The JASNA Post
Announcements, News, and Observations
Jane Austen: Material Girl — Paula Byrne and Hilary Davidson
June 4, 2026
It's Austen Chat's third anniversary! To mark the milestone, we're delighted to share Jane Austen: Material Girl—a conversation between authors Paula Byrne and Hilary Davidson recorded at JASNA’s 2025 Annual General Meeting.…
Jane Austen & Crime: A Visit with Susannah Fullerton
May 7, 2026
"Here I am once more in this scene of dissipation & vice, and I begin already to find my morals corrupted.
Jane Austen & Hypochondriacs: A Visit with Sarah Marsh
April 2, 2026
Jane Austen's novels feature a number of characters we might describe as "hypochondriacs" today: Mr. Woodhouse, Mary Musgrove, and Mrs. Churchill, to name a few.
Jane Austen & Needlework: A Visit with Jennie Batchelor
March 5, 2026
"Elizabeth took up some needlework, and was sufficiently amused in attending to what passed between Darcy and his companion.
2026 Essay Contest Open
February 27, 2026
JASNA's 2026 Essay Contest for high school, college, and grad school students worldwide is officially open, and this year Austen's men are in the spotlight! Topic: Men and Boys in Jane…
Jane Austen & Her Letters: A Visit with Ingrid Tieken-Boon van Ostade
February 5, 2026
"My dearest Cassandra, The letter which I have this moment received from you has diverted me beyond moderation.
Miss Lambe and Beyond: A Visit with Vanessa Riley
January 8, 2026
Jane Austen lived during a remarkably dynamic period of British history and was well aware of the forces shaping her world—colonial expansion, booming global trade, revolutions in Europe and the…
Jane Austen 250th Birthday Bake-Off Gallery Is Open!
December 10, 2025
We're delighted to share the photos submitted by participants in our Jane Austen 250th Birthday Bake-Off! Entries received through December 16 will be added each day, so come back again…
Jane Austen & Jane Bennet: A Visit with Susannah Harker
December 4, 2025
Jane Bennet, the eldest of the five Bennet sisters, is an undisputed beauty, but Austen tells us Jane also “unite[s] with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper, and…
The Austen Table: A Culinary Celebration
December 3, 2025
Celebrate Jane Austen on her birthday, December 16—or any day—with a festive meal inspired by Austen family recipes and Regency-era favorites.