Yours Faithfully, Amanda

16 December 2019 Connecticut Dear Jane, Happy, happy, happy birthday! I daresay that it's shocking to reveal a woman's age w hen she has not given her direct consent to do so, but it's not every day that a beloved authoress turns 244-years-old! Pray, forgive my impertinence, but it speaks to your legacy that we are still celebrating you all these years later. You are more globally revered than ever, and I, for one, am so very grateful for your novels, stories, letters and everlasting wit.  To think that you came into the world on December 16, 1775 in such a different era is remarkable. And yet, when it comes to human nature, not much has changed in the past two-hundred and forty-four years. Your characters and stories are forever relatable and familiar, even in 21st century America...and that, my dear friend, is why you are a genius. Your brilliant writing skills, sharp wit and astute observations of the people around you culminated to produce some of the finest no...

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...

August 13, 2016 Dear Jane, Firstly, I must confess that I began this letter on the fifth of August, however, I am ashamed to say that it is now the thirteenth of August and it is still yet to be sent (posted). Time so easily gets away from one during the summer months! Now, I dare say I have had a great many outings of late and I heartily wish to tell you of them all, Jane. Not only have I once again travelled to our Nation's Capital, Washington DC, but I experienced a most magical resurgence of a beloved boy wizard named Harry Potter, journeyed around New York City with my dear Mama and had a "visit to Lyme" with some lovely, kind and amazingly dedicated Janeites. Washington D.C. The lovely set up at Lady Camellia. Now, as I mentioned above, I had the great pleasure of journeying to Washington DC to visit one of my beloved sisters, Rachael, as well as my dear friend, Carolyn. Luckily, Carolyn is not a Caroline or I should be forced to think of Caroline Bingl...

June 1, 2016 Dear Jane, My spritzer against the scenic backdrop of my barred  window in Queens.   Well, June has officially arrived and it seems that it has never been this hot in the entire history of the world. That was most certainly an exaggeration, Jane, but it really has been exceedingly warm. For the life of me I cannot understand why people prefer the heat to the delightful "sweater weather" of the Fall. I must confess that if we were to skip right over summer and find ourselves in autumn once more, I should not be saddened in the least. That being said, one should note that it is lovely to enjoy a summertime spritzer (best pronounced 'SPRIT-ZA') in the evening. To make a spritzer, just pour a generous amount of the wine of your choice and add a dash of seltzer water. It really is quite delicious, Jane. Now then, when last I wrote I mentioned that I would soon be attending my first regional meeting with the New York Chapter of the Jane Austen Socie...