In Jane Austen’s social sphere, manners dominated the rules of behavior, and everyone was judged by them.  Polite society required adherence to the conventions; it was imperative to know your place in the pecking order and follow the rules assigned to preserve the social order. This required a general agreement to be pleasing, polite, and deferential based on the status of those in your immediate orb.  However, one character’s perception of agreeable behavior may not always be pleasing in the...

Self portrait 2023 As 2025 closes out, I invite you to review my blog posts of the past year where I examine the social dynamics of Jane Austen’s time and how it influenced her writings to reveal universal truths that are so relatable in contemporary life. Many thanks to all who have allowed me to share my thoughts and graced me by reading them. Happy New Year! Wishing all my Janeite friends and followers a prosperous 2026. Jane Austen – To Have and Have Not Jane Austen’s Most Loving...

Misguided notions are a theme throughout Jane Austen’s novels.  She was very observant of social positions because her family lived on the periphery of wealthier relatives and acquaintances.  Propriety demanded people stay within their rank with occasional exceptions made for intelligent, resourceful women whose attractions allured suitors. Jane presents many amusing situations in which individuals blinded by initial perceptions abruptly encounter the shock of reality and are forced to reset...