Persuasions #2, 1980                                                                                                                                            Page 32

 

“I HAVE NOT MUCH MORE TO ADD”

There is a proposal – not yet decided – that the 1982 meeting should take place in Toronto. The theme would be: “A strange business this in America.” The War of 1812, the sailor brothers, naval history as it relates to Jane Austen would be discussed. There are many charming country inns in the immediate environs of Toronto.

One of our members, Valerie Fitzgerald of Ottawa, has recently won a British literary Award for her first novel – as yet to be published. The prize is given in memory of Georgette Heyer, who wrote in the 1940’s in the style of Jane Austen, setting her books in the Regency period.

Three sisters who meet but rarely attended the Baltimore gathering. They are: Dorothy Rosengarden, Great Neck, New York, Marjorie Land, Miami Beach, Florida, and Ruth Rudolph, Fayetteville,New York

Overheard at Baltimore: “There are academics here for whom this is almost in a day’s work, but today I heard a 69-year-old bookkeeper say, ‘This is the greatest experience of my life! I could hardly believe it this morning, hearing all those people up there talking and thinking about things I’ve been thinking about all my life.’ And a sophisticated N.Y. magazine editor said, ‘That’s just how I feel – as if it’s a feast which someone miraculously invited me to share.’”

Jane Austen would be “all astonishment” were she to learn that her name has been taken for a marriage bureau in England. A reply to an advertisement in New Society brought the following information: “The Jane Austen Bureau specializes in matching members of the opposite sex … We have recently received many enquiries from North America … The membership fee is £400.00-£200.00 of which is payable if the correspondence has been completed and the balance when the member has been successfully matched … When replying perhaps you would let us have details of your activities as we are keenly interested in anything to do with Jane Austen.”

Stephen Sikora, Albany, CA writes: “Can you help me find some other members of the Jane Austen Society who would care to correspond about some questions raised by her work …”

If the Reader has progressed thus far in Persuasions, No. 2, he will have noted that many of the opinions expressed in the various articles and speeches are diametrically opposed – not to say violently contradictory. The Reader, according to his persuasion, doubtless finds those opinions to be stimulating, provocative, acceptable or objectionable – while retaining his own views; as has the Editor.

We solicit contributions from members, typed, please, double-spaced and if possible 500-750 words or less.

The Editor

Persuasions No. 3

Victoria, British Columbia

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