Persuasion: 21 - 24

The long awaited conclusion to the Persuasion conversation!

What is the deal with Mr. Elliot? Why did Wentworth just walk out on Anne at in the theater like that? How is all of this drama going to come to an end? Can Anne even handle it!? Of course she can, this is Austen after all.

This week Elle and Catrina talk all about Mr. Elliot and his motives, pick apart his dastardly plot, and have a tense conversation about just how swoon worthy the end of this book really is. After all, how powerful can a simple note even be?

Persuasion: Chapters 17 - 20

Anne is still stuck in Bath, but at least now she has a friend. After dealing with her family for too long, Anne is pleased to find an old school friend who is staying in Bath due to illness and financial troubles. What's more, the Crofts have come to Bath as well and Anne takes a walk with the admiral to find out that there is news of Louisa - also that Wentworth is on his way. Before she knows it, Anne's thoughts shift from avoiding her family to spending time near Wentworth.

This week Elle and Catrina discuss all of the happenings in Bath.  Everyone is milling about, sending letters, and repeating the same gossip over and over. Catrina highlights Anne's apprehension of Mr. Elliot now that she has spent more time with him.  Elle, on the other hand, wonders if Mr. Elliot didn't pull a John Thorpe and say something shady to Wentworth about Anne.

At least there is some good Austen-swooning romance brewing!

 Wit Beyond Measure is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts.      

Persuasion Chapters 13-16 

Anne seems to keep finding herself in awkward situations. First she is alone at the Musgrove home while everyone is still in Lyme. Then she retreats to Lady Russell's home only to be asked to spend the day with the Croft's in Kellynch Hall. When the Musgroves return and things begin to feel normal again, Anne and Kady Russell are told that the notorious Mr. Elliot has made amends with Sir Elliot. After hearing this news, Anne finally makes her way to her least favorite place, Bath.

Also, Louisa lives!

This week Catrina and Elle try to get into the mind of Anne Elliot. How is she feeling given everything that has happened lately? Elle talks about how Anne really doesn't like Bath, while Catrina talks about how Sir Elliot is still an embarrassment to the family.

Wit Beyond Measure is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts.     

 Persuasion Chapters 9-12 

Anne is finding that having to spend a lot of time around her former lover, Captain Wentworth really isn't that bad. He is always hanging around the Musgrove family and flirting with Louisa and Henrietta. He is always nice and cordial to Anne. He fails to catch Louisa, who falls and breaks her head. It's probably fine. 

Also, Anne catches the eye of a handsome gentleman.

This week Elle and Catrina discuss Captain Wentworth's interactions with Anne and his dangerous flirting with the Musgrove sisters. Elle compares them to the Bertram sisters, who also found themselves fighting over a man. Catrina, however, talks about how ironic it is that Wentworth only starts to see Anne as the snack she is once another man sets his eye on her. 

Who is this mysterious man? Will the Musgrove sisters fall into the same trap as the Bertram sisters? Does Louisa survive her injury?

Wit Beyond Measure is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts.    

Persuasion Chapters 5-8

Everything is fine, perfectly fine, right Anne? Sure your ex is hanging around. A lot, actually. He is always around. What's up with that? Oh, he is also flirting with your sisters-in-law. Yeah, it's fine. It's fine. Everything is totally fine. 

This week Elle and Catrina go through all the drama that has been happening around Anne Elliot. Wentworth comes around, and Anne has to face him for the first time since breaking his heart. We're sure it's going to be just fine. Right?

Wit Beyond Measure is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts.   

Persuasion: Chapters 1-4

Sir Elliot of Kellynch-Hall has high standards. He has no sons, and his heir chose not to marry his eldest daughter. Now he must face a massive lifestyle change to pay his debts, and he isn't thrilled about the prospect of renting his home. Luckily his clever middle daughter, Anne, and friend Lady Russell help him. However, this new renter puts Anne in an awkward situation of the heart.

Season five has finally started, and Catrina and Elle tackle Jane Austen's Persuasion.  Elle admits that she has never read Persuasion despite it being one of Austen's most popular novels. Needless to say, she has no idea what is going on between Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth.

Wit Beyond Measure is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts.  

Persuasion is one of Austen's most popular novels, but somehow Elle still has no idea what it is about. But, she has seen Sweet Home Alabama? Is it the same thing?

Final Mansfield Park adaptations!

What would happens if Fanny Price decided to take her life into her own hands? How would her life change? Would Edmund get his just deserts? What if Lady Bertram was really into ancient Egyptian artifacts? What if she accidentally woke up an ancient mummy, who happened to fall in love with Fanny Price? Is it Mansfield Park meets The Mummy*?

This week Elle and Catrina read two Mansfield Park adaptations that add a bit of a twist. Elle reads A Contrary Wind, where Fanny gets tired of her place at Mansfield Park and becomes a governess. But Fanny's absence throws off the lives of everyone, especially Mary, Edmund, and Henry. Catrina gets "weird book of the week" for reading Mansfield Park and Mummies. This wild adventure adaptation is Austen's novel with the added obstacle of mummies and a love stricken pharaoh.

*The Mummy (1999) starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz of course.

Wit Beyond Measure is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts.  

Mansfield Park Adaptations

What would life at Mansfield Park look like if it wasn't the early 1800s? What if the park was picked up and moved to 1930s Chicago, or modern day England? What would the story look like without the societal restrictions of the time, but with the modern inconveniences we have today?

This week Catrina and Elle take a look at two more "modern" Mansfield Park adaptations. Elle's book, Bellevere House, takes place in 1930's Chicago and adds a comedic flair to the Austen classic. It also features a much better version of Edmund. Catrina's book, She's the One, fast forwards Mansfield Park to modern day England. This version of the Bertram family looks more like the Osbornes than the Austens. 

Both of these books were self-published, and Catrina's book is available on Kindle Unlimited. Check them out!

Wit Beyond Measure is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts. 

This week Catrina tells Elle all about a modern Young Adult adaptation of Mansfield Park. Elle shares a list of great books by Indigenous authors to check out, including swooning romances, rom-coms, fiction, and poetry.

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court decided that the historic ruling of Roe vs Wade should be overturned. This will send any laws regarding women's rights to abortion healthcare access to the states, many of which have already put in place extremely restrictive and dangerous trigger laws. Catrina and Elle take time to discuss their opinions on this ruling.

Elle also discusses abortion access and laws during the revolutionary war era up to the early 1800's. Would Jane Austen have had access to an abortion? Would it have been legal for her to get one?

Wit Beyond Measure is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts.