Most Persuasive!
Oh my goodness I love these books! I have Murder Most Persuasive on order. I’ve always been a fan of mysteries and Tracy’s books have the right amount of Austen in them to make them great. I definitely recommend the ones already available and I definitely intend to read any upcoming. I’m so excited!
I def agree that what makes Austen wonderful is her cast of characters — they are sooooo real people you meet every day, haha :o) Yay for Austen pushers! ;o)
How FUN to make a JA mystery!!
How FUN to make a JA mystery!!
I just LOVE these books! I am so excited for Murder Most Persuasive. I can’t wait!!=)
I have had these on my wishlist for some time. I think this just upped them a notch. Thank you so much for sharing. It sounds like so much fun to read.
suzan
I’m the other anonymous person whose technologically challenged.
I so agree with your take on Andrew Davies’ 1995 P&P. He’s the only one to ever get it right (on film). No one else should even try!
This was a great and entertaining post!!
I’ve read and really enojoyed your first two books, I didn’t even know you had another one coming so soon after I finished the last one! Excellent news!
I agree whole heartedly, she created timeless characters; I have met too many Miss Bates, Catherine Longbourns, and Mr. Collins. I do find it telling that most of Austen’s characters just bore most of them as best they could as in real life.
I agree that JA’s characters are timeless and we can relate to them. I love mysteries too so I will be adding it to my wishlist. As far as I know your books are printed in hardcover format. Will it be released in paperback in future?
Tracy, I am looking forward to reading your books! They sound so interesting! And yes, Austen’s characters are timeless. I love seeing how authors place them in other time periods and how those stories play out!
I have to read your books! I could totally see someone poisoning Mr. Collin’s toast. 🙂
hee hee! I also remembering thinking Laurence Olivier was old! And also the fabulous colored ballgowns scene @ the first ball! Can’t wait for your next book! have loved the first ones!