First Impressions: Why All the Austen Haters Are Wrong
84 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 51 ratingsWelcome Jane Austen lovers and haters alike! Kristin and Maggie discuss how Austen's classic novels have influenced their lives and challenged them to be better people.
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Episodes
Ep 76:Review of Mansfield Park Radio Drama from BBC Radio 4
March 04, 2024 02:08 - 1 hour - 45.8 MBGentle listeners, join us for our review of the delightful radio drama from BBC Radio 4, which features a star-studded cast including Felicity Jones, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Tennant, James Callas and more! Adapted by Clara Glynn, this lovely radio play contains some surprising new takes on Austen's story and characters. We certainly see Fanny, Edmund, and Henry in a different light after listening to this production. More information about the cast can be found on the BBC's website he...
Ep 75: Barbie and Jane
December 04, 2023 03:37 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBGreta Gerwig's 2023 Barbie movie incorporated several seconds of the 1995 Firth/Ehle Pride and Prejudice miniseries, which officially makes this movie part of Austen's extended cinematic universe. In this podcast we discuss our takeaways from this thought-provoking movie, and ponder the parallels between the evolution of Barbie vs. Jane Austen's own heroines. Some see Austen's characters as regressive today, but does Jane stand still so we can see how far we've come?
Ep 74: Jane Austen Hot Takes with Lexi
September 25, 2023 01:23 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBTime for some hot and SPICY Austen takes fresh from friend of the podcast Lexi, also known as @fourwhitetrees on X (Twitter), Bluesky, and other social networks! Lexi's funky fresh and sometimes controversial takes cover the mysterious appeal of John Thorpe, Mr. Knightley's questionable tastes, the unworthiness of Wentworth as a partner for Anne, whether Darcy is really the most obviously autistic character in Austen, and much more... like, is Northanger Abbey REALLY satire, or just a modern...
Ep 73: Movie Review: Mansfield Park 1999
June 23, 2023 22:54 - 1 hour - 52.4 MBGentle listeners, join us as we finally review this 1999 movie adaptation of Mansfield Park, written and directed by Patricia Rozema. We delve into the artistic choices made by the director and weigh in on their merits in a very calm and evenhanded manner until about halfway through when Kristin gets shouty. This movie is undoubtedly an important acheivement in Austen filmmaking. Rozema makes the slavery subtext in the book explicit, challenging the way Austen stories are usually told on scr...
Ep 72: Fire Island
March 21, 2023 03:58 - 1 hour - 65.9 MBGentle listeners, we're so excited to have Maya and Christian of Manners and Madness join us again, this time for a movie review of Fire Island, one of the finest modern Austen adaptations of our time and an overall fantastic movie. We discuss the deep dive this movie takes into the characters of Noah (Lizzy), Howie (Jane), and Will (Darcy), and the way the modern story blends with the original. We also talk over the incorporation of themes of power (and reclaiming power), and the parallel...
Ep 71: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, Featuring The Muppets!
December 12, 2022 01:38 - 1 hour - 67.2 MBWe are overjoyed to bring you a special holiday episode discussing A Christmas Carol, the novel by Charles Dickens, and A Muppet Christmas Carol, the finest adaptation of Dickens' work ever to grace the silver screen. The novel is an absolute delight, and extremely readable - it's a great time for a read (or re-read)! And a sing-along! With a glass raised to toast your health! (Glass raised to toast your health!) and a promise to share the wealth! (Promise to share the wealth), yes every nig...
Ep 70: Movie Commentary: Pride and Prejudice 1995, Part 6
November 28, 2022 00:35 - 1 hour - 47.4 MBEveryone, thank you, we're so excited to finally present the conclusion of our movie commentary series for Pride and Prejudice 1995! Join us as we swoon over this beautiful movie's final chapter, after which all our favorite characters live happily ever after. By the way, if you are looking for the first installment of this movie commentary series, you'll find it all the way back in our archives - it's episode 26!!!
Ep 69: Gothic Literature and Northanger Abbey, Featuring the Return of Tash!
October 30, 2022 19:45 - 1 hour - 76.9 MBJust in time for Halloween, we're back with our guest Natasha Junor (who you may remember from our Clueless episode!) to discuss Gothic literature and the ways it intersects with Austen's world and works. Tash is an Australian academic and Jane Austen scholar who is doing a deep dive into this topic in preparation for a possible dissertation on the subject, and she's stopping by to share her expertise with us! Join us for a fascinating exploration of how Gothic literature was received in Reg...
Bonus: The Oopsie Spoopy Episode
October 04, 2022 03:36 - 1 hour - 37.6 MBGentle listeners, Maggie and I recently found ourselves ready to chat, but completely unprepared to discuss any Austen-related topic! We instead had a delightful cozy catch up about Halloween fun, horror movies and their cultural relevance, workplace oopsies, and our favorite toxic trait. (I promised Maggie I would intro this with Toto, but I overruled her post-podcast and added the Monster Mash instead, because it just seemed appropriate.) If you want to catch up with us, enjoy - if not, ou...
Ep 68: Netflix Persuasion 2022 Movie Review
September 19, 2022 04:59 - 1 hour - 61.6 MBGentle listeners, join us as we review the storm-tossed 2022 Netflix adaptation of Persuasion starring Dakota Johnson and Cosmo Jarvis and directed by Carrie Cracknell. Described as "Bridget Jones meets Bridgerton," this unconventional take on Austen's contemplative, autumnal source material certainly made some waves in the Austenverse. But if you can manage to forget about the source material for a few hours, this is a beautiful and highly entertaining movie to enjoy with a glass of wine or...
Minipod: Rational Creatures Season 2
August 20, 2022 22:58 - 15 minutes - 15.3 MBJoin us to learn more about the web series Rational Creatures to prepare for the release of Season 2! Rational Creatures is a modern interpretation of Persuasion, available in a web series format on YouTube. The show follows Ana Elías as she unexpectedly ends up living in the same apartment building as her ex (and perhaps one true love) Fred Wentworth. This modern remix of the classic features a bi Latina lead with a cast of queer characters, bringing Jane Austen into the 21st century. Ser...
Minipod: ”Open to Persuasion” Virtual Conference this Aug 13-14 with Sarah Rose Kearns
August 07, 2022 00:38 - 20 minutes - 14.7 MBAlert! There is an excellent virtual conference on Persuasion happening August 13th-14th 2022 (this coming weekend!) Our guest Sarah Rose Kearns joins us to tell us about the event's fantastic programme, and we briefly discuss our thoughts on the new Netflix Persuasion movie as well. Join us to hear more, and to catch up with Rose! For more about the conference, see https://theholytheatre.betterworld.org/donate where you can make a donation in any amount you wish in order to register for th...
Ep 67: Bridgerton Season 2 with Priya
July 04, 2022 23:00 - 1 hour - 63.5 MB[New file because Podbean sucks!] We're thrilled to welcome our friend and Bridgerton expert Priya back to the podcast to discuss season 2 of this smash Netflix show. Join us as we swoon over Kate and Anthony, grouse about Benedict and Eloise, and talk about the show in both its current cultural and historical context. Grab your Pall Mall mallet, make some disgustingly weak tea, and settle in for our convo!
Ep 66: Being Mr. Wickham - Streaming Theater Performance Review
April 10, 2022 18:52 - 1 hour - 46.3 MBCheck out our review of Being Mr. Wickham, a one man show co-written by Adrian Lukis (who played Mr. Wickham in the 1995 Pride and Prejudice miniseries) and Catherine Curzon for the Original Theater company. It's available to stream online through April 30th, so don't miss out! We loved this charming show and the way it brought the Pride and Prejudice characters' future to life with hilarious anecdotes and historical details. You'll especially love the future of Mr. Bennet. You can stream B...
Ep 65: North and South with Special Guest Adrienne
December 26, 2021 00:14 - 1 hour - 74.8 MBThis time we welcome our friend and special guest Adrienne, known as @barelytolerabIe on Twitter and ElizaG1 on AO3, to talk about eternal period drama fan favorite North and South! We discuss the book by Elizabeth Gaskell, as well as the miniseries of the same name starring Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe. Words like "brooding" and "smoldering" abound as we discuss the incredible chemistry between John and Margaret (and Nicholas Higgins), and delve into the social commentary element...
Ep 64: Part 5 of the Movie Commentary for Pride and Prejudice 1995
November 15, 2021 01:12 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBTHREE AND A HALF YEARS AFTER PART 4, we present installment 5 of our commentary on the Pride and Prejudice 1995 miniseries starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. You don't have to watch the movie along with us as we riff on what's happening - in fact, due to some buffering errors, that might be hard. But lots of listeners find these fun to listen to as standalone episodes! For our first commentary track, go back in our episode list to 2018. Yes, we never finished this series. We're a mess.
Ep 63: Bridgerton
September 06, 2021 22:19 - 1 hour - 72.3 MB[Episode recorded July 2021]. In this episode, we welcome our friend and special guest Priya (who you may recognize as Constantia from our Regency Daze series!) to discuss the Netflix TV sensation Bridgerton, adapted from the novels by Julia Quinn. We discuss how the show handles race, class, and sex in a fantasy Regency setting. As you probably already suspect, this episode is NOT suitable for little ears! This episode's intro music is "Bad Guy" by Bilie Eilish, performed by the Vitamin St...
Ep 62: Modern Persuasion with Manners and Madness
July 22, 2021 02:44 - 1 hour - 83.8 MBWe're delighted to welcome our guests Maya and Christian of Manners and Madness, a Jane Austen and David Lynch podcast, to join us for this movie review episode! This time we're tackling the recently released movie Modern Persuasion, starring Alicia Witt and Shane McRae as our stand-ins for Anne and Wentworth. Despite some hiccups with the pacing and chemistry, overall we enjoyed this adaptation as some fluffy summer fun. Check out our thoughts, and be sure to give Manners and Madness some l...
Ep 61: Movie Review: Sense and Sensibility 2008
May 23, 2021 22:12 - 1 hour - 68.3 MB[Episode recorded 5/15/21] Welcome, gentle listeners, to our review of the 2008 miniseries Sense & Sensibility, written by Andrew Davies and starring Hattie Moran as Elinor and Charity Wakefield as Marianne. While it's not easy to make a new version of S&S with the specter of the 1996 Ang Lee movie in the background, this game adaptation has some enjoyable points, especially with regard to the Willoughby/Marianne pairing. And Maggie is back to share her witty repartee and sing us a song! Not...
Ep 60: Diversity and Inclusion in Austen Fandom with Bianca Hernandez-Knight
April 23, 2021 02:59 - 1 hour - 89.2 MBIn this episode we welcome special guest Bianca Hernandez-Knight to talk about current affairs in the Jane Austen fandom, including the push that dedicated Janeites are making to foster inclusion in our online community. Join us to hear about the barriers that BIPOC and other marginalized Janeites continue to encounter in Austen fan spaces, and why representation in Austen adapations is so important to growing a diverse Janeite community. Finally, learn about her upcoming Virtual Jane Con ev...
Ep 59: Adapting Persuasion with Sarah Rose Kearns
April 11, 2021 21:49 - 1 hour - 55.6 MBIn this episode, we're thrilled to welcome special guest Sarah Rose Kearns, actor, playwright, and consummate Janeite! We chat with Sarah Rose about her new adaptation of Persuasion, which will be staged (hopefully) in New York this fall. We also discuss her one-act play Manydown, which will be included as part of UNC Chapel Hill's Jane Austen Summer Program. Join us to learn how Sarah Rose interprets key aspects of Persuasion, and discover the fascinating challenges of making Austen come al...
Ep 58: Reclaiming Jane Guest Episode
February 27, 2021 23:48 - 44 minutes - 35.2 MBIn this episode we're thrilled to have guests Lauren and Emily of the Reclaiming Jane podcast! Reclaiming Jane was started as a podcast for fans on the margins, and creates a welcoming space for those whose identities are not reflected in Austen's original text, and may not be well represented in the current world of Austen fandom. Join us to learn what it means to read Austen through a modern lens, and how breaking down Austen's works and examining them thoroughly can help reclaim Austen fo...
Ep 57: Movie Review: Austenland
January 10, 2021 02:15 - 1 hour - 52.6 MBGentle listeners, we present a review of Austenland (2013), a movie that skewers Austen-addict Jane (Keri Russell) as she goes on a Regency roleplaying retreat and meets a real life Mr. Darcy (JJ Feild). Directed by Jerusha Hess, this movie might be considered the "Napoleon Dynamite" of Austen-related media, winning you over with its broad yet quirky humor. It's getting hot in here... let's take off all our clothes and hope Brett Mckenzie doesn't have to deliver a newborn foal at an inopport...
Ep 56: Movie Review: Bridget Jones's Diary
December 14, 2020 03:03 - 1 hour - 48.6 MB[Note: File updated 12/20 with a small fix to the movie clip used in the intro - it was cut off in the first version of this episode!]. Time for the perfect Christmas movie review! We're taking on the beloved classic Bridget Jones's Diary, one of Kristin's favorite movies of all time. This "lean" adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with a very sexy Wickham, a very perfect Darcy, and a man we all call Mr... Mister...MISTER... FITZHERBERT! Because that is his name. Songs featured in the podcast...
Ep 55: Movie Review: Bride and Prejudice
November 08, 2020 21:38 - 1 hour - 55 MB(Note: This episode was recorded on November 1st 2020, so there is no discussion of the US presidential election or its outcome.) Join us, gentle listeners, for our movie review of the effervescent Bollywood P&P adaptation Bride and Prejudice, directed by Gurinder Chadha. This movie ports Austen's classic tale to modern-day India for an east-meets-west story of cultural misunderstandings, sharp social commentary, and ultimately, true love. Fantastic performances and Bollywood musical numbers...
Ep 54: Wuthering Heights
September 18, 2020 01:59 - 1 hour - 76.7 MBIT'S HERE. Thanks to all our amazing listeners who contributed to our fundraiser! We hit our goal, and as promised, we're bringing you a review of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, the 1992 movie starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche (note, we tried to get those two dots over the "e" in Bronte, then decided we have our lives to live). Join us as we give this difficult text a second look, reframe our understanding of the story, and try to find a rainbow out on those stormy moors. And st...
Ep 53: Movie Review: Pride & Prejudice 1940 with Garson/Olivier
July 11, 2020 00:49 - 1 hour - 55.1 MBAnother movie review! Maggie and Kristin tackle the delightful 1940 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Greer Garson and Sir Laurence Olivier. We adored this absolute gem of a movie for its light tone, its fantastic performances, and its imaginative departures from the original story. We also reference information from a book we previously reviewed, The Making of Jane Austen by Devoney Looser, which contains a ton of valuable background information and insight into how this movie was ...
Ep 52: The Jane Austen Society: Author Interview with Natalie Jenner
June 01, 2020 23:56 - 1 hour - 49.1 MBPlease join us for an interview with debut author Natalie Jenner, whose delightful book THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY was released in May 2020 from St. Martin's Press (NA) and Orion (UK). The book follows a group of unlikely Janeites in postwar England who come together to save Chawton cottage, and wind up saving themselves instead (through reading Jane, of course!). We discuss Natalie's personal relationship with Austen, her connection to Chawton, and what inspired her to create her story and cha...
Minipod 3: The Mandalorian
May 26, 2020 01:56 - 53 minutes - 41.2 MBAnd now for something completely different! Once again we have another just *slightly* off-topic minipod for a little extra fun in these crazy days. In this episode, Maggie, Kristin, and Special Guest (TM) Kevin take on hit Star Wars universe series The Mandalorian. Plus, you get bonus Bay content, as he keeps us on track when our Star Wars knowledge fails us. SPOILER ALERT: This episode includes details about Season 1 of The Mandalorian. But don't you deserve to be spoiled? After all, you w...
Ep 51: Exploring Jane Austen Fan Fiction with Sarah Pesce from Lopt & Cropt
May 18, 2020 14:44 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBMaggie and Kristin welcome Sarah Pesce of Lopt & Cropt to continue our exploration of the wonderful world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction, this time from an editor's perspective! In our lively discussion, Sarah explains how reading JAFF can provide new insight into Austen's original works. She gives us a tour of the JAFF universe with an overview of online archives, an explanation of common tropes used in the romance world, and a fantastic list of recommendations that will keep us busy for quite ...
Ep 50: Movie Review: Pride and Prejudice 2005
May 11, 2020 01:57 - 1 hour - 70 MBBig news! Maggie and Kristin are back to review the 2005 movie version of Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen and directed by Joe Wright. Knowing that this adaptation has generated some controversy in the Austen community, the girls attempt to tread lightly over difficult ground, acknowledging where this movie shines while also attempting some thoughtful critique. While we'll never be able to love this version wholeheartedly, we fully support and respect our f...
Minipod 2: Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
April 19, 2020 00:41 - 18 minutes - 15.9 MBHi y'all! We're back with another fluffy minipod for those of you who need extra podcasty-goodness during this time while we're all staying home. In this mini-episode, Kristin and Maggie talk about something ENTIRELY unrelated to Jane Austen - the recent theatrical release of Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn. Despite not having even a whiff of Jane Austen about it, Maggie and Kristin greatly enjoyed this darkly funny superhero movie from the DC-comic univer...
Ep 49: EMMA Part 2: It Was With the Gloves
April 10, 2020 03:35 - 1 hour - 46.4 MBOkay, we know, it's been out for months. But we asked ourselves, did we REALLY understand the new Emma movie on our 3rd, 5th, or even 8th viewing? Of course not! It darted through us with the speed of an arrow that we had to do a second EMMA podcast! Here are all the things we SHOULD have said, all the things we FORGOT to say, and all the things that were too brilliant to burst upon us until our brains had marinated in this movie for weeks. Join us for our laughing, crying, singing, essentia...
Minipod 1: Emma and Harriet in "Three Loves," a Duologue by Rosina Fillipi
April 02, 2020 03:07 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBMaggie and Kristin bespeak your indulgence as young performers, because they've decided to amuse themselves with a mini-podcast format during this time of social distance! Today, they're tackling a duologue from Rosina Fillipi's collection, first published in 1895. For the history of these duologues, check out the book The Making of Jane Austen by Devoney Looser, which explains the cultural significance of this collection, which was intended for drawing room performances. In honor of our cur...
Ep 48: EMMA.
March 09, 2020 05:21 - 1 hour - 46.2 MBThe wait is over! At long last, we're back to talk about the new movie EMMA. directed by Autumn de Wilde, screenplay by Eleanor Catton, and starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Johnny Flynn. This totally bonkers adaptation subverted our expectations at every turn, yet still managed to be wonderfully faithful to the source material. The movie's score is inspired, the sets and costumes are divine, and every cast member is downright fantastic! We loved the deft insertion of slapstick comedy, the honest...
Ep 47: Sanditon, Or, a Once-in-a Lifetime Investment Opportunity!
January 31, 2020 02:05 - 1 hour - 73.4 MB[UPDATED 11/29/2020: This episode was updated to remove an extended discussion of medical and pharmaceutical research practices which we feel is no longer appropriate in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the record, we have full confidence that the pharmaceutical companies who are developing COVID-19 vaccines are doing rigorous medical research according to best practices]. First Impressions fans, we're back with a discussion of Jane Austen's Sanditon, the unfinished novel fragment, ...
Ep 46: Movie Review - Northanger Abbey 1987
December 31, 2019 01:21 - 1 hour - 66.4 MBWe're ringing in a new decade with a very special movie review episode! Hardcore Austen fans out there may be aware of the delightfully weird 1987 BBC adaptation of Northanger Abbey, starring Peter Firth and Katharine Schlesinger. Despite "missing the joke," this bizarre adaptation throws the viewer many delightful curveballs, including the surprise new French characters, the steamy Roman baths, and the unexpected saxophone solo! We review the movie, discuss our thoughts, and take a look at ...
Ep 45: Northanger Revisited
November 29, 2019 03:54 - 1 hour - 56.4 MBGentle listeners, after having been schooled at this year's JASNA conference, we're re-reading Austen's fantastic first novel with new appreciation for its extreme genius. Join us as we revisit everything Northanger has to offer, from its always-hilarious narrative voice, to its lovable and intuitive heroine, to its unique and inimitable way of elevating gothic storylines so that they become "real." Austen's genius shines through every aspect of this sublime work of comedy, and we hope you e...
EP 44: JASNA Recap
October 25, 2019 01:14 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBIf you hadn't heard, Maggie and Kristin recently attended the Jane Austen Society of North America's Annual Meeting! Are you ready to hear about all the fun we had at JASNA 2019 in Williamsburg? Wondering what new insights we have into the conference's theme, Northanger Abbey? Or just wondering if Kristin and Maggie managed not to embarrass themselves? Check out this JASNA recap episode where we share funny stories, fascinating details, and all our favorite moments from the conference.
Ep 43: Among the Janeites Part 2 and JASNA Pre-game
September 13, 2019 04:08 - 51 minutes - 44.5 MBHello dear First Impressions fans! We're back with the second part of our discussion of Among the Janeites by Deborah Yaffe. This time, our discussion focuses on the founders of JASNA and the fascinating history of the organization. After wrapping up our remarks on the book, Maggie and Kristin share their views and expectations about their upcoming trip to Williamsburg - because if adventures will not befall these 30-something women in their own villages, they must seek them abroad!
Ep 42: Among the Janeites - Part 1
September 03, 2019 03:40 - 1 hour - 69.1 MBJoin us, listeners, for part one of our discussion of Among the Janeites: A Journey Through the World of Jane Austen Fandom, authored by journalist Deborah Yaffe. As a "a warm and witty look at the passionate, thriving world of Austen fandom," this book satisfied our curiosity about famous Janeites, centered our understanding of our fabulous fandom, and gave us plenty of context for our own Austen-love. The book contains stories from fans whose lives were touched and irreparably changed by t...
Ep 41: Regency Daze Part 3
August 26, 2019 01:36 - 1 hour - 110 MBGentle listeners, we present the third and final installment of our Regency Daze roleplay game! Join us as Kristin, Maggie, and Priya bring our characters' stories to an end with the help of game-master Selvi. As always, intrigue, romance and silliness abound.
Ep 40: Movie Review: Emma with Kate Beckinsale
July 15, 2019 01:16Gentle listeners, we bring you yet another review of an Emma movie adaptation! This one was released in 1996, and stars Kate Beckinsale and Mark Strong, with a screenplay by the ever-productive Andrew Davies, right off his 1995 success with Pride and Prejudice. From surprising plot omissions to unusual acting choices, this socially-conscious adaptation provides a lot to ponder, especially with regards to the Frank Churchill/Jane Fairfax pairing. Check out our thoughts, and we hope you will n...
Ep 39: Regency Daze Part 2
June 22, 2019 23:17 - 1 hour - 107 MBGentle listeners, we're back! Kristin and Maggie welcome guests Priya and Selvi for the second installment of our Regency Daze game. In this ongoing series, our game master Selvi has crafted a Regency-themed role-playing game (RPG) where our three heroines must plan a neighborhood ball, all while preserving their families' good names, learning the truth of one young lady's parentage, and perhaps, finding love. Join us for more intrigue, flirting, love triangles, party-planning disasters and ...
Ep 38: Movie Review: Emma Starring Romola Garai
June 06, 2019 03:30 - 1 hour - 79.8 MBGentle listeners, at long last we bring you a review of the 2009 adaptation of the novel Emma, starring Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller! In this episode, Maggie and Kristin talk about how they developed a new appreciation for this excellent adaptation, as the characters are given an emotional depth that some other adaptations lack. The girls also analyze how this version falls short of the mark, especially with regard to under-using some of the more comedic characters in the book. Overall,...
Ep 37: Regency Daze Part 1
May 16, 2019 01:49 - 2 hours - 130 MBGentle listeners, we are thrilled to bring you a very special podcast event! In this episode, your faithful First Impressions podcasters, joined by some good friends, are players in a Regency Era tabletop Role-Playing Game (RPG). Join Maggie, Kristin, and their friends Selvi and Priya, as together they uncover a world of secrets, love, and party planning in "Regency Daze." Game Master Selvi has crafted a Regency-themed RPG where our three heroines must plan a neighborhood ball, all while pre...
Ep 36: Writing Jane Austen Fan Fiction with Lona Manning
March 31, 2019 11:41 - 1 hour - 62.1 MBDear First Impressioners, have you ever been curious about the wide world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF), and the writers that publish it? In this special episode, our friend Lona Manning joins us to discuss her experience writing and publishing her JAFF novels and stories! Be ready for some intriguing insights, from how historical fiction authors research details about Regency life, to tips for mastering Austenesque language and grammar. Kristin and Lona also discuss what to expect from ...
Ep 35: The Making of Jane Austen Book Review
February 24, 2019 23:59 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBHello First Impressions fans! We're excited to present our book review of The Making of Jane Austen by Devoney Looser! In her highly entertaining, amazingly informative and exhaustively researched work, Dr. Looser discusses how our view of Austen has evolved over two centuries, from kindly "Aunt Jane," to conservative darling, to feisty suffragette. Told through cultural artifacts such as books, plays, movies, banners, letters, and even the odd séance or two, Looser's work is an entertaining...
Ep 34: Clueless (and A Lot of Other Stuff) with Special Guest Ellie
January 16, 2019 03:24 - 1 hour - 61.4 MBHello gentle listeners! We're excited to welcome our second FI fan and Clueless aficianado, Ellie, onto the podcast! Join us for a freewheeling discussion about Clueless and its impact on pop culture and subsequent Austen adaptations. We touch on lots of fun details about the movie, including a discussion of the book As If: The Oral History of Clueless by Jen Cheney. There is also quite a long tangent about Persuasion, for which Kristin takes full responsibility!
Ep 33: Clueless with Special Guest Tash
December 17, 2018 01:23 - 1 hour - 97.7 MBListeners, we're so excited to put out our first of two Clueless episodes! This episode stars longtime listener Tash from Sydney, an Austen scholar who helps to illuminate the brilliance of Clueless as a high-value, highly entertaining adaptation of Austen's beloved novel, Emma. Listen to learn about how Cher interacts with gender and the patriarchy (as if!), why 90s society in wealthy Los Angeles is a great substitute for Regency England, and why "you're a virgin who can't drive" is the ult...