A Collaboration between Betty Parker Ellis, Cathy Kawalek, & Sara Tavela
Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, England, has been holding virtual book clubs this year, along with other noteworthy virtual events for the international community who love Jane Austen and her writing. We hope that this post will encourage you to participate in future virtual events for Jane Austen’s House if you are able: they’re a lot of fun!
In the world of Jane Austen, there are so many opportunities to explore, learn more, and celebrate our beloved author and her writing. Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton is dedicated to extending those experiences to all by recognizing that the Austen community is a global community. Each month this year, there has been at least one (often more) virtual opportunities for Austen lovers to engage in at Jane Austen’s House, and the three of us JASNA-NC members have been attending the Virtual Book Club when we could, collectively having attended all that have been offered thus far.
The book club has been reading each of Austen’s works in order, starting with the juvenilia in February, Lady Susan in March, Sense and Sensibility in April, Pride and Prejudice in May, Mansfield Park in June, Emma in July, and, most recently, Persuasion in August. You can learn more about what else is to come on the Events page of their website, where a mixture of in-person and virtual events are listed. The book clubs are held at 7:00 p.m. London time, which for those of us on the East Coast tends to be 2 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon (it depends on when the clocks change in the UK and here). Tickets to participate are roughly $8 USD, and all proceeds support the upkeep and offerings of the museum.
Betty has been taking advantage of all the virtual offerings from Jane Austen’s House that she can since the start of the pandemic. She raves about the joy having a full calendar of ‘Jane World’ events brought her in the earliest days of the pandemic. Jane Austen’s House was one of her main sources of creative events, noting the Jane Austen playlist event that featured a skilled musician playing songs from the Austen family songbook and Jane Austen’s birthday celebrations that take place each year; 2022’s celebration included John Mullan, readings from Austen’s novels, a musical moment, and more. Each hour of virtual events at Jane Austen’s House was packed with fun and learning, and the virtual book clubs this year are no different. Betty notes the energy, creativity, and generosity of officers from the House, saying they “have fun with you.”
The ongoing virtual events are a testament to how many people worldwide the house reached during their shutdown from COVID and the greater recognition that they wanted to keep reaching everyone they could, whether people could physically come to the house or not. The accessibility of the virtual events at Jane Austen’s House is also worth noting: they invite people to show up how best works for them with low pressure (Your camera does not have to be turned on, you can participate fully via the chat, or you can participate with camera and mic on during discussion time.). You can participate as much or as little as you like, and either way you still can get a lot out of the discussion, regardless of how much or little Austen knowledge you have.
For all you Jane Austen repeat readers, the monthly virtual conversational book club is a delight, and we have had a fabulous time each month. Put the kettle on and join readers and Janeites from all over the world to discuss and contemplate various aspects of Austen’s writing and interpretations in film and theatre. Broadcast and moderated by the Jane Austen House curators, this is a very accessible book meeting via Zoom, focusing on her writing and historical context (not scholarship interpretation). To jump start the conversation, a short, fun quiz on book characters or lines opens the meeting with answers entered in the chat, and the hosts always provide a unique introduction to the novel with context tied to Austen’s life and the collections at the museum. Discussion prompts and are always astute and excellent conversation starters, and you are welcome to open your microphone and comment as much or little as you want, since the group is rarely over 30-40 people. It’s a lovely, relaxing way to spend an afternoon and connect with the cottage at Chawton.
Next up is Northanger Abbey in September and Sanditon in October, so visit the Jane Austen House website and join us!
