pegkerr | (no subject)

(no subject)

edeainfj pointed out the significance of today's date, and I am stealing this idea from her:

RIP
Jane Austen
16 Dec 1775 - 18 Jul 1817
Goddess of Writers
Priestess of Irony

In memory of Rev. George Austen's daughter, please leave condolences in the form of quotations &c.

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This seems to be appropriate, considering the July heat most of the US is currently suffering from:

"What dreadful weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance."

All hail the inimitable, often imitated, never surpassed, Miss Austen!

Oh! Do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated by a watch.

[P]rovided that nothing like useful knowledge could be gained from them, provided they were all story and no reflection, she had never any objection to books at all. But from fifteen to seventeen she was in training for a heroine; she read all such works as heroines must read to supply their memories with those quotations which are so serviceable and so soothing in the vicissitudes of their eventful lives.

~ Northanger Abbey, Ch. 1

"It was a perfect visit, perfect in being much too short."

Oh, lovely idea! And noone has snitched one of my favorites, which

pameladea quotes in the lovely Tam Lin:

I can read poetry and plays, and things of that sort, and do not dislike travels. But history, real solemn history, I cannot be interested in. Can you?"

"Yes, I am fond of history."

"I wish I were too. I read it a little as a duty, but it tells me nothing that does not either vex or weary me. The quarrels of popes and kings, with wars or pestilences, in every page; the men all so good for nothing, and hardly any women at all -- it is very tiresome: and yet I often think it odd that it should be so dull, for a great deal of it must be invention. The speeches that are put into the heroes' mouths, their thoughts and designs -- the chief of all this must be invention, and invention is what delights me in other books."

((happysigh)) Love. That. Book. A toast to Jane, who surely has her own corner sofa in Heaven's literary salon.

From her wonderfully snarky History of England:

On Henry IV: "Henry the 4th ascended the throne of England much to his own satisfaction in the year 1399, after having prevailed on his cousin & predecessor Richard the 2nd to resign it to him, & to retire for the rest of his Life to Pomfret Castle, where he happened to be murdered."

On Henry VI: "I cannot say much for this Monarch's sense. Nor would I if I could, for he was a Lancastrian."

Good advice from Lady Susan:

Run mad as often as you chuse, but do not faint.

Darn, someone beat me to the "Run mad..." quote.

So, from Love and Freindship:

Never did I see such an affecting scene as was the meeting of Edward and Augustus.

'My life! My soul!' exlcaimed the former. 'My adorable angel!' replied the latter, as they flew into each other's arms. It was too pathetic for the feelings of Sophia and myself. We fainted alternately on a sofa.

"I am sorry my mother has been suffering, and am afraid this exquisite weather is too good to agree with her. " Letter to Cassandra, Dec. 1815

We must not forget her mom was a bit of a freak.

My, my, how thoughtful!

Oh, I could just dance on my dense head, I just ran across a great quote regarding Ms. Austen (and once again, thanks for the "e", Pamela), but the books on my bed, and I'm here at the Loring Park Dunn Bros.

If I'm careful I might be able to dig it out and bring it to you tomorrow.

"I do not attempt to deny," said she, "that I think
very highly of him--that I greatly esteem, that I like him."

Marianne here burst forth with indignation--

"Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor! Oh!
worse than cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise.
Use those words again, and I will leave the room this moment."

(&c., not &tc., by the way.)

Very pretty, sir, upon my word; to send me on here, to be an encombrance to my friends, so long before you vouchsafe to come!--But you knew what a dutiful creature you had to deal with. You knew I should not stir until my lord and master appeared.--Here I have been sitting this hour, giving these young ladies a sample of true conjugal obedience--for who can say, you know, how soon it may be wanted?

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