Dear readers, please help me welcome Joana Starnes, author of a new Pride and Prejudice sequel From This Day Forward, to Austenesque Reviews! Joana is from England (lucky!) and recently attended the annual Jane Austen Festival in Bath (double lucky 😉 ) Joana and I thought it would be fun if she shared her trip to Bath with you today (so we could all be pea-green with envy! 😉 ) We hope you enjoy!
Bath, Fabulous Bath!
Many thanks, Meredith, for having me as your guest, to rave on about it!
Thanks to Cassandra Grafton, who kindly let me crash at her beautiful flat for a couple of days, I had the joy of being there, for at least part of the great fun that was the 2013 Jane Austen Festival!
Joana and Cassandra
I would have loved to go to all of the events! For those of you who plan to go next year, I understand the one about the duel is a must-see! Apparently, as the group follows the guide and are told about the ins and outs of dueling over the years, suddenly a group of actors burst out of a nearby house, a couple of gents have a massive fall-out, one issues a challenge, and the group arrives on the dueling ground in time to see them ready for action, exchange a couple of shots, then agree that their honour was fully satisfied! I missed that one – but I hope to catch it next time!
Of the ones I did see, they were all magical! Even the first one – An Evening of Georgian Pleasures – which was so badly derailed by the weather it was actually hilarious! It was supposed to be an evening of strolling through the gardens by torchlight (the open-flame kind!), listening to music and sitting on the grass for a dainty picnic. I don’t know if it was Friday the 13th playing tricks, or just plain old British weather gremlins, but it poured. And poured. And then poured some more! Still, we had our delicious picnic that Cassandra had prepared – even though it was not spread on the grass but under a huge conifer and also a large umbrella, for good measure. As for the musicians, they valiantly went on with the act, followed by a troupe of Medieval Mummers. Very much a case of ‘Keep calm, get soaking wet and carry on!’
The Promenade, the next day, was absolutely wonderful – but then you must have seen it on YouTube already! A lovely sunny day (lucky, that!) and a huge number of people, more than I’ve ever seen at such events. The route was superb, and the starting point and finish were the best choice ever! It was lovely to mill around, chat and take lots of photos at the Royal Crescent and at the other end, in the Parade Gardens, the ladies could dance on the green, have tea and cake and, if the fancy took them, stroll about and giggle with the officers!
And then, as you do, we went shopping at the Fayre, held at the Guildhall. There were lots of stalls, where ladies of quality and their long-suffering husbands could buy bonnets, clothes, accessories, have their silhouettes cut and their fortune read.
This was followed by a late evening Fashion Show, very cleverly directed and displaying stunning dresses – though sadly the ‘wedding-day Mr. Darcy’ left a lot to be desired, in terms of figure, general mien and, last but not least, the cut of his breeches!
Unlike that Mr. Darcy, the read-out of the first part of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ did not disappoint. I had the pleasure of hearing Jane Odiwe reading some of the chapters – and also to discover that Adrian Lukis can do not only a great Mr Wickham but also a brilliant Mrs. Bennet. Nope, it’s not a typo – I did mean Mrs. Bennet!
A reticule workshop followed soon after. A lovely family opened up their home in Camden Place and treated us with elderflower cordial, sorbet, ice-cream and a very informative talk about the contents of a lady’s reticule, as well as the possible uses of an implement that looked very much like a middle-sized gravy boat…
I had to go home after that (couldn’t keep skiving from mummy duties any longer) but luckily I came back on Thursday, just for the day, for a guided tour of the Sydney Gardens and a ‘giggle-like-crazy’ dinner with friends, where I found out just how much fun five grown women can have with three catapult-shaped pencil sharpeners and three frozen peas! And we couldn’t even blame it on the red wine – one of the major players had just plain old lime-and-soda!
I guess nothing beats getting together with like-minded people! Speaking of which, I hope you have lots of fun at the September AGM, those of you who are going, and please, pretty please, don’t forget to post lots of pictures!
***
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Joana generously brings with her today 2 ebook copies of her book, From This Day Forward – The Darcys of Pemberley for me to give away to 2 lucky readers!
To enter this giveaway leave a comment, question, or some love for Joana!
- This giveaway is open to residents worldwide. Thank you, Joana!
- The giveaway ends October 2nd.
**To receive an extra entry for this giveaway comment on my review! (will post on Friday)
** A second novel is coming soon – ‘The Subsequent Proposal’ – in a very different style; no history, just plenty of drama. Hope you’ll like it! Same as ‘From This Day Forward’, it will be available at Amazon and Smashwords.
I’d love to hear from you! You can find me at:
Dear Joana,
If you would have chosen to be born in a specific year, what year would that be? And how do you think you would be different?
Yours truly,
Anda Alexandra from http://twistedredladybug.blogspot.de/
Great questions, Anda Alexandra! Your blog is lovely, btw!
thank you for being so kind 🙂 and thank you for the opportunity 😉
HI Joana and Meredith! Absolutely lovely post, Joana! You describe your time in Bath so well and of course, make me wish even more that I could have been there! Maybe someday! I have to say that Adrian Lukis did look rather dashing in his tux.
Don’t enter me in the giveaway as I have already read and enjoyed ‘From This Day Forward’. I’m looking forward to your next book!
Thank you, Janet! Doesn’t her trip just look so fantastic? I hope I get to go someday too! 🙂
This was such a lively description, a joy to read with the wonderful pictures. Thank you for the giveaway. I have added this book to my must-read list!
Hi, Anda Alexandra
Oh, I love this question – gives me the opportunity to own up to just how Regency-crazy I am. I would have loved to be born at a time when I could be grown up and able to enjoy it at the peak of its glory – I guess 1780 would have been as good a year as any 🙂
Now – how would I be different? I guess it depends largely if daddy was at least a doctor or a merchant with means or a clergyman (can’t ask to have been born higher than that; that would have been really cheeky!) Then I guess I would have liked the same things, reading, music, foreign languages, and hopefully I would have had a chance to learn them.
Now, if daddy’s station in life means I would have been a 1780 dairymaid, housemaid, scullery maid etc then life would have pretty much sucked, and I probably would have torn my hair off for being so stupid as to wish myself out of the century I was actually born in 🙂 – and that’s without going into TB, smallpox and the 18th century survival rate of young mothers!!
I think, if I could take my family with me (without them hating me for it forever!!!) I would choose to borrow a time machine and go back to 1800 with a wodge of period-appropriate cash and Fleming’s recipe for penicillin! I guess it’s just as well that I can’t go 🙂
Thanks for popping by and commenting!
now THAT put a smile on my face 😀 just the thing I needed to start the day 😀 I agree with all that you said above and being part of a middle class family would have been much more comfortable indeed 😉 I wanted to ask you if you are watching also Downton Abbey 🙂 Have you ever though of rather living in the Elizabethan period?
Thank you, Janet! Oh, I so wish you could come to Bath too! One day, hey! Thanks ever so much for your comment and your kind support!
Hi, Susan! So glad you’ve enjoyed the festival story and pics! Good luck with the giveaway!
The weather in England is certainly variable, The day that I spent in Bath was unfortunately for me very very hot but still enjoyable
Look forward to discovering what married life is for Darcy and Elizabeth in your book
Hi, Vesper! Yes – crazy weather 🙂 Thanks for your comment and good luck with the giveaway!
So jealous! I want to go to Bath 🙂 Looks like a fun gathering.
I am duly pea green with envy. Thank you for sharing your Bath venture with us. I enjoyed the pictures and comments though the Georgian Night sounds like everyone was just so determined.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. I love the idea of a book that shares what comes after the HEA
Hi, Sophia Rose! Yes, it was a giggle! I guess it was ok for the musicians, they were under a bandstand of sorts. It was just the audience and the mummers that got soaking wet.
Thank you for the wonderful blog post! It is my dream to visit Bath and I cannot even imagine how amazing it was with everyone all dressed up in period clothing. Your pictures are fabulous and bring the whole experience to life–almost like being there (I WISH)!!!!
I know, Joy, to see Bath as Jane Austen might of saw it (sort of) must be so special! Joana is so lucky to have had such a great experience!
Thanks for your kind words, Joy and Meredith! Bath is indeed a magical place, and I can only imagine London must have looked just as pretty (well, parts of it, at least) before the Victorians launched into their improvements 🙂 If you ever visit, please get in touch. Good luck with the giveaway!
I love just about anything that has to do with Jane Austen, most especially Elizabeth & Darcy!! Thank you for the giveaway and a chance to win an eBook 🙂
Hi, Anda Alexandra,
I adore Downton Abbey!!!! I could have strangled Julian Fellowes last Christmas, when they aired the episode where Mary’s husband was killed off. I was actually storming around the house muttering ‘What sort of an idea is THAT for Christmas cheer?’ (little did I know at the time it wasn’t his fault and the poor man was only trying to do his best with what he had). Don’t think I would have enjoyed living in the same period as Downton though. It was pretty much the start of the country-house downfall and I think I would have found that heartbreaking, not to mention the whole drama of the wars and everything. As to the Elizabethan period, I think that was pretty fraught too. No, given a choice, I don’t think I would have gone back further than the 1750s :). Thanks for your lovely questions, I really enjoyed them!
I know… I never fully recovered after the death of Lady Sybil and of Matthew… but I would like to live in that era… just imagine the opportunities and the inventions… you can see it in the first season how they introduced electricity and the servants were scared… and further on the automobile (and Edith learning how to drive it…)… and the phone 😀 I must admit that would have been exciting! 😀
Many apologies Meredith and everyone, there still seem to be some gremlins at this end, stopping me from inserting my replies in the proper place. I DID click on the ‘reply’ link – honest!!!! – but the reply always gets inserted at the end. I think my antiquated version of Internet Explorer might be at fault, if that’s possible (?) So very sorry about that, Meredith!!!!!
No worries, Joana! I’m just glad you are finally able to comment – so sorry my blog gives you trouble! I wish there was something I could do to help!
Hi, Shannon! Hope you get to visit one day 🙂
Ditto, Valerie R.! Good luck with the giveaway and many thanks for popping by and commenting!
Great report on your weekend in Bath, Joana!
Don’t enter me in the giveaway, Meredith, as I bought and read Joana’s lovely story a while ago. In fact, it is currently being passed around the family!
It looks like you had a lovely time, ladies!! Thank you for sharing!
Looks like it was amazing fun!!! I’m very jealous! I ditto your request for those going to the JASNA AGM to post lots of pictures! I’m a Minneapolis area native and live only an hour away, but won’t be going either 🙁
Thanks for your kind words, Cassandra, and for the fantastic time in Bath! I owe you one 🙂
Hi Colleen! Sorry to hear you’ll be missing the JASNA fun! Maybe next time! Thanks for popping by and for commenting and good luck with the giveaway.
I’m green with envy, just by viewing the pictures. A visit to Bath is a must if I do go on a holiday in UK and I hope my holiday plans will coincide with the Jane Austen Festival. Thanks for sharing about your wonderful experience and posting some lovely pictures.
Thank you for your entertaining report on Bath. It is much appreciated by those of us who must experience these things vicariously. 🙂
Hi, Sylvia! I just heard, a few days ago, that the 2014 Bath Festival is going to be from 12 to 20 Sept, so who knows, maybe… Hope you come over sometime! All the best!
Thanks, Lynn! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Good luck with the giveaway!
Thank you for sharing your days in Bath! I hope I can go someday. Everything looks so beautiful and fun. I also thank you for the giveaway, I love Darcy and Elizabeth and I always enjoy reading about them 🙂
Thanks for reading and commenting, Maria. I hope you do go to Bath someday! Best of luck with the giveaway!
Yes, I must have my share in the conversation. The adventures at Bath sounded lovely. Thank you for the giveaway.