Yours Faithfully, Amanda

November 10, 2016 Dear Jane, Now, then, shall we continue? (I promise, this is the last installment...though, perhaps, it will be a welcome distraction from our current political unrest here in America). To give you a reminder of where I left off in my last letter, I had just attended Miss Kim Wilson's lecture on how to give a perfectly proper Regency party and was resigned to trying to find the perfect outfit for that evening's festivities. However, being a lady who does not enjoy the art of shopping, I was not looking forward to such a venture. And now without further ado, part three... Afterwards, the time came to bid adieu to my friends in order to begin my search for a new dress. Where was one to find a Regency-appropriate garment in the heart of Washington D.C. in the Year Of Our Lord, two-thousand and sixteen? Luckily, I found an acceptable "maxi" dress rather quickly at a store called, Marshall’s. This could not complete my search, however, for it had t...

November 4, 2016 Dear Jane, Now, then, shall we begin with Part two of my JASNA AGM adventures? I heartily believe that there is no better time than the present (except whilst dawdling, of course) so here goes nothing, my friend. Friday 21 2016: Friday began bright and early with a hug goodbye from my dear sister, Rachael and a hot cup of coffee from the local coffee shop. Now, although I had already been at the AGM for three days, the official opening was actually on Friday afternoon so naturally, there was great excitement throughout the hotel in anticipation. Happily, before the above-mentioned opening ceremeony, if you will, I attended a “show and tell” of sorts by the Jane Austen House Museum in which the curator showed curious Janeites various objects from the (your!) house that relate to your novel, Emma . Afterwards (and  this is the truly exciting part, Jane), we all queued up to await a grand, pink barouche that would shuttle JASNA attendees to the Folger...

October 30, 2016 Dear Jane, I initially began this letter to you whilst in a large ‘barouche,’ which we in the twenty-first century like to call the “Megabus.” (You may remember that I wrote of such transportation in previous letters.) I now finish my note within the comfort of my own home for I feel it my duty to write to you as promptly as may be for I have a most wonderful event to tell you of. To be sure, when you read about where I have been and what I have been doing, I dare say you will be all astonishment, Jane! Now, as I do not wish to keep you in suspense any longer, I shall just come right out with it. From Wednesday 19 October to Sunday 23 October, I was in Washington D.C. for my first ever Jane Austen Society of North America Annual General Meeting (JASNA AGM) and it was nothing short of sensational. The theme of this year’s meeting was, of course, Emma , as it coincides with the bicentennial of its original publication. In truth, it is difficult to describe t...