Guest post by Philip Grant
Karin Fernald as Jane Austen
Jane Austen is one of our great British women writers, who more than 200 years ago had a number of novels published (anonymously, at first). Many of you will recognised the opening words of “Pride and Prejudice”, either from reading the book or seeing it portrayed on TV or film:
The opening line from an early edition of “Pride and Prejudice”.
But even great authors (as well as much lesser ones who write blog articles!) have to develop their writing skills over time. Jane’s father, the Reverend George Austen, recognised his young daughter’s joy in writing. When she was a teenager, he gave her a notebook in which to write down her stories and short plays. He inscribed at the top of the first page:
“Effusions
of Fancy by a very young Lady,
consisting of tales in a style completely new”.
Jane performed many of her stories to entertain her family. Now local residents have the chance to enjoy some of them too, in an event put on by Brent Culture Service at Willesden Green Library. “We fainted alternately on the sofa – Jane Austen in the Making”, performed by actor and writer Karin Fernald, is on Tuesday 26 April, from 6.30 to 7.30pm. Tickets are £3, and can be booked HERE
