I don’t know about you, dear readers, but Jane Austen has been such a big part of my life these last eleven years that she feels more to me than a famous author or historical figure…she is a friend. She is like the cool-older-sister-type of friend. I’m awed by her greatness, guided by her wisdom, and inspired by her words.
So… today is my dear friend, Jane’s birthday! And because she is so important to me I want to something special to remember her on this day. Wouldn’t it be awesome we could do something WITH Jane Austen on her special day? Let’s indulge in a little dreaming today, shall we?
What would you do if your close friend, Jane Austen, was planning to spend her birthday with you?
I’d love to know! Please feel free to share your birthday plans for Jane Austen in the comment section below and you could win a lovely prize!
JANE AUSTEN BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY!!
Thank you to all the readers of this blog for making this such a fun and fulfilling outlet for me to share my Jane Austen love! I feel very fortunate to work with such talented and kind authors and share my thoughts with such supportive and friendly readers! Thank you for reading! <3
To celebrate Jane Austen’s special day I’m giving away ONE T-shirt or scarf (winner’s choice) from Brookish to ONE lucky winner! (You will find some options below!)
~ PART TWO ~
To celebrate her debut novel, Fitzwilliam Darcy, such I was making Kirkus Reviews‘ list of Best Indie Books of 2013, Carol Cromlin is offering 2 ebooks of Fitzwilliam Darcy, such I was for me to giveaway to 2 lucky winners! (+ some free swag, check out image above for details!) Congrats, Carol! So happy for you!
To enter these giveaways just leave a comment below sharing what you would plan to do with Jane Austen to celebrate her birthday!
- This giveaway is open to residents worldwide.
- The giveaway ends December 22nd.
I’d take Jane to the yarn store, let her pick out a few skeins of fabulous hand-dyed wool, and then spend the rest of the afternoon drinking tea and knitting.
Wait, I need to revise my answer. After having to rip out stitches and re-start my latest knitting project 4 times, I’m ready to take Jane out for margaritas and talk ugly about the person who got me hooked on knitting. Curse you, Helen!
Oh I loved your original idea, Bess. But I an understand the frustration of having to rip out and restart, I like to crochet! LOL!
Happy Birthday Jane! We should take a trip to a place you always wanted to visit, but never had the opportunity…
Oh lovely idea! Seeing new places is always fun!
I would take her out for tea and searching for her the next characters for her novels. Happy birthday!
Great idea, I’m sure she’d find some inspiration in our world!
My daughter’s birthday is today, the same as Jane’s! So we will celebrate with some cake & ice cream and maybe I’ll get to watch some of my favorite Jane Austen adaptations after little miss goes to bed.
Lucky for your daughter, Shelly! Hope you enjoyed the celebrations!
Great!! another opportunity to win a copy. Congratulations Carol for the prize.
I can not wait to read this book.
The T-shirt and scarf are precious.
Happy 238th birthday, Jane Austen!!!!
I hope you get to read a copy of Carol’s book soon! It’s a wonderful read! So exciting that it received such recognition!
Oh my! Thank you Meredith for this amazing giveaway!! It’s Jane’s birthday and we have the chance to get a gift, how strange and fun at the same time 🙂 I’d love to spend some time in the afternoon talking about her stories and her favourite authors with a hot cup of tea, and then I’d bring her to a splendid ball organized in her honour!
LOL! Yes, it is strange how that happens sometimes! 😀 Oh I bet Jane would love a ball! Great idea!
We would sit by the fire, drinking tea and talking about all the people who inspired her characters…especially Mr Darcy!!!
Love it! Yes, very curious to hear Jane talk about Mr. Darcy!
I would take her on a car ride in a convertible along the English country roads around Bath and other places that she knows
meikleblog at gmail dot com
Sounds lovely, convertibles are wonderful and I’m sure Jane would enjoy her full view of the scenery!
I amm looking forward to sitting down tonight and reading some Jane in honor of her birthday! ( Maybe I can finally finish Fitzwilliam Darcy Such as I was… it is tons of fun.)
I would love to be entered in the givaway for a scarf but not the book since I already have it. Happy BIrthday celebrtains to all Janeites.
Glad to hear you are enjoying, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Such I was! 🙂
Happy birthday dearest Jane!
I would invite Jane over for a high tea prepared in her honor. After presenting her with a pair of vintage pearl earrings, we would sit in front of the fire, teacups in close proximity, and have a lovely chat…about everything!
Sounds absolutely perfect! Love the part about sitting in front of the fire with teacups!
I would take her to see a show in the theatre.
Great idea! I’m sure she would love it!
Probably treat the two of us to a High Tea. For my own Birthday my friend took me to a High Tea & I had the most amazing day, sipping tea, eating delights… But mostly spending quality time together! After that I would love to go dancing, because it is not just a step towards falling in love. It’s also great fun!! The scarf is gorgeous btw 🙂
I love going to High Tea, my mom and I always do that for Mother’s Day – such a special treat! I think Jane would love to go dancing!
Since my birthday was on Saturday we would treat each other to a tearoom experience that would be memorable. Love the setting, the treats and the experience. Love this feature.
That would be lovely! A joint birthday celebration!
High Tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, B.C. has always been on my list so what better place to enjoy an afternoon with Jane Austen. Perfect and unforgettable. Love the scarf.
What a special treat! That sounds very memorable!
We would enjoy a visit at home discussing her philosophies while drinking tea and goodies. Nothing could top that time spent together.
Sounds ideal! What great discussions you’d have!
Am I alone in thinking that Jane has a snarky side?
After reading her novels and her especially her letters, I have to think that she might like a night out with the girls. We’ll take her to a bar to help her set aside all those regency-era inhibitions. Then we’ll people watch with a bottle or two of wine and let Jane loose. Can’t you just imagine her laughing at the scantily clad drunk girls looking for ‘love’ and turning her scathing wit on dim witted wing men?
No? Just me? Okay, tea would be fun, too. I’d ask Jane what she’d like to do and as long as I got to spend the day with her I’d be perfectly content.
I’m totally with you here, Heather. Having a drink & people watching with Jane would be so much fun. I’d do whatever she wanted to do, since it’s her special day.
“Set aside all those Regency-era inhibitions” LOL! Love it, ladies! And I could see it happening!
We would have a movie marathon of all her books. I want to know which Darcy she prefers.
Oh yes! Great idea – wonder which one is the most true the man she had in her head!
Well I know from reading her letters that she loved people watching and had quite a biting wit so I’d take her for some cocktails with the girls!
I already have the book hard copy so please don’t enter me for the giveaway 🙂
I’m sure she would give you girls a lot of laughs! How fun!
Hmm…I think I’d have a tea party and small dance party later on in the evening.
Sounds lovely! What a fun night!
Attend an assembly ball of course then spend the evening discussing the merits of the gentlemen in attendance.
Ooh! Love it! Yes, discussing gentlemen with Jane would be quite fun!
I’d ask her where would she like to go (and hope it’s a place that’s still standing!!!) and, once she’s had a great time and is in a good mood, I’d get some sweet ladylike wine out (or something along those lines) and ask her to tell me what happened in the huge chunk that was edited out of ‘First Impressions’ when it became P&P. The idea that there was more, and we’ll never know what it was is more frustrating that I can say >:O
Damn. I didn’t know that. Now it’s going to bug me. Forever. Frustrating indeed!!
“sweet ladylike wine” – love it! And great question! So many mysteries about our dear Jane!
Dearest Jane, I wish you a very Happy Birthday! Let us have an afternoon of reading together, talking, and enjoying our friendship over tea and biscuits. We must include Meredith and Cassandra, of course. You are such an inspiration. Your wit, insight, and spirit are a blessing for the world.
Catherine
Oh thank you, Catherine! So happy to be invited to such a wonderful gathering! 🙂
People watch at the mall and then head to a dessert restaurant and finish with a picturesque walk.
Fun! I’m sure Jane would be fascinated with all the boutiques and stores in the mall as well as all the people!
We would watch the film adaptions of her books. I would love to get her reaction to seeing her work come to life.
Yes, wonder what she would think of the “wet shirt” scene! 🙂
LOL!!!
If I had the power & the connection, I would introduce Jane to Kanye West & just let them have a deep, deep, DEEP conversation about life!!!
wouldn’t that be quite a meeting?!?!??!
That would be incredible to witness! LOL!
I’d love to have tea and just chat!
🙂 I think Jane would like that!
Hi Meredith,
My first thought was to give her a copy of each novel her writing has inspired, but 1. I couldn’t afford it and 2. I’d probably have to line them up round the entire Pemberley park. Instead, tea would be lovely!
Thanks for allowing my celebration a share in Jane’s special day.
Great idea, Carol, but also very expensive and extensive! LOL! Maybe there is one or two books, written by an author recently receiving some special recognition, that you might settle on instead 😉
I would definitely have tea with her and then take a turn around the gardens and chat about all kinds of delightful notions. *sigh*
Thanks!
Love delightful notions! Sounds like it would be a great time!
Go Jane, 238 years! I would sit with Jane and read from Pride and Prejudice together!
Wonderful! Would love to hear her read it!
Count me in, Meredith. Chances for cool Jane wear or an intriguing new novel are always great.
🙂 I love sporting Jane apparel! Can’t get enough!
I would have tea with her out in the garden and spend hours peppering her with questions i.e. Darcy – fact or fiction? 😉 I’m sure he must have been based on someone she knew! Then after I had exhausted her with questions – I’d take her book shopping! She has exceptional taste!
Lovely ideas! Great idea with the Mr. Darcy question and book shopping sounds fabulous!
A nice little tea party in garden and then to a ball in evening 🙂
She would love that!
I would talk to jane about the inspiration behibd her writing whilst enjoying a cup of tea and birthday cake
Yes, we mustn’t forget the cake! 😉
Oh, I’d love just to sit down with Jane and pick her brain, experience her wit & humor first hand, maybe even discover more about her love life…if there was one. 😉
Thanks so much for the wonderful giveaway, Meredith! 🙂
Excellent ideas, Jakki! I’m dying to know about her love life! 😉
I’d love to plan a picnic with her and talk all the time about books, men and what we thinking of the word around us. It coul be funny to know some wise advice from her about the present time.
It would be interesting to see what she thinks of our world compared to hers, wouldn’t it? To find out what she thinks of our freedoms, social norms, and less formal protocols. 🙂
I am going to watch BBC Pride and Prejudice and read one of my fave Austen variations!
Sounds lovely!
High tea yummy treats quiet talk heaven
Perfection!
Jane and I will scour the society pages of the newspaper and see who all are going to the christmas debutante balls. Then we would analyze whether they actually are going because they want to or if they have intruding mothers forcing them to keep up with some dumb tradition.
LOL! What fun! 🙂
Oh man, my girl Jane and I? We have fun on birthdays. Of course, it’s a little too cold and dreary for long walks prowling around the country, so we’re going to cosy up in a warm library, in front of the fire, with big mugs of cocoa and tasty eats while we talk and laugh and read. Then maybe, if we’re really lucky, we can score an invite to the ball at a neighboring house (I’ll drop hints it’s a birthday, that should help), and we can meet single young men of good fortune 😉
Love it! I do hope that there were many single young men of good fortune in attendance!
I would love to talk to her. And get her to tell me how would she see Darcy and Lizzy in modern days. I read a lot modern adaptations, and I would love to hear her opinions. And of course, thank her for all the friends I made worldwide through her.
That is just beatiful, Romi So many relationships in my life were created through her, I’m eternally grateful each and every one of them!
It is hard to even know where to start with all the things I would love to know about Jane and her life. I would have to ask if there was anyone closely resembling Mr. Darcy in her mind when she wrote him. Then after some visiting about her life we could go for a nice walk through the woods admiring the prospects, return for some tea and biscuits while we watch some of the movies inspired by her books. I would love to know what she thought of them!
Thanks Meredith for the fabulous giveaway in celebration of her birthday!
Thank you for joining our celebration, Janet! I think your plans sound lovely, what a memorable day!
I would like to sit down and have a fantastic meal with her. While enjoying the meal, I would listen as she shares her observations of the people near our table, our modern world, how she sees herself as a pop culture icon and laugh at her jokes and wonderful stories that she cooks up in her head. Then we will go shopping for clothes just like what any other girls will do when they hang out with friends.
Sounds sublime, Sylvia! Would love to see what kind of clothes Jane would pick!
I would like to go to a place she never visited or always wanted to visit. I think I would love to her her describe it.
Sounds like a fun experience!
I would take her for a ferry ride to the San Juan Islands, so we could walk in relative wilderness, have a nice dinner, and enjoy the view. A low-key birthday, but a pleasant one, I’d hope. 🙂
(Honestly, I think I’d just enjoy listening to Jane be witty, wise, and sharp)
I love low-key! I think Jane would love the ferry and seeing a new place!
I would take her on a beautiful hike in the woods(what are men to rocks and mountains!) and then cozy by the fire for tea and scones and conversation.
Very good use of that quote, Joy! Sounds like a very pleasant day!
We would spend the day watching JA movie adaptations and talking about life, love and her books 🙂
I wonder which movie adaptation Jane Austen would like the most?
I would take her to a tea shop to enjoy a delicious breakfast in the british style with a cup of tea and a sweet piece of cake and then, I would take her to some bookshops so that she could see the beautiful and different editions of her novels. Later, I would take her to the cinema because I think that if Jane had lived in our time, she would have loved watching movies in big screen (imagine watching her own novels brought to cinema!).
Thanks Meredith for preparing this homage to Jane Austen in her 238th birthday and thanks, of course, for these charming giveaways. By the way, put me for the shirt or scarf giveaway and for some free swag but don´t put me for the ebooks (I don´t have ebook, you know, I prefer traditional paperback LOL)
😉
You came up with some excellent plans, Teresa! I think Jane would love her special day!
Thanks for entering the giveaway!
LOL! I loved reading everyone’s comments! I would probably do whatever Jane would want to do and listen to anything she had to say. I’m sure she would have some interesting observations about our modern day world!
Fun post! Happy Birthday, Jane! Thanks for the giveaway, Meredith! It’s very generous of you! I already have a copy of Fitzwilliam Darcy such I was, which I really enjoyed, btw!
Thanks for stopping by and celebrating with us, Candy!
A tea party! Food, friends and lots of talking! Happy Birthday Miss Jane!
🙂 Love it!
I’d set Jane up with a nice male friend of mine. 238 years is a long time to be single.
LOL! How nice for Jane!
I would invite her to come visit me in America, since I believe she would enjoy the adventure. I would make a pot of my best tea and show her my Austenesque library and ask her what she thinks of what people have done to her characters (settling a much debated subject between my mom and I). Then we might go on a long walk, and just talk about things and people and her opinions on the modern world.
Happy Birthday, Jane! 🙂
Tea and Books – perfect! Debates – could be fun!
Happy birthday Jane!
I would invite Jane to Finland and tell her that her books are loved worldwide. We would watch the film adaptions of her books. Afterwards we would have tea in the garden and talk about her life and her books. And I would ask her some advice for my writing. In the evening we would celebrate her birthday in a party.
What a great day, Paula! I’m sure Jane would love a visit to Finland!
If I could meet Jane…I would be speechless..but would love to share a cup of tea and a nice cozy chat….
she had such wit and humor..I am sure we would be laughing and have a wonderful visit.
I’m sure I would be speechless too! It probably take me some time to overcome my shyness and shock!
I would definitely have a spot of tea with Jane Austen and talk about books!
I’m sure there will be plenty to talk about it!
I think for Jane’s birthday we should do something wild! We should let our hair down and ride horses astride like the men do. Then after we do that and hopefully not get caught, we can have tea and day dream out load about the men we should have accepted.
“Ride horses astride!” – love it! Sounds like a blast!
I think she might like something a little different. Maybe a girls weekend in Vegas…. tickets to see The Thunder from Down Under, a few drinks, dinner at the Paris hotel. If I’m wrong and she’d prefer to do something a bit more mellow, maybe take her to a movie and out for a nice dinner.
That sounds like a thrilling weekend, Colleen! Vegas would be fun with Jane!
Some combination of high tea, people watching and a discussion on books.
🙂 Perfect!
What a great question and giveaway! I’d love to celebrate by watching the movie adaptations with her, then asking how the actors compared to the heroes in her mind. But I have a feeling that she’d much prefer a night out on the town. 😉
Thanks, Anna! It would be interesting to learn if the actors and directors matched the heroes Jane Austen had in her head!
To celebrate her birthday I’d love to show her the Colin Firth adaptation of P&P while drinking some tea!
I wonder what Jane would think of Colin… 😉
If money was no object, I would take her on a trip to Ireland and/or N. Ireland depending on where she would like to visit. We would stay at the best Landmark Trust buildings and do long walks through the countryside. However, I think it would be so nice to sit in my living by the fire, having a glass of wine and catching up on the past 200 years!!!!
Oh that sounds fabulous, Carole! Either option!
watch pride and prejudice
🙂 Can’t go wrong there!
I would like to visit all the London sites with her, like the Tower and the other Historic Royal Palaces, as well as Westminster Abbey so she could see her plaque in Poets’ Corner! thanks for the giveaway!
What a great idea, Amy! London would be a wonderful place to visit with Jane! 🙂
To celebrate Jane’s birthday, I would love to go out for a night on the town and people watch with her. What would she have to say about some of the people in our area?!? I’m sure there would be some interesting comments! Just look at what Elizabeth Bennet has to say! 🙂
Yes, to quote Caroline – “What would I give to hear your strictures on them!” LOL! 😉
Knowing me I would need a bit of time to get the shynees away and realize that I´m actually meeting with JANE AUSTEN lol. But I´d love to chat, take a walk, show me the surrounding I live in and have tea afterwards together.
I’m with you on the shyness bit, Katrin! It would be quite an overwhelming experience, wouldn’t it?
OHHHH This is fun! I would love to sit and chat with Jane Austen about the way things have changed since her time. And I always thought it would be interesting (not to mention exciting!) to watch a movie version of one of her books with her, and see how she reacts to it. But what to get her as a present for her Birthday….that’s a tough one!