Jane or Joanne?...

It seems unoriginal to begin another awed tribute to the Hary Potter phenomenon, whose last installment has taken £104 million in its opening weekend in the US and Canada. Instead, across the Atlantic, another famous female British writer was proving that endurance of time is the real test.

Almost 194 years after her death, a rare Jane Austen manuscript has sold for £993, 250. 'The Watsons', an unfinished novel complete with revisions and crossings out, was originally owned privately, yet is now in the hands of the Bodleian Library, who beat off competition from New York's Morgan Library. Having secured money from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Bodleian say that they are 'delighted' to have bought 'such a valuable part of our literary heritage'.

Austen may be worth 105 times less than Potter today, but until Rowling influences 200 years' worth of readers, she won't hold the same place in literary hearts as the beloved Jane.

The real Austen?...

Everyone is familiar with the works of one of Britain's most popular writing talents. 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Sense and Sensibility' and 'Emma' are just three of Jane Austen's novels that have enchanted their readers for almost 200 years. Yet new research suggests that the words we read, may not actually be hers.

During a project to create an online archive of Austen's handwritten fiction manuscripts, Professor Kathryn Sutherland has discovered 'a powerful counter-grammatical way of writing', which makes her think that a third party was 'heavily involved' in the editing process. She says, 'the polished punctuation and epigrammatic style we see in Emma and Persuasion is simply not there', but instead the manuscripts 'reveal Austen to be an experimental and innovative writer, constantly trying new things'. The online project is set to be launched on October 25th.

The new Darcy?...

One of Britain's best loved books is once again to be made into a film. Jane Austen's classic, 'Pride and Prejudice', is set to be adapted by Papercut Productions, with filming starting next month in Colorado. The film has a lot to live up to. Both the 1995 BBC series, starring the unmissable Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, and to a lesser extent, the 2005 film version with Matthew MacFadyen in the same role, have achieved somewhat iconic status - something that the new film will surely be aiming for. However, the early signs look promising, as the Elizabeth Bennet of 2005, Keira Knightley is said to have read and loved the script. The film will star relatively unknown actors, with Maia Petee as Elizabeth, and Caleb Grusing, hoping to be the next dashing Mr. Darcy.

On this day...

It is said that Jane Austen completed 'Emma' in 1815; a novel published in December of the same year. The last work to be published in her lifetime, 'Emma' features lively protagonist Emma Woodhouse, and follows her as she leaves a trail of matchmaking disasters in her wake. She appears somewhat different from a typical Austen heroine, as she has not the romantic entaglements of a Marianne Dashwood, nor the amorous dramas of an Elizabeth Bennet. Yet she still remains an ever popular presence, indeed the BBC recently aired a successful adaptation starring Romola Garai. At his insistance, the novel was dedicated to HRH Prince Regent.   

The glittering career of a postmistress...

As yet another episode of ever popular 'Lark Rise to Candleford' airs tonight, it appears an appropriate moment to examine the career of actress Julia Sawalha. As postmistress Dorcas Lane, she has produced her own band of followers, yet she has assumed numerous other roles of literary consequence. Her first notable role was that of Mercy Pecksniff, in an adaptation of Dickens' picaresque novel 'Martin Chuzzlewit', a work which he proclaimed to be his best.

She followed this success with arguably her most well-known role, that of Lydia Bennet in the phenomenon that was the BBC's 'Pride and Prejudice'. Starring alongside Colin Firth, she played the youngest of Austen's Bennet sisters, who eloped with the dashing Captain Wickham. Most recently, she appeared in Elizabeth Gaskell's 'Cranford' as Jessie Brown, daughter of the railway entrepreneur. The drama, led by Dame Judi Dench, made its appearance just months before 'Lark Rise to Candleford', shot Sawalha to the level of screen recognition she enjoys today. And thus will she continue for many a year yet.

Six Nations of literature...

With the Six Nations kicking off today, it seemed an apt opportunity to take a look at the literature produced by these countries, which is some of the best in the world.

Italy - Starting with the Latin writings of Ovid and Tacitus, Italian literature spans an enormous period and is considered some of the finest. Continuing with Dante and his 'Inferno' in the Middle Ages and the sonnets of Petrach, modern Italian literature still remains in the form of the the late Italo Calvino and Umberto Eco.

France - Dumas, Flaubert, Zola, Proust; the list is endless. More so than other national literature, the French canon contains numerous philosophical works, the products of Camus, Jean Paul Sartre and Jean-Jacques Rosseau. Drama exists in the shape of Moliere, and France expressed an important voice in Roland Barthes.

Ireland - Irish literature really found its feet in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Bursting forth with the dual force of playwrights Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw, Ireland's literary claim was strengthened through the poetry of Yeats and Goldsmith and its place cemented with the prose works of Joyce.

Wales - Although probably for many, the most famous Welsh writer is poet Dylan Thomas, the literature of Wales is far more diverse. No more so for the strength of works written in its own language, by authors such as William Owen Roberts. Many English writers such as Manley Hopkins have used Welsh subject matter.

Scotland - Scotland's most recent wave of literary tradition came in the Romantic era under the eye of Robert Burns and Walter Scott. Yet it was the Victorian era which propelled it into public eye, Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle and J.M. Barrie all becoming household names; Duffy now being the latest.

England - Possibly one of the richest literary histories, all that can be said for England is a list of names. The playwrights; Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Jonson. The poets; Milton, Keats, Shelley, Byron and Tennyson. The novelists: Hardy, Austen, the Brontes, Woolf, Dickens, Forster, Eliot and most recently, Rowling.

So there you have it. Competitors on and off the rugby field. Tradition not only in sport but in literature. Long may it continue...

On this day...

'Pride and Prejudice', arguably Jane Austen's most recognisable novel was published in 1813. Originally named as 'First Impressions', Austen had begun to draft the piece in 1797, yet on rejections by publishers, Austen decided to rework the novel, and it was not until after 'Sense and Sensibility', that the book was released. Its extensive popularity was evident from the start; public demand ensuring that in that very year, three editions sold out and copies were translated into French. Yet, surprising though it may seem, Austen's work did find criticism from author Charlotte Bronte. Writing in 1847, she described the book as 'a carefully fenced, highly cultivated garden, with neat borders and delicate flowers; but ... no open country, no fresh air, no blue hill, no bonny beck'. The novel has spawned countless adaptations through all mediums, most notably the BBC series with Colin Firth, and the 2005 Keira Knightley film. So ingrained is Austen in our culture, that even the characters seem to have entered the vernacular, and the themes are still being repeated in modern day romantic comedies.

On this day...

Cassandra Austen, beloved sister of Jane, was born in 1773. Two years older than Jane, the sisters were inseparable during their early years and were sent to be educated together, despite Jane being possibly too young to benefit from it. Her mother later said of the incident, 'if Cassandra's head had been going to be cut off, Jane would have hers cut off too'. In 1794, Cassandra became engaged to Thomas Fowle, yet it was to end in tragedy; he died three years later of Yellow Fever in the Caribbean, leaving Cassandra £1000. She was said never to recover from such a blow and, like Jane, did not marry. Many believe that such a loss of love by an older sister are reminiscent of a Jane Bennet or a Elinor Dashwood. Indeed Jane appeared much influenced by her sister, and it was during their living together in Chawton, that Jane penned five of her six most famous novels. Cassandra died in 1845, at the age of 72, outliving her sister by 28 years, on whose death she said; 'I have lost a treasure, such a sister, such a friend as never can have been surpassed. She was the sun of my life, the gilder of every pleasure, the soother of every sorrow, I had not a thought concealed from her, and it is as if I had lost a part of myself'

On this day...

One of the most loved English novelists, Jane Austen, was born in 1775. For much of her childhood Austen was educated at home under the guidance of her father, who allowed her unrestricted access to his large and diverse library, as well as writing materials. Although she wrote numerous works from a young age, including 'Juvenilia' and epistolary novel 'Lady Susan', her published literary career did not start until the age of 35. Then followed a prolific six year period, in which she wrote the books that she is most famous for; 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Sense and Sensibility' the two primary examples. After her death in 1817, two novels were published posthumously. 'Persuasion' and 'Northanger Abbey' incorporated a biographical note by Austen's brother, which named her as the author for he first time. Although by 1818 only 321 copies remained unsold, interest began to decline, and from 1820, Austen's novels were out of print for 12 years. Yet in 1833, the first collected edition of Austen's works were published and she has been continuously in print since. Austen is considered one of the few writers to be enjoyed by academics and the general public alike.

Living undead to make new movie...

It has been reported that Natalie Portman is to star in a film adaptation of novel, 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies'. Seth Grahame-Smith's book, released earlier this year, went to number three on the New York Times best-seller list and publishers are set to release a second title; 'Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters' in early 2010. In a twist on the Austen classic, Grahame-Smith's novel sees the narrative take place as the dead rise from the grave, with all five Bennett sisters trained in the martial arts to combat the zombies. According to Variety, Portman is set to play protagonist Elizabeth Bennet.

On this day...

'Arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history', Samuel Johnson, died in 1784 at the age of 75. A devout Anglican and Conservative, Johnson's literary career began by writing essays for 'The Gentleman's Magazine', and his other early works included biographies, poems and plays. His most famous work however, is that of a lexicographer and the production of the 'Dictionary of the English Language' in 1755. Described as 'one of the greatest single achievements of scholarships', Johnson's dictionary remained unsurpassed until the introduction of the Oxford English Dictionary, 150 years later. Johnson also wrote major works of literary criticism such as 'Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets'; supposed to have influenced Jane Austen's style and philosophy. He himself was also the subject of another writer's work James Boswell's 'Life of Samuel Johnson'. Due to reports of odd gestures and tics, many have posthumously diagnosed Johnson with Tourette's Syndrome.

Note to Self: Books sell...

Yesterday at Christie's, saw one of the most impressive literary auctions in some time. Film producer William E. Self sold his entire library of rare editions; 144 lots producing a sale total of $4,896,625. The highlights were two collections of poetry by Edgar Allan Poe; the first, a handwritten manuscript which sold for $830,500, the second, a first edition of 'Tamerlane and Other Poems', which went for $662,500. The list of other authors' work is extensive, and includes names from both sides of the Atlantic, such as; Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Lord Byron, Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson and Walt Whitman. The full list of lots, including pictures and details, can be found here

Murder, monsters and Austen?...

The gothic genre, is one which has had both popularity and longevity, and boasts many of today's best known novels. A combination of horror and romance, it is thought to have been started by Horace Walpole's 'The Castle of Otranto' in 1764 and has grown prolifically since, with key eras of notable contribution. Coleridge's 'Christabel' and 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' as well as Shelley's 'Frankenstein' are all examples of gothic literature from the Romantic period; yet arguably, it was the Victorian era which proved the most productive for the genre. Titles such as Stevenson's 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Wilde's 'The Picture if Dorian Gray', and Stoker's 'Dracula' all found their conception in Victorian society; America having its own star in Edgar Allan Poe. Despite it huge popularity, gothic fiction has also produced numerous satires, the famous of which is Austen's 'Northanger Abbey'. A quiz on the gothic genre can be found here

On this day...

Anglo-Irish playwright and poet Oliver Goldsmith, is though to have been born in 1730. There are disputes as to his exact date of birth; theories ranging from 10th-29th of November and from the years 1727-1731, but 10th November 1730 is now accepted by most. His works span the genres; from the romantic ballad of 'The Hermit', to the novel 'The Vicar of Wakefield'. The latter proved very popular among 18th and 19th centuries audiences, being cited in many contemporary works such as Austen's 'Emma', Dickens' 'David Copperfield', and Shelley's 'Frankenstein'. Yet arguably his most famous work is of the dramatic genre. 'She Stoops to Conquer', a comedy of manners, has gained lasting appeal, being adapted numerous times for the screen, including a recent 2008 series. Goldsmith died in 1774, at the age of 43.

A Woman's Wit...

New material relating to one of the most popular novelists, has been unveiled at an exhibition in New York. 'A Woman's Wit: Jane Austen's Life and Legacy', contains more than 100 items, such letters written by the author to family and friends; including one to her neice in which Austen wrote each word backward as a puzzle. Also of great interest, is the only surviving, complete, handwritten manuscript of 'Lady Susan; a Austen novel written in 1795 - predating the publication of 'Sense and Sensibility' by 16 years. Another manuscript, that of 'The Watsons', shows her work in progress, complete with annotations and plans for improvement. Perhaps the most touching exhibit, is a letter written by her sister Cassandra to Austen's neice, Fanny Knight, in which she reports Austen's death, saying: 'I have lost a treasure, such a sister, such a friend as never can have been surpassed.' The exhibition runs in the Morgan Library until 14th March.

Another side to Austen?...

Also on this day, 'Sense and Sensibility', Jane Austen's first novel, was published in 1811. Austen wrote the original draft of the novel, as 'Elinor and Marianne', when she was only 19; and the two title characters are thought to be based on her sister Cassandra and herself. The novel, published under the pseudonym 'A Lady', was advertised as being 'new', 'extraordinary' and 'interesting'. Early reviewers stated it to be 'a genteel, well-written novel' and 'just long enough to interest without fatiguing'; however it is said that Austen was at her most satirical, the writer Virgina Woolf suggesting that 'it seems as if her characters were born merely to give Jane Austen the supreme delight of slicing their heads off'. The 750 copy first edition sold out in a year and a half, Austen making a profit of £140.

Austen's Emma makes TV appearance...

The BBC is currently showing an adaptation of the Jane Austen novel 'Emma'. Published in 1815, it was the last of her novels to be published before her death in 1817. In her lifetime she earned less than forty pounds from the book, yet her admirers included The Prince Regent, to whom she dedicated the novel. The drama stars Romola Garai, Johnny Lee Miller and Michael Gambon among others. The fourth and final part is being shown this Sunday, but all the episodes are still available on iplayer.