Category Archives: Humor
Tease him
“Teaze him — laugh at him. — Intimate as you are, you must know how it is to be done.” Elizabeth to Miss Bingley, re: Darcy (How dare she!) Pride and Prejudice, Vol. 1, Ch. 11
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Filed under Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Flirting, Humor, Miss Bingley, Pride and Prejudice
A Vile World
Lovely lunch with JASNA – DC this weekend — thanks to all who came. It was an honor to be asked to speak. Nothing Vile about it! “We have used Anna as ill as we could, by not letting him … Continue reading
Filed under Austen family, Humor, Letters, Morality, nephew James Edward, niece Anna Austen, niece Caroline, Sarcasm
Recipe for a marriage
“‘My good qualities are under your protection, and you are to exaggerate them as much as possible; and, in return, it belongs to me to find occasions for teasing and quarrelling with you as often as may be.’” Lizzy to … Continue reading
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Filed under Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Humor, Marriage, Pride and Prejudice
I do not want people to be agreeable…
Okay, this has to be one of my all-time favorites: “I do not want People to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.” letter to Cassandra December 24, 1798 [15]
Filed under Austen's friends, Humor, Letters
Serious romance
“I could no more write a Romance than an Epic Poem.–I could not sit seriously down to write a serious Romance under any other motive than to save my Life, & if it were indispensable for me to keep it … Continue reading
For whom I donot care sixpence…
“Tell Mary that I make over Mr Heartley & all his Estate to her for her sole use and Benefit in future, & not only him, but all my other Admirers into the bargain wherever she can find them, even … Continue reading
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Filed under Humor, Jane Austen's love interests, Letters, Tom Lefroy
A visit
“After I had written the above, we received a visit from Mr Tom Lefroy and his cousin George. The latter is really very well-behaved now; and as for the other, he has but one fault, which time will, I trust, … Continue reading
Filed under Humor, Jane Austen's love interests, Letters, Other books and writers, Tom Lefroy
Long letters
“I assure you I am as tired of writing long letters as you can be. What a pity that one should still be so fond of receiving them!” letter to Cassandra June 30, 1808 [55] This is just how I … Continue reading
For what do we live?
Today’s quote is not new, but rather a correction — thanks to Laura, who pointed out the error. I always thought this was “make sport FOR our neighbors,” but when I went to post it the first time, I doublechecked … Continue reading
Filed under Elizabeth Bennet, Humor, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Collins, Neighbors, Pride and Prejudice
A vortex of dissipation
More advice from Jane to her writing niece: “Devereux Forester’s being ruined by his Vanity is extremely good; but I wish you would not let him plunge into a ‘vortex of Dissipation’. I do not object to the Thing, but … Continue reading
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Filed under Austen family, Humor, Letters, niece Anna Austen, Writing
