The Thing About Austen

Spooky season has arrived, and we're celebrating by diving into a classic gothic novel. This episode we pore over the pages of Ann Radcliffe's The Romance of the Forest, one of the books that Harriet Smith recommends to Robert Martin (Emma has thoughts). To join our Patreon community, please head to https://www.patreon.com/TheThingAboutAusten. Thank you so much for supporting the work we do! Website/newsletter: https://www.thethingaboutausten.com Email: [email protected] Instagram: @TheThingAboutAusten Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop

Catherine Morland is thrilled to be visiting Henry Tilney's home. Bonus: she gets to meet his very cute dogs. Pet historian Dr. Stephanie Howard-Smith is back to analyze Henry's canine companions in the context of Regency dog ownership. Thank you so much to Stephanie for joining us for this episode! You can find her on Instagram @DogHistorian. Her book Yap! is out in October and is currently available for pre-order. We have launched a Patreon! To join, please head to https://www.patreon.com/TheThingAboutAusten. Thank you so much for supporting the work we do! Website/newsletter: https://www.thethingaboutausten.com Email: [email protected] Instagram: @TheThingAboutAusten Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop

Mr. Bingley has brought a friend to the Meryton assembly, and everyone is abuzz with excitement. This episode we take a look at Mr. Darcy's bank balance and get into exactly what Austen is signaling with Darcy's ten thousand pounds a year. We have launched a Patreon! To join, please head to https://www.patreon.com/TheThingAboutAusten. Thank you so much for supporting the work we do! Website/newsletter: https://www.thethingaboutausten.com Email: [email protected] Instagram: @TheThingAboutAusten Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop

Everyone loves a good trip to the seaside. Everyone, that is, except Mr. Woodhouse. This episode we take a deep dive into the practice of sea-bathing in Jane Austen's time. If you have ever used your favorite apothecary as your anti-seaside scapegoat, this episode is for you. We have launched a Patreon! To sign up and support the work we do, please head to https://www.patreon.com/TheThingAboutAusten. Thank you SO much! Website/newsletter: https://www.thethingaboutausten.com Email: [email protected] Instagram: @TheThingAboutAusten Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop

What exactly does Austen mean when she describes Mrs. Clay as being "under his protection"? And what's in it for everyone involved? This episode we examine the role of mistresses in 18th-century society. We have launched a Patreon! To sign up and support the work we do, please head to https://www.patreon.com/TheThingAboutAusten. Thank you SO much! Website/newsletter: https://www.thethingaboutausten.com Email: [email protected] Instagram: @TheThingAboutAusten Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop

The Dashwood ladies have moved to Devon, and everyone seems to have an opinion on their new digs. This episode we discuss cottages, in all their many permutations. If you have ever had to listen to someone brag about the house party they organized, this episode is for you. We have launched a Patreon! To sign up and support the work we do, please head to https://www.patreon.com/TheThingAboutAusten. Thank you SO much! Website/newsletter: https://www.thethingaboutausten.com Email: [email protected] Instagram: @TheThingAboutAusten Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop

Mrs. Bates may be sitting quietly in the corner, but her hands are always busy. This episode we are joined by knitting and crochet historian Eleanor Gilchrist to discuss the details of Mrs. Bates's knitting. We also take a look at Mrs. Smith's relationship to knitting in Persuasion. If you have ever needed tips on how to best show off your elegant hands and neck, this episode is for you. Thank you so much to Eleanor for joining us for this episode! You can find her on Instagram @stitchesandseeds. You can find us online at https://www.thethingaboutausten.com and follow us on Instagram @TheThingAboutAusten. You can email us at [email protected] and head over to https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop to check out our podcast related merch.

Emma has big plans for Harriet, and these plans require a backstory, which Emma is more than happy to concoct. This episode we unpack the meaning of the expression "natural daughter" and discuss the social context of illegitimacy in Austen's time. You can find us online at https://www.thethingaboutausten.com and follow us on Instagram @TheThingAboutAusten. You can email us at [email protected] and head over to https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop to check out our podcast related merch.

This episode we welcome back guest Damianne Scott to discuss Miss Lambe from Austen's unfinished work, Sanditon. Dami covers exactly why Miss Lambe is such an important character in Austen's canon, as well as delving into the portrayal of Miss Lambe in the recent television miniseries (consider this your spoiler warning for the show!). Thank you so much to Dami for joining us for this episode! You can find her on Instagram @BlackGirlLoves76, on X @BlackGirlLoves3, and on the Black Girl Loves Jane Facebook page. You can find us online at https://www.thethingaboutausten.com and follow us on Instagram @TheThingAboutAusten. You can email us at [email protected] and head over to https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop to check out our podcast related merch.

The Netherfield crew have all decamped for London, and Caroline wants to make sure that Jane knows all about it. This episode we're checking out Grosvenor Street and its surrounding environs before paying a visit to the Bingley sisters. We hope to see you at our Jane-uary Meet-up! Head over to our website to learn more and register: https://www.thethingaboutausten.com/p/2026-jane-uary-meet-up You can find us online at https://www.thethingaboutausten.com and follow us on Instagram @TheThingAboutAusten. You can email us at [email protected] and head over to https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop to check out our podcast related merch.