Regency Romance
Regency romance is in the air and Jane Austen fans are in for a treat at this year’s Wells Festival of Literature as the nation celebrates the 250th birthday of the famous author.
Comedian Rachel Parris and Austen expert Ros Ballaster are both appearing at the Festival with very different tributes to the much-loved author of Pride and Prejudice whose characters have since appeared in many a film and TV series.
Rachel, a founding member of the improv acting group Austentatious, takes a fresh look at the life of sensible Charlotte Lucas in Jane Austen’s original novel. When Charlotte chooses security over romance and marries the odious Mr Collins, her friend Elizabeth Bennet is horrified at her decision.
But in Rachel’s new book Introducing Mrs Collins: A Pride and Prejudice Novel a surprise visitor awakens a spark in Charlotte, and there follows a tale of love and a new life. Could there could be a happy ending?
Fashion is the main topic in Ros Ballaster’s illustrated book Jane Austen’s Fashion Bible.
The Oxford professor of 18th-century studies, has produced a gift book that features extracts both from the novels and from Jane Austen’s youthful writings, each one illustrated by a colour fashion plate from the famous Regency magazine La Belle Assemblee.
Both speakers will lead Jane Austen fans deeper into the world of Bath’s most famous writer.
Priority booking for Friends opens on Monday 28 July, while main booking opens on Monday 4 August.
Friends enjoy a discounted ticket price of £10 (standard £12.50). Why not become a Friend today?