Eastern Pennsylvania Region
Jane Austen Day
April 28, 2012
JASNA-Eastern Pennsylvania members hope their JASNA brothers and sisters will be among the “large party of friends” who attend the Region’s first Jane Austen Day on April 28, 2012 from 9 AM to 4:30 PM at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel. The Sheraton is located in Old City Philadelphia and was the site of the 2009 JASNA AGM. Spend the day among the “best company” learning about and celebrating Jane Austen’s most famous heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, whom Jane Austen herself called “as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print.” We will celebrate the delights of Elizabeth Bennet with three outstanding speakers, a delicious seasonal luncheon, and an emporium stocked with Jane Austen items for purchase.
Speakers for the event will be:
- Professor Joan Ray, past-President of JASNA and author of Jane Austen for Dummies, will speak about Elizabeth Bennet in her talk entitled: “Elizabeth Bennet as Miss Pert: How Delightful is She–Really?” Dr. Ray will explore Lizzy Bennet’s charming and sometimes surprising behavior.
- Carrie Rickey, former film critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer, will present and discuss some of the various incarnations of Elizabeth Bennet on the small and large screens.
- Professor Mary Bly, Shakespearean scholar and popular romance novelist whose pen name is Eloisa James, will speak about Elizabeth Bennet’s literary ancestors and her modern day descendants in her presentation: “Channeling Jane: Creating the Lizzy of Today (and Tomorrow).”
Registration is open to all JASNA members and the general public. Registration begins February 8, 2012. The registration fee is $95, which includes a full program of events, luncheon, and a tote bag. Jane Austen Day organizers anticipate that the event will sell out, so they urge you to register promptly. Please note that online and credit card processing are not available.
A regional Emporium will be available so that attendees may fill tote bags with delightful purchases. Barnes & Noble will offer Jane Austen books, CDs, and DVDs, “Tea to Tisanes” will have available its very best merchandise for tea-lovers, and the Region will present its array of coasters, post-its, pins, stationery, jewelry by Jean Judy, and more. Diane Wilkes, author of The Tarot of Jane Austen, will offer “short” reads at specific times during the event.
Additional Information about the menu, schedule, and other Jane Austen Day events can be found by visiting the JASNA Eastern Pennsylvania website. To enjoy “follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies” watch the Region’s YouTube Channel, where you can view all the videos created to promote Jane Austen Day 2012. Become a fan of the region’s Facebook fan page!
Please note that any changes to or announcements regarding Jane Austen Day 2012 will be posted on the the Region’s website Jane Austen Day page. Call 215.345.1158 if you have additional questions about Jane Austen Day 2012.
—Marietta Rizzone