By Nancy Martin-Young JASNA-NC served up a presentation on the art of dining during the Regency period for the March 1st online meeting. The discussion was expertly led by historian Debbie Struble from The Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC, ably assisted by her fellow docent, Alice Ross. Regional Coordinator Linda Darden ran the meeting. Austen novels are flush with scenes…
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Virtual Book Club: The Castle of Otranto
By Bill Gaither JASNA-NC members met on February 15, 2026, for a fun and insightful discussion of Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto (1764), the first Gothic novel in English and the forerunner of a robust literary tradition that Jane Austen famously spoofed in Northanger Abbey (1817). Regional coordinator Sara Tavela presided and also ably led the literary discussion at this Virtual Book Club…
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Holiday Celebration and Jane’s 250th Birthday
By Elizabeth Jewell On Sunday, December 7, 2025, JASNA-NC members gathered in person and virtually to celebrate the holiday season and Jane’s 250th birthday, which is on December 16, 2025. The in-person get-together was at Gisele Rankin’s lovely home in Cary, and members brought an array of tasty treats. Karin Wiberg led the in-person meeting, while Regional Coordinator Sara Tavela…
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A Musical Celebration for Jane Austen’s Birthday
By Pamela Hale Our member Pamela hosted a musical party in honor of Jane Austen’s birthday on December 13, 2025. Hear about the party and find the music played below. The party on December 13th was so much fun. To begin, I read a short excerpt from the opening of Claire Tomalin’s book, Jane Austen: A Life. The 21 attendees,…
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Virtual Book Club: Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev
By Bill Gaither Members met on November 16, 2025, for a deep and delightful discussion of Sonali Dev’s contemporary romance novel Recipe for Persuasion. Romance novel author and member Nancy Martin-Young led the discussion. Regional coordinator Sara Tavela presided. This was a Virtual Book Club meeting. With keen insights and richly evocative slides, Nancy led members through a discussion of…
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