We're cross-posting this special episode of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, which we've released today. This year in commemoration of Juneteenth, Not Sorry is spotlighting The Final 5 Campaign, a coalition working to close the final five youth prisons in Illinois. Vanessa is joined in conversation by one of their leaders, Alicia Brown, who tells us about what it means to be a prison abolitionist and her work with the campaign. 

Please join us by making a donation, learning more about the failures of youth prisons, contacting your legislators about prisons in your state, and listening to their new podcast, Free The Youth.

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Mr. Collins, the Bennets’ horrible cousin, has arrived at Longbourn in Chapters 13 and 14 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren dig into Collins as a religious figure and the impact of his sermonizing on the Bennet daughters.

Dr. Sandra Macpherson joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the entail and British land law. Our next episode is on July 1st and we'll meet another exciting character - Mr. Wickham!

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With Jane sick upstairs, Elizabeth is stuck navigating the drawing room at Netherfield in chapters 9 through 12 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the influence of The Enlightenment on Austen, continue their discussion about Caroline Bingley, and evaluate the budding chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy.

Nell Stevens joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the ‘mean girl’ trope. You can pre-order her upcoming book here. Our next episode is on June 17th and we'll meet the wonderfully silly Mr. Collins!

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Poor Jane Bennet has caught a cold in the rain in Chapters 7 + 8 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Darcy’s moral compass, the value of reading, and the prototypical ‘mean girl' – Caroline Bingley. 

Thanks to Dr. Tim Fulford for speaking to us this week about the military context of Austen’s England. Our next episode is on May 27th and we'll hunker down in the Netherfield parlor in Chapters 9 through 12.

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The Lucases take center stage in Chapters 5+6 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the friendship between Charlotte and Lizzy and the way that historical and cultural ideas around masculinity might affect how we read Darcy. 

Thanks to Dr. Kate Fullagar for speaking to us this week about notions of savagery in 18th century England. Our next episode is on May 20th and we'll travel to Netherfield in Chapters 7 and 8.

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If you plan to read along with us, we have a monthly zoom book club you can join on our Patreon!

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It’s time for the Assembly Ball and Bingley and Darcy are on the scene in Chapters 3 and 4 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Darcy’s famously bad first impression on Lizzy as well as the socio-political dynamics of a ball in the 19th century and today.

Our next episode is out on May 6th and we'll spend some time with Charlotte Lucas in chapters 5+6!

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Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!

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Vanessa and Lauren dive into Pride and Prejudice, starting with a close look at Chapters 1 and 2. They discuss the famous first line of the book, the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, and the brief glimpse of Lizzie we get in this chapter.  

Our next episode is on April 22nd and we'll get our first glimpse of Mr. Darcy in chapters 3+4.

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Pride and Prejudice is one of the most famous and beloved novels of all time. It’s also, in many ways, the foundational text of the Romance genre.

In our quest to unravel the gifts, mysteries, and inner workings of romance literature, it seemed only right that we turn to Lizzy and Darcy next.

But before we jump into the first chapters, a few questions need to be answered. Questions like: Who is Jane Austen, and why does everyone care so much about this book? 

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If you plan to read along with us, we have a small book club you can join on our Patreon!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Throughout our season of On Eyre, we've given you some small glimpses into the life of Charlotte Brontë. You probably know that she came from a literary family, that she attended a school very like Lowood, and that she died young. But before we put Jane Eyre back on the shelf, we wanted to spend some more time with dear Charlotte and her life in Haworth.

This episode we're joined by the incredible Brontë biographer, Dr. Juliet Barker. Juliet shares with us more about how the Brontë children grew up, their joys and tragedies, and what the success of Jane Eyre meant to Charlotte.

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