Into The Austenverse

DC and Lisa share a bonus episode after attending the Jane Austen Society of Australia (JASA) conference at the Epping Club, thanking organizers including Susannah Fullerton, Harriet, and Cheryl, and recounting nerves, a coffee spill, and their PowerPoint presentation. They then recreate their conference talk, presenting a “Guide to Love” through Sense and Sensibility’s Marianne Dashwood and Northanger Abbey’s Henry Tilney. The steps include seeking love in suitable places, behaving properly, using chaperones, giving appropriate gifts at the right time (notably critiquing Willoughby’s early horse gift and discussing locks of hair and Brandon’s pianoforte from the 1995 film), and letting love grow over time. They also highlight Henry’s respectful reading habits, conclude that Austen’s lessons still apply today, and reiterate: never give a horse in the first week of dating.

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David and Lisa return on Into the Austenverse to thank listeners for reviews, note BritBox’s US success with The Other Bennet Sister (reaching 1.5 million subscribers), and discuss how gentler love stories may counter more explicit hits like Amazon Prime’s Off Season. A listener correction highlights a dancing-practice scene in Emma (2020). They mention BritBox’s future investment in Agatha Christie and tease a bonus episode on the highly popular novel, Yesteryear. The main discussion covers Sanditon Episode 4, which they find a little less satisfying this week.  They discuss Arthur (obv), the Esther/Edward/Clara conflict, Tom’s worsening debts, and Georgiana’s secret meeting with Otis, including abolitionist context via the Sons of Africa and tensions around Sidney’s opposition to the match.

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DC and Lisa open with a Sense and Sensibility quote (“My heart is, and always will be, yours”) that appeared on a high profile wedding napkin over the weekend.  They discuss how Austen permeates popular culture, then interview TikTok creator and musician Mickie Austen Rollins, discovered through her clips about The Other Bennet Sister. Mickie explains falling in love with Pride and Prejudice as a teen, changing her middle name to Austen, and why she considers Austen “punk” for her social commentary, class critique, and witty, nonconforming women. She praises The Other Bennet Sister for respecting Austen fandom, discusses casting and costuming concerns for upcoming Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility adaptations, critiques Sanditon’s hair choices, strongly dislikes Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, and recommends reading Austen biographies (Paula Byrne, Gill Hornby) emphasizing Cassandra’s importance and Austen’s hardships and legacy.

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David and Lisa Campbell are back in Sanditon - Sidney’s warming up, Mr Stringer has a massive hat,  Charlotte is running the town and the German Dr. Maximilian Fuchs has arrived with his magic shower. 

IT IS ALL GOING ON.

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Whilst DC is in Japan, Lisa pops in to say hello.  This is not the ACTUAL bonus episode, they will be doing the talk they gave at the JASA Conference - A Guide To Love through Marianne Dashwood and Henry Tilney in coming days.  But in the meantime, Lisa points to some lovely correspondence that they have had, including some wonderful Austen adjacent creativity.

Olivia Beaumont's song Lost In Austen

Penny Ashton's Promises and Promiscuity is touring Australia now.

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David and Lisa Campbell recap Sanditon Season 1, Episode 2 starting with historical context about pineapples as Regency status symbols. They discuss key plot beats: Charlotte swims hatless, Sidney broods, and a cringe-inducing church sermon by the reverend signals a tone shift away from strict “Austen world.” Edward and Esther’s relationship is revealed as step-siblings, while Clara’s leverage threatens their scheme. Lady Denham stages a pineapple luncheon for Miss Lambe (Georgiana), but the event turns ugly with racist remarks about Georgiana’s mother, prompting Georgiana to flee before Charlotte helps her and they bond. Lady Denham then threatens to withdraw funding from Tom Parker’s Sanditon project. The hosts also note Sidney is Georgiana’s ward, debate Sidney’s efforts to attract investors, and highlight Arthur as the episode’s hero for cutting open the rotten pineapple and supporting Georgiana.

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DC and Lisa introduce an interview with writer of The Other Bennet Sister, Sarah Quintrell.  They  discuss the show’s enthusiastic reception, including its US launch and high Rotten Tomatoes scores. Quintrell explains why Mary Bennet’s story resonates now, focusing on nuanced female and young female experiences, and recounts her own introduction to Jane Austen. She describes discovering the manuscript through producer Jane Tranter while working at Bad Wolf, her concern about being pushed to sensationalize the story, and the creative decision to shift from hour-long episodes to ten half-hour installments. She discusses bringing in Maddie Dye to write episode four, creating the character Anne Baxter to support Mary’s journey, portraying complex mother figures, and casting choices including Ella Bruccoleri as Mary, Donal Finn as Heywood, Lucy Briers as Hill, and Tanya Reynolds’ Caroline Bingley. Quintrell notes conversations about potential future stories while avoiding “cheating” the audience.

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David and Lisa Campbell celebrate Mother’s Day, discuss gifts, and begin an episode-by-episode series on Sanditon. They outline the novel’s history—Austen’s unfinished 1817 work (originally titled The Brothers), twelve chapters published in 1925—and compare its focus and structure to the ITV adaptation developed by Andrew Davies. They recap Sanditon episode one: the Parkers’ pitch for a new seaside resort, Lady Denham as chief investor, the arrival of Sidney Parker (Theo James), hints of inheritance scheming, and a sexual incident involving Sir Edward and Clara. They discuss the show’s modern, decadent look, sea-bathing machines, fast editing, character tropes, and the introduction of Miss Lambe, a wealthy woman of color written by Austen. They close by teasing an upcoming interview with Sarah Quintrell, writer of The Other Bennet Sister.

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A quick update on the Austenverse with two of the new entrants joining forces at fashion's Night of Nights, then on to America's first impressions of TOBS before we get the further interview that David did with Ella Bruccoleri for his TV show, Today Extra.

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Hosts David and Lisa Campbell preview upcoming The Other Bennet Sister content (including more Ella Bruccoleri) and then discuss the 2007 film The Jane Austen Book Club, based on Karen Joy Fowler’s bestselling novel, questioning whether it belongs in the “Austenverse.” From dog funerals to separating eggs, this film has it all... maybe a little too much.   What do you think?  What about DC's hot take regarding the student being a figment of Prudie (Emily Blunt)'s imagination?  Are you Team Grigg?  Let us know what you think:

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