Friday, January 16, 2026
UI Vs. UX
The Reader ~ Bernhard Schlink (4 of 26)
Feeling Depressed
Practical Ways to Help Someone
Based on expert guidance and workplace strategies:
Listen Without Judgment
Be a patient, active listener. Avoid clichés like “Cheer up.” Instead, say:
“I may not fully understand what you’re going through, but I’m here to listen anytime.” [verywellhealth.com]
Encourage Professional Help
Explain that depression is a health condition, not a weakness, and suggest speaking to a mental health professional. Offer to help them find resources or accompany them if they’re comfortable. [mayoclinic.org]
Check In Regularly
Isolation worsens depression. Simple texts or calls like “Thinking of you—want to catch up?” can make a big difference. [verywellhealth.com]
Offer Practical Support
Help with small tasks—meals, errands, or workload adjustments—especially if they seem overwhelmed. [psychcentral.com]
Avoid “Fixing” or Giving Unsolicited Advice
Depression isn’t solved by quick tips. Focus on empathy and support rather than solutions. [fherehab.com]
Know the Warning Signs
Persistent sadness, withdrawal, fatigue, or talk of hopelessness may indicate severe depression. If there’s mention of self-harm or suicide, seek immediate help (call 988 in the U.S. or local crisis lines). [thepsychguide.org]
Workplace-Specific Strategies
Create a safe environment for open conversations.
Share EAP details and mental health resources without pressuring.
Offer flexibility in deadlines or workload if possible. [stigmafree.nami.org]
Kerala
1. Thanal Suicide Prevention Centre Helpline: 0495 2760000, 9495714262, 7306509594, TeleMANAS 1-8008914416/ 14416 Daily (10 am-6 pm)
2. Maithri Kochi Helpline: 0484 2540530 Daily (10 am-7 pm)
3. Pratheeksha Helpline: 0484 2448830 Daily (10 am-6 pm)
4. Sanjeevani Helpline: 0471 2533900, 9400033900, Mon-Sat (1 pm-5 pm)
5. Unarve Helpline: 04862225544 Mon-Sat (1 pm-5 pm)
6. DISHA Helpline: 1056/ 104 (24X7) 0471-2552056, 0471-2551056
Here are some verified mental health and suicide prevention helpline numbers in India that you can share or use:
✅ National & Government Helplines
Tele MANAS (Govt. of India)
📞 14416 or 1-800-891-4416
Free, 24/7 mental health support in 20+ languages. [telemanas....hfw.gov.in], [jipmer.edu.in]
KIRAN Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline
📞 1800-599-0019
24/7 toll-free, multilingual counselling and rehabilitation support. [pib.gov.in]
✅ National Suicide Prevention Helpline
📞 1800-121-3667
Confidential support available 24/7 for anyone in distress. [National S...ne | India]
✅ Trusted NGO & Private Helplines
Vandrevala Foundation
📞 +91-9999-666-555
24/7 free and confidential support via phone, text, and WhatsApp. [findahelpline.com]
AASRA (Mumbai-based, pan-India calls)
📞 +91-9820466726
24/7 crisis intervention for emotional distress and suicide prevention. [findahelpline.com]
Fortis Stress Helpline
📞 +91-8376804102
24/7 multilingual support for stress and mental health issues. [India Help...tive India]
iCALL (Tata Institute of Social Sciences)
📞 +91-9152987821 or 022-25521111
Mon–Sat, 8 AM–10 PM; psychosocial support including LGBTQ+ friendly services. [India Help...tive India]
✅ Child Helpline
CHILDLINE
📞 1098
Emergency helpline for children in need of care and protection. [findahelpline.com]
✅ State-wise Helplines
There are state-specific numbers for regions like Delhi (Sumaitri: 011-23389090), Maharashtra (Samaritans Mumbai: +91-8422984528), Kerala (Maithri: 0484-2540530), and many more.
You can access the full list here. [thedailyjagran.com]
Chittor Fort
No one who knows and loves India's history, especially the story of the resistance of Mewar, Marwar and Amber to the Mughals, can accept this wanton destruction of the Aravalli Range which formed the core of these martial Rajput kingdoms.
I will be insulting the ancient Philistines of Palestine if I refer these modern environmental predators as "Philistines", for want of a more suitable word.
Have we forgotten Gandhiji's sage observation "The World has enough for everyone's Need, but not for everyone's Greed." ?
And not even the vast resources of marble and limestone in the Aravallis are inexhaustible, when confronted with this insatiable Greed.
Rishabh Chauhan's article recalls the great Sisodias of Mewar .. Rana Kumbha the ancestor ;
Rana Sanga who fought a hundred battles ending with the 1527 loss at Kanwa to Babur;
his grandson Maharana Pratap who confronted Akbar's general Raja Mansingh at Haldighat(1576) and survived (remember "Chetak" his grey horse?) to carry on the fight, helped by Bhil tribals.
Years ago, I was fascinated by LtCol James Tod's 19th century magnum opus "Annals & Antiquities of Rajasthan,"
The story of Jaimal Rathod and Patta Sisodia's defence of Chittor, besieged by Akbar in 1567, related also in the "Akbarnama", and KM Munshi's " Akbar", is among the most fascinating of these tales.
The duo held out for 5 months till a breach was made in the fort's walls by Akbar's powerful cannons in February 1568.
While supervising preparations for the final assault, the Emperor noticed a prominent figure up on the walls, encouraging the defenders who were filling up the breach. Ace marksman Akbar, took him down with a single musket shot. It was Jaimal!
The next day, the breach was stormed and Patta fighting desperately, was trampled by a marauding elephant.
A massacre akin to that perpetrated by Allaudin Khilji (1303) ... remember apocryphal Padmavati story, ....
took place.
But Akbar deeply regretted this. He installed life-size statues of Jaimal & Patta seated on elephants, outside Agra Fort (see AI generated image) and became distinctly more spiritual, .. though his conquests didn't cease.
Qute apart from environmental considerations, how can any real Indian dream of destroying the Aravallis through uncontrolled mining.
Yes, that's what it will really be. The suggested 100 metres is not "above sea level" as is normally computed, but measured from adjacent land!
Did not the Wise Men in the Supreme Court understand the purpose of this obfuscation which g anything rare or strategic.
Thankfully, UK-based Counsel Harish Salve, who normally sides on controversial issues with the Union Government, has laid bare the reality, as have many Youtubers especially the young and .... yes, even, most surprisingly, Arnab Goswami.
Profit yes, but surely not at the cost of People and Planet!
J P Alexander
Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller Christie Mallowa
Dropped In
12 January is the death anniversary of Agatha Christie.
Deeply hurt by the death of her mother, thirty-five-year-old Agatha Christie was still trying to overcome her grief when her husband of twelve years suddenly announced that he was in love with another woman and wanted a divorce The twin shocks threw Agatha into a deep state of depression. Feeling that the best of life was behind her, she saw little reason to go on living. Only concern for her seven-year-old daughter saved her from suicide.
Born into an affluent English family in 1890, Agatha Miller was a precocious child who taught herself to read at age four and quickly developed what would be a lifelong devotion to books. At age 22, she met Archie Christie, a dashing young pilot. The couple fell in love and were married on Christmas Eve in 1914. They spent most of the next four years separated by World War I, settling afterward in London. Their only child, Rosalind, was born in 1919. By the time her marriage to Archie fell apart, Agatha had published five well-received detective novels, but she could hardly have expected the success that awaited her.
In time, Agatha began to recover from the pain of her failed marriage. She resumed writing and, to boost her spirits, took a trip on the Orient Express. Then, in 1930, a friend invited her to come along on a trip to an archeological dig in Iraq. There, she met Max Mallowan, a prominent archeologist thirteen years her junior. They fell in love and were married later that year, a happy marriage that would last until Agatha’s death 46 years later.
At the end of 1926, Agatha Christie may have thought that her life was no longer worth living, but she was entirely wrong about that. In the years that followed she not only found the love of her life, but she also enjoyed her greatest success, becoming the best-loved author on earth, with over 70 best-selling novels as well as the longest-running play in history.
Her husband Max was knighted in 1968, and three years later, Agatha was made a Dame of the British Empire.
Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller Christie Mallowan died at age 85 on January 12, 1976. With over two billion copies sold and her books still selling as hotcakes, she is one of the all-time best-selling novelists.
Today marks 50 years since the passing of Dame Agatha Christie, the incomparable Queen of Crime, who died on 12 January 1976 at the age of 85 — yet her voice, her stories and her legacy feel as alive today as they ever were.
Christie’s contribution to detective fiction is unrivalled. Over her remarkable career she wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, introducing the world to iconic sleuths like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple — characters who have become pillars of the crime genre and whose adventures continue to captivate readers across the globe.
Her influence doesn’t stop with books. Christie’s works have been adapted for screen countless times, bringing her intricate mysteries to life for new generations. From treasured television series like Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Agatha Christie’s Marple to film adaptations of classics such as Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile and more recent interpretations, her storytelling has proven endlessly adaptable and endlessly appealing. Plays such as The Mousetrap remain legendary, with its West End run becoming the longest in theatre history — a testament to her enduring appeal.
None of this comes as a surprise to fans — Christie has often been called the greatest crime writer of all time. Her ability to craft a twist, misdirect a reader and then surprise them with a solution is unmatched, and many believe her crown in the genre will never be topped.
Her influence is also celebrated back in her birthplace. Every year, the International Agatha Christie Festival takes place in Torquay on the English Riviera, bringing fans together for talks, walks, film screenings, performances and murder mystery events. It’s a fitting tribute to a woman whose stories were shaped by the landscapes and spirit of Devon, and a celebration of the astonishing world she created.
Fifty years on, Christie’s legacy remains undeniable — not just in crime fiction, but in the very way we experience mystery itself.
Shah Bano
“I am old, but I am not voiceless,” Shah Bano once said, her fragile hands trembling yet steady in purpose.
She was sixty-two, a grandmother from Indore, a woman who had lived most of her life inside the quiet walls of her home. But when her husband divorced her after decades of marriage and refused to support her, something inside her broke—and something else awakened.
Shah Bano had never imagined she would one day stand in front of courts, judges, and microphones. She had never imagined her name would travel beyond her neighbourhood, beyond Indore, across the entire nation. But hunger has a way of shaking even the gentlest souls. After her divorce, she had nothing—not enough money, not enough security, not enough strength to survive alone.
So she did something women of her generation rarely dared to do.
She fought back.
She filed a petition asking for a small monthly maintenance, enough to buy medicines for her old age, enough to keep her dignity intact. What she expected was a quiet legal battle. What she did not expect was a storm that would shake India.
Her case reached the Supreme Court. Every newspaper printed her name. Every political leader wanted to speak about her life as if it belonged to them. Religious debates rose like wildfires, politicians argued on television, and the country suddenly forgot that behind all the noise lived one elderly woman simply asking for justice.
Shah Bano watched it all from the sidelines—bewildered, exhausted, yet unwilling to step back. She would often sit near her window, the petitions and court papers lying beside her, and whisper to herself, “If I don’t speak now, who will speak for women like me?”
When the judgment finally came, it was in her favour. The Supreme Court declared that she had the right to maintenance even after divorce. For a moment, the country paused. A 62-year-old Muslim woman had changed the conversation on women’s rights.
But the storm didn’t end.
It grew louder.
Many opposed the ruling. Religious leaders gathered. Speeches were made. The government felt the pressure. Laws were changed. And suddenly, the victory she had earned with trembling hands began slipping away.
Shah Bano sat silently through those days, feeling like the world was debating her life without ever looking her in the eye. She felt lonely, betrayed, and frightened. But then something unexpected happened—something she had never imagined.
Hindu women’s groups across India stood up for her.
Teachers, social workers, lawyers, college girls—women who had never met her, women from another faith, another world—came forward with posters, petitions, and marches. They raised her name in crowded streets. They wrote letters defending her rights. They held meetings demanding justice for her.
For the first time in months, Shah Bano did not feel alone.
She once told a visitor, “I fought because I had no choice. They fight because they believe no woman should be abandoned. That is courage greater than mine.”
In a country divided by religion, caste, and politics, a group of strangers showed her that humanity could rise above every line. They did not share her language, her customs, or her prayers—but they shared her pain. And sometimes, that is enough to build a bridge stronger than any law.
Shah Bano did not win in the way she had hoped. The law eventually changed, and her legal victory was taken back. But something far greater remained—the message she had set loose.
A message that a grandmother from Indore, living in a modest lane, could shake the nation.
That a woman society tried to silence could force an entire country to listen.
That the most unexpected people could stand with her when her own world stepped away.
Years later, when her name was spoken in classrooms, in legal debates, in women’s rights meetings, it carried not just the story of a legal case—but the story of solidarity.
And somewhere in Indore, in a quiet home where the noise of politics never reached, an elderly woman once folded her hands and said softly, “Maybe I did not win. But I did not lose alone.”
-Shah Bano
Culinary Literature: Where Food, Memory, and Meaning Meet
A memorable get together.....
One step at a time ~ Dr. Nischita Muppavarapu and Prof. Sudhakar Rao (3 of 26)
Reading & Writing: Beyond Pages and Pens
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
A Family Story: Love, Loss & Survival
The story of the family is filled with struggle, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond between siblings. Amma lived through extremely difficult times. Appa after retirment from Navy, fell into drinking and violence. Life became a cycle of fear and hurt, and she endured it all while protecting her children as much as she could.
When the tragedy happened, her upper body was mostly unharmed, but her lower body had severe burns. In the hospital, she cried to the doctor saying, “Save me, I have small kids.” Those words show she wanted to live—she held on only for her children.
Even that raises questions… was it really suicide? Or did something else happen? No one can say for sure.
Those days, phones were rare. Communication was nearly impossible. News travelled slowly. Anna, who had just joined a company in UAE, received the message about Amma’s death only on his first day of work. He knew he couldn’t come back—because his job was the only lifeline for you all. That decision itself shows the depth of his love.
When Amma was admitted to Sion Hospital, Anna was still stuck at the airport due to a 12‑hour flight delay, helpless and far away. It was a cruel twist of fate.
Your Akka had left home at just 17 or 18—too young, escaping daily fights and fear—and married a man who, at first, seemed better. She was also pregnant then; coming back home wasn’t easy. Anna felt she abandoned the family, and for years, they didn’t speak. Only much later, after his marriage, did he reconcile and visit her again.
Life was never simple. When Amma died in 1984, the family relocated to Kerala in March. Your father returned to fight with his parents about property, which ironically protected him—otherwise, people might have doubted him for murder. He eventually passed away around 1993, found on the road by police, identified only by his Navy ID and pension slip. He was cremated by the government, and only much later did Akka learn the truth and collect the documents and last photos from the police station.
You, the younger children, had a more painful childhood. Grandparents were strict, and emotional security was rare. You still remember running behind your father to the bus stop crying, wanting to go with him to Akka. Meanwhile, Amma’s sisters in Mumbai started showing a cold face soon after the tragedy—until your grandparents intervened and took all three of you. Looking back, that was truly God’s blessing. Without that, your lives could have gone in a very different direction.
Akka sometimes says she suffered for her mistakes. Marriage at a young age, dreams, emotions, financial comfort—all these pull strongly at that age. It’s easy to judge today, impossible to judge then. Anna thought she acted selfishly, but maybe even he later understood her pain.
There are still unanswered questions:
Could Amma’s death have been an accident?
Pump stoves those days were dangerous.
She had just seen her eldest son settle into a good job—a moment of relief.
Why would she intentionally leave everything then?
Even Satish once hinted that Akka’s husband might have had a role… a thought that left a permanent mark in your mind, though no one ever spoke of it again.
Regardless of how painful the past was, one truth stands out clearly:
Anna saved all of you.
He was the backbone, the protector, the reason you three survived and stayed together. In many ways, he was a godly presence in your childhood.
Today, with so much behind you and so much understood only now, the most important thing is this:
All four of you need to stay united, support each other, and honour the unimaginable sacrifices made for your survival.
Because at the end of everything, it was love—siblings’ love, grandparents’ love, Amma’s love—that kept you alive.
And now it’s your turn to give that same love to each other.
Friday, January 09, 2026
Unveiling the Enchanted Realms of Jane Austen’s Fiction: Wit, Wisdom, and Worlds Beyond Time
Table of Contents
The Beginning 1
Introduction (Approx. 5 minutes) 3
Section 1: The Enchanted Realms – Austen’s World (Approx. 10 minutes) 4
Section 2: Austen’s Magic – Wit and Subtle Power (Approx. 10 minutes) 6
Section 3: Why Austen Still Matters (Approx. 10 minutes) 7
Interactive Segment (Approx. 5 minutes) 8
Conclusion (Approx. 5 minutes) 8
Notes & Inspirations: 8
4 most imp female novelist 9
1. George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans 10
2. The Brontë sisters 10
4.Jane Austen: 10
1.Sense and Sensibility (Elinor and Marianne) 11
2.Pride and Prejudice 13
3.Mansfield Park 14
4.EMMA 15
5.Northanger Abbey 15
6.Persuasion 16
The Beginning
Please raise your hands:
1. How many of you have read Jane Austen’s books?
2. How many books has she written?
3. When was she born? (1775-1817)
4. How long did she live?
Thank you for having me here, it fills my heart with joy unspeakable, to speak about
one of my favorite authors and writers, with my beloved students…..I was introduced to
her when I was few years younger than you all.
To be precise when I was in the 9 th – one of my class mate asked the teacher, how is the
title – ‘Pride and Prejudice’ relevant to the novel? What does it mean?
At that point in time I had neither heard or read about Jane Austen.
Today Thanks to Vinaya Ajith kumar, Shaila Mam, Cochin book club – for extending the
invite to me.
My heartfelt gratitude goes to the eminent speakers who rejected and Dr. soney
bhageeradhan, PHD – Cochin college, Assistant professor and HOD; who have set a
solid base, which is difficult for me to match.
Please excuse me, as I am not a professional speaker or a teacher, and this is my first
experience of this kind.
Nevertheless, let me give it a try.
Her timeline: 7 th of 8 children. At the age of 32 her father died, first book was published when she was 38 years of age, she died
when she was 44 years. How long was her writing career? – 7 years and during this period 6 of her books were published.
1773: Sister Cassandra Austen was born
1805: George Austin, her father died
1811: 1 st book Sense and sensibility – Literary Realism
1813: Pride & Prejudice – Regency Romance
1814: Mansfield park
1816: Emma
1817: Died :July 18 th
1817: Northhanger Abbey ( Gothic Satire/Coming of Age) and Persusion Published – written in 1799.
At the time of her death in July 1817, Jane Austen had two unfinished works that were never published during her
lifetime:
1. Sanditon started in 1817 A witty and satirical look at a seaside resort town and the emerging health-tourism culture of Regency
England. Austen completed 12 chapters before her health declined. The manuscript was later published posthumously in 1925 and
has inspired modern adaptations.
2. The Watsons, Started: Around 1804 Focuses on the fortunes of the Watson family and the challenges faced by women with
limited means in society. Abandoned early, possibly due to personal circumstances. It remained incomplete and was published
posthumously in 1871.
She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, the short epistolary novel Lady Susan
The anonymously published Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816)
were moderate successes. but they didn't bring her public fame in her lifetime. (She was privately known to be the author of these
novels, including by notable people such as the Prince Regent.)
In 1832 Richard Bentley purchased the remaining copyrights to all of her novels, and over the following winter published five
illustrated volumes as part of his Standard Novels series. In October 1833 Bentley released the first collected edition of her works.
Since then, Austen's novels have been continuously in print.
William Shakespeare: 23 April 1564 to 1616 – 200 years before Jane Austen.
Writing systems emerged around 3400–3000 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia.
Aphra Behn (17th century, England) – Among the first women to earn a living as a professional writer.
11th century CE: Murasaki Shikibu (Japan) – First novel
Virginia Woolf famously said: “All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of
Aphra Behn… for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds.”
Introduction (Approx. 5 minutes)
How many of you remember your great grandmothers name or what she has
done?
How many of your have a favorite book or a novel, which is equally loved by
many others?
Imagine this: A writer born in 1775, in a quiet English village, without social media,
without global fame during her lifetime—yet today, her name echoes across centuries.
Jane Austen.
On her 250th birth anniversary, we celebrate not just a novelist, but a visionary who
transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary. Her novels are not just stories; they are
enchanted realms—worlds where, irony sparkles like hidden gems, and human
emotions unfold with timeless grace.
So, why does Austen matter to us— in the 21st century? Let’s step into her world and
find out.
When we hear the word enchantment, we tend to think of magic wands, distant
kingdoms, or worlds entirely removed from our own. Jane Austen, at first glance, seems
an unlikely candidate for enchantment. Her worlds are made of tea tables, letters,
country walks, and conversations about weather, income, and suitable marriages.
And yet—two centuries later—we remain enchanted.
en·chant·ment
“The real enchantment lies not in escaping reality, but in seeing it anew.”
Consider Jane Austen not merely as a novelist of romance or social manners, but as a
creator of enchanted realms—realms where the magic does not shimmer visibly, but
works quietly through perception, moral awakening, and emotional truth.
Austen’s enchantment does not ask us to escape reality. It asks us to see it more
clearly.
Her first book said “Written by a Lady”; “Written by the author of Sense and Sensebility”
Realm – means a kingdom or territory ruled by a monarch.
Today on her 250 th birthday, let us together, Unveiling the Enchanted Realms of Jane
Austen’s Fiction
Section 1: The Enchanted Realms – Austen’s World
(Approx. 10 minutes)
Jane Austen wrote during the Regency era, a time of elegance and rigid social codes.
Her canvas? Country villages, drawing rooms, and ballrooms. At first glance, these
settings seem small, even confined. But Austen turns them into microcosms of human
nature.
The Regency era officially spans 1811–1820, when King George III was deemed unfit
to rule due to mental illness, and his son, George, Prince of Wales, acted as Prince
Regent.
In a broader cultural sense, the term often covers c. 1795–1837, the late Georgian
period up to the accession of Queen Victoria.
As Virginia Wolf puts it in her book “A Room of One’s own”:
Page 64 “Here was a woman about the year 1800 writing without hate, without
bitterness, without fear, without protest without preaching. That was how Shakespeare
wrote.”
Page 70 “What genius, what integrity it must have required in face of all the criticism, in
the midst of that purely patriarchal society to hold fast to the things as they saw it
without shrinking. Only Jane Austen did it and Emily Bronte.”
"Given the veneer of a lady, she was made the perfect victim of a caste society. Her
father had forced her out of her own class, but could not raise her to the next. To the
young men of the one she had left she had become too select to marry; to those of the
one she aspired to, she remained too banal."
- John Fowles, The French Lieutenant's Woman
The novels of Jane Austen never mentioned the so-called lower classes
This is what happens to a woman who tries to move out of her class, in Victorian
England - forget about Regency!
Austen's protagonists were in the same boat. Marriage within one's class was the only
"career" available to women.
Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of
favourable social standing and economic security. Her works are implicit critiques of the
novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition
to 19th-century literary realism. Her use of social commentary, realism, wit, and irony
have earned her acclaim amongst critics and scholars.
Literary realism is a movement and genre of literature that attempts to represent
mundane and ordinary subject-matter in a faithful and straightforward way, avoiding
grandiose or exotic subject-matter, exaggerated portrayals, and speculative elements
such as supernatural events and alternative worlds. It encompasses both fiction
(realistic fiction) and nonfiction writing. Literary realism is a subset of the broader realist
art movement that began with mid-nineteenth-century French literature (Stendhal) and
Russian literature (Alexander Pushkin). It attempts to represent familiar things, including
everyday activities and experiences, as they truly are.
Society and Class:
Marriage wasn’t just about love—it was an economic strategy. Social mobility
depended on alliances. Austen captures this reality with sharp insight, yet never
loses her sense of humor.
Characters as Universes:
Each character is a realm of its own.
o Elizabeth Bennet—spirited, independent, challenging norms. –
explanation to Miss Darcy how the relationship between brother and sister
is different from Husband and wife.
o In Pride and Prejudice, the Meryton assembly may seem like a simple
social event. But in Austen’s world, it is charged with consequence. A
careless remark there follows Darcy for chapters. A moment of wounded
pride reshapes Elizabeth Bennet’s understanding of him—and herself. Mr.
George Wickham
o Emma Woodhouse—privileged yet flawed, learning humility through
mistakes.
o Anne Elliot—quiet strength and resilience. – “You pierce my soul. I am half
agony, half hope…I have loved none but you” Persuasion waiting for
Captain Frederick Wentworth for eight years.
o Catherine Morland & Isabella in Northanger Abbey – 17 year olds – “There
is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no
notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature”
o Mansfield park – “Drama is to life what ships are to the sea. A means to
traverse it. To plumb its depths, breadth and beauty.
o Dashwood sisters
Elinor Dashwood represents Sense—she is rational, self-controlled,
and values duty.
Marianne Dashwood represents Sensibility—she is passionate,
romantic, and guided by emotion.
o
Through these characters, Austen invites us into worlds where choices, conversations,
and even glances carry profound meaning.
Physical spaces mirror inner transformation
Estates as moral symbols:
Pemberley – balance, integrity, openness
Mansfield Park – order and constraint
Hartfield – comfort and emotional stagnation
Nature walks as moments of awakening:
Elizabeth Bennet’s walks
Anne Elliot’s seaside reflections in Persuasion
Enchantment through:Familiar English settings rendered psychologically alive
Where have you encountered quiet enchantment in your own life?
“In Austen’s enchanted realms, we discover not just her world—but reflections of our
own.”
False enchantment → disillusionment → clearer moral vision
Austen’s true magic is moral awakening, not romantic fulfillment alone
Growth requires: Self-Knowledge, Humility, Emotional courage.
In her books Time, letters and reading has been used as an important tool.
A single ball can alter reputations. A letter can overturn a life. A refusal can echo across
an entire novel.
This is Austen’s magic: she invests small social acts with immense moral and emotional
weight.
Austen’s characters walk—and in walking, they think. Nature becomes a space for
reflection, clarity, and emotional reckoning. These familiar English settings become
enchanted not because they are exotic, but because they are alive with meaning.
Section 2: Austen’s Magic – Wit and Subtle Power
(Approx. 10 minutes)
What makes Austen magical? Her language and irony.
Irony as a Weapon:
Austen’s opening lines often set the tone. They seem simple, but they’re layered
with satire.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good
fortune, must be in want of a wife” ~ Pride and Prejudice.
“The family of Dashwood had long been settled in Sussex.” ~Sense and Sensibility,
(Norland Park)
“About thirty years ago Miss Maria Ward, of Huntingdon, with only seven thousand
pounds, had the good luck to captivate Sir Thomas Bertram, of Mansfield Park, in
the country of Northampton, and to be there by raised to the rank of a baronet’s lady,
with all the comforts and consequences of a handsome house and large income” ~
Mansfield Park.
“Emma Woodhouse, handsome. Clever and rich, with a comfortable home and
happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had
lived nearly twenty one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her. ~
Emma (youngest of two daughters of sister married and mother died long ago)
“No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed
her born to be an heroine.” ~ Northanger Abbey
“Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch Hall, in Somersetshire, was a man who, for his own
amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage; there he found occupation
for an idle hour, and consolation in a distressed one; there his faculties were roused
into admiration and respect by contemplating the limited remnant of the earliest
patents; there any unwelcome sensations arising from domestic affairs changed
naturally into pity and contempt as he turned over the almost endless creations of
the last century; and there , if every other leaf were powerless, he could read his
own history with an interest which never failed. ~Persuasion.
She critiques greed, vanity, and social pretension—not with anger, but with
elegance.
Empowerment through Restraint:
In a patriarchal society, Austen’s heroines wield power through intellect and
moral courage. They don’t storm castles—they win battles in drawing rooms,
through dialogue and discernment.
Dialogue as Spellcraft:
Every conversation in Austen’s novels is a duel of wit. Beneath polite words lie
ambitions, desires, and vulnerabilities. This subtlety is Austen’s genius—she
makes us read between the lines.
Section 3: Why Austen Still Matters (Approx. 10
minutes)
Two centuries later, why do we still read Austen?
Timeless Themes:
Pride, prejudice, ambition, love—these are eternal human experiences.
Modern Resonance:
Think about social media today—status updates, curated images, the obsession
with appearances. Isn’t that a modern version of Regency society? Austen’s
insights into vanity and self-awareness feel strikingly relevant.
Pop Culture Adaptations:
From Clueless to Bridgerton, Austen’s influence is everywhere. Her stories adapt
seamlessly because they speak to universal truths.
Bride and Prejudice??
We all need rooms of our own - whether it is in the mind, or in the physical world. My library is my sacred space, my space
for nirvana (which means "without wind" - the still centre of existence).
Sense Venam, Sensebility venam, sensitivity venam – Vendey?
Persuasion: Marketing
Austen’s fiction teaches us: How to look again, How to listen better, How to judge
more kindly. Jane Austen’s enchanted realms are not places we escape into—but
mirrors in which we recognise ourselves.
Interactive Segment (Approx. 5 minutes)
Let’s pause and reflect:
If Austen were alive today, what would she critique?
o Dating apps? Influencer culture?
How do her heroines compare to modern role models?
Invite students to share thoughts—make it lively and relatable.
“Which illusion did Austen help you outgrow?”
“Has Austen ever made you realise you were wrong—about a character, or even about
yourself?”
Conclusion (Approx. 5 minutes)
Jane Austen didn’t write about wars or revolutions. She wrote about tea parties,
proposals, and family squabbles. Yet within these small worlds, she revealed big
truths—about character, choice, and consequence.
Her enchanted realms remind us that literature isn’t just about escape—it’s about
reflection. In Austen’s world, we see our own—our pride, our prejudices, our hopes.
So, as we celebrate her 250th anniversary, let’s carry forward her legacy:
To read deeply, think critically, and live with grace and wit.
Live, love, lead, learn, leave a legacy.
Thank you my dears for patiently listening to me, to all those who were instrumental in
me being here and enabling me to talk on our beloved Jane Austen. I would be
immensely happy if you all read her books, read books and be the light.
Virginia Woolf famously said: “All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of
Aphra Behn… for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds.”
Notes & Inspirations:
On John Keats’s tombstone in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome, the inscription is famously poignant because it reflects his sense
of unfulfilled promise and early death: “Here lies one whose name was writ in water.”
Fanny Burney (1752–1840) was an influential English novelist, diarist, and playwright, best known for her witty and insightful
depictions of 18th-century society. she was one of the earliest female novelists in English literature. Her works often explored
themes of manners, morality, and women’s roles in a patriarchal society.
Major Contributions
Novels:
o Evelina (1778) – Her debut novel, a social satire about a young woman navigating London society.
o Cecilia (1782) – Influenced Jane Austen; the phrase “Pride and Prejudice” appears here.
o Camilla (1796) – Popular among readers of the time.
Diaries and Letters:
o Burney’s journals provide vivid accounts of Georgian life and her time at court as Keeper of the Robes to Queen
Charlotte.
Miss Rebecca West was a prominent British author, journalist, and literary critic of the
20th century.
o Born Cicely Isabel Fairfield in 1892, she adopted the pen name Rebecca West from a character in an Ibsen
play.
o She was known for her sharp intellect, feminist views, and political commentary.
o Rebecca West was considered one of the greatest intellectuals of her time.
o She combined literary artistry with political insight, influencing feminist thought
and modernist literature.
Lady Winchilsea (Anne Finch), who was a notable English poet of the late 17th and early
18th centuries
o The Spleen – A famous poem exploring melancholy and mental health.
o Other poems often addressed women’s roles and personal struggles.
o Significance:
She is considered one of the earliest female poets to write openly about women’s intellectual life and emotional
depth.
Aphra Behn (1640–1689) was a groundbreaking English playwright, poet, and novelist,
and one of the first women in English literature to earn a living through writing.
o Born in England, Aphra Behn lived during the Restoration period.
o Before her literary career, she reportedly worked as a spy for King Charles II
during political conflicts.
o
Aphra Behn broke barriers for women writers, proving they could succeed professionally.
Virginia Woolf famously said: “All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of
Aphra Behn… for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds.”
------------
4 most imp female novelist
1. George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans (1819–1880), one of the most
important English novelists of the Victorian era. Born in Warwickshire, England, Evans adopted the name George Eliot to
ensure her works were taken seriously in a male-dominated literary world.
She was known for her deep psychological insight and realistic portrayal of rural life.
Adam Bede (1859) – Her first novel, praised for its realism.
The Mill on the Floss (1860) – A story of family ties and personal struggle.
Silas Marner (1861) – A tale of redemption and community.
Middlemarch (1871–72) – Considered her masterpiece, exploring politics, marriage, and morality in provincial England.
(Considered greatest novel in English Literature)
Plot and Main Characters
Dorothea Brooke: An idealistic young woman who marries the much older scholar Edward Casaubon, hoping to assist
in his intellectual pursuits. The marriage proves disappointing, and after Casaubon’s death, Dorothea eventually finds
happiness with Will Ladislaw, Casaubon’s cousin.
Tertius Lydgate: A progressive doctor aiming to reform medicine, whose ambitions are thwarted by financial troubles and
an unhappy marriage to Rosamond Vincy, a status-conscious woman.
Other notable figures include Fred Vincy and Mary Garth, whose relationship contrasts with the ill-fated unions of
Dorothea and Lydgate.
Themes
Idealism vs. Reality: Both Dorothea and Lydgate pursue lofty goals but face harsh realities in marriage and vocation.
Marriage and Gender Roles: Eliot critiques romanticized notions of marriage, depicting it as a complex social and
personal institution.
Social Change: The novel reflects the tensions of a society in transition—political reform, scientific progress, and shifting
class structures.
Interconnected Lives: Through multiple storylines, Eliot explores how individual choices ripple through a community.
Significance
Middlemarch is celebrated for its psychological depth, moral complexity, and rich social commentary. Virginia Woolf famously
called it “one of the few English novels written for grown-up people.”
2Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855)
Famous for Jane Eyre (1847), a novel blending romance, social criticism, and strong female independence.
3Emily Brontë (1818–1848)
Known for Wuthering Heights (1847), a dark, passionate tale of love and revenge set on the Yorkshire moors.
Anne Brontë (1820–1849)
Author of Agnes Grey (1847) and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1848), both exploring women’s struggles and autonomy.
They challenged Victorian norms about gender, class, and morality.
Their novels are celebrated for psychological depth, emotional intensity, and innovative narrative styles.
Despite publishing under male pseudonyms initially (Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell), they paved the way for women in
literature.
Brontë Parsonage Museum
Church Street, Haworth, Keighley, West Yorkshire, England
Postcode: BD22 8DR
The Brontë sisters were three remarkable English writers of the 19th century whose works
have become classics of English literature:
Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë, 1847)
Overview: A Gothic novel that follows Jane, an orphan who grows into an independent and
principled woman. Her journey spans from a harsh childhood to her role as a governess at
Thornfield Hall, where she falls in love with Mr. Rochester.
Themes:
o Love and Equality: Jane’s relationship with Rochester is built on mutual respect and
moral integrity.
o Independence and Identity: The novel critiques class and gender norms,
emphasizing personal autonomy.
Tone and Setting: Gothic elements—mystery, isolation, and emotional depth—pervade the
story, with Thornfield Hall symbolizing Jane’s struggles and triumphs.
Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë, 1847)
Overview: A dark, passionate tale centered on Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, whose
obsessive love leads to revenge and generational turmoil.
Themes:
o Love as Obsession: Unlike Jane Eyre’s redemptive love, Wuthering Heights
portrays love as destructive and consuming.
o Revenge and Social Class: The novel explores how bitterness and societal
constraints shape human behavior.
Tone and Setting: The wild Yorkshire moors mirror the characters’ fierce emotions, creating
a haunting and turbulent atmosphere.
4.Jane Austen:
There is this charming 17th-century cottage where Jane Austen lived for the last eight years
of her life (1809–1817). Here, she wrote, revised, and prepared for publication all six of her
major novels, including Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Persuasion.
Address:
Jane Austen’s House
Winchester Road, Chawton, near Alton, Hampshire, England
Postcode: GU34 1SD [janeaustens.house], [en.wikipedia.org]
Opening Hours: Typically 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Wednesday to Sunday in winter; extended in summer).
Website for tickets and info: janeaustens.house
2. Mary Carmichael is not a historical figure in the traditional sense but a fictional character
created by Virginia Woolf in her seminal essay A Room of One’s Own (1929).
She appears as an imaginary example of a woman writer in Woolf’s argument about
gender and creativity.
Woolf uses Mary Carmichael to illustrate how women, given financial independence and
space to write, could produce literature that challenges patriarchal norms.
India and English: Quick Timeline
1600: East India Company formed
1608: British first landed in India (Surat)
1613: First factory established at Surat
1757: Battle of Plassey – Company gains political power
1858: British Crown assumes direct control (British Raj)
1947: Independence of India
Cochin Book Club
Update on Cochin Book Club Meetup #91 (30 November 2025, Koffee Junction, Kochi)
The theme for this time was Jane Austen’s literature and we had a gathering of readers who had read enough of Austen to
critically analyze her works. The discussion started with an introduction by Meenakshi who presented a comprehensive review
of almost all her works including the incomplete ones, and her major characters.
The participants ranged from ardent fans of Austen to those who felt her oevre was only slightly better than Mills & Boon
books. We examined aspects like satire in Austen’s books and how her masterpiece ‘Pride and Prejudice’ became a model for
many novels by later authors. Numerous film adaptations of her works in various languages were also explored.
Different readers found different works of the author to be special. While some opined ‘Emma’ to be technically her best novel,
some others thought ‘Persuasion’ stood out from all other works of hers.
One of the criticisms was that Austen ignored the lower-class people and only focused on the upper class in her writings. There
were comparisons of the period of Austen and contemporary times, and how these differences should be kept in mind while
reading her works.
It’s not necessarily the genre or the period of the book. Youngsters love Jane Austen’s works just as much as they love or
hate Colleen Hoover. We still talk about Bram Stoker’s Dracula alongside the latest comics. It’s the conversations that
matter to light up the discussion and the meetups.
Are you a Jane Austen fan?
Her Novels:
1.Sense and Sensibility (Elinor and Marianne)
Austen drew inspiration from contemporary novels of the late 18th century that explored similar themes of romance, morality, and
social conduct. Adam Stevenson's Life and Love (1785), which recounts personal romantic experiences and societal expectations,
is thought to have influenced Austen's depiction of complex emotional relationships and the challenges of constrained social
circumstances. Jane West's A Gossip's Story (1796) is also considered a significant influence, as it features one sister characterized
by rational sense and another by passionate, emotive sensibility. Notably, West's romantic sister shares the name Marianne with
Austen's character, and modern editions of West's novel highlight textual and thematic similarities, suggesting that Austen may have
consciously or unconsciously drawn on these elements in shaping her own characters and plot.
Austen may also have drawn on historical figures in developing certain characters. In particular, Warren Hastings, the first Governor-
General of India, is often cited as a potential inspiration for Colonel Brandon. Parallels include rumored illegitimate
daughters—Hastings with his possible daughter Eliza de Feuillide, and Brandon with Eliza Brandon in the novel—as well as early
departures to India at age seventeen. Both figures are also associated with dueling and matters of honor, characteristics echoed in
Colonel Brandon’s backstory. Literary scholar Linda Robinson Walker has argued that Hastings “haunts Sense and Sensibility in the
character of Colonel Brandon,” noting that Austen may have drawn on her knowledge of contemporary political figures and family
connections to lend historical depth and realism to her fictional characters
Jane Austen's first published novel, Sense and Sensibility, is an enjoyable novel of manners, full of romance, humor, and beautifully
realized characters. The old-fashioned language might be alienating to modern readers at first, but it's well worth the moderate
patience
I also loved the fact that there were two heroines opposed to one. Elinor and Marianne are very different people, and they interact
with the world in very different ways, though they each have their values and their faults. Together, they help each other and look out
for each other as sisters should.
The main theme in this novel is the danger of excessive sensibility. The sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are
to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love.
The title “Sense and Sensibility” is a brilliant reflection of the novel’s central theme and character contrasts:
✅ Meaning of the Title
Sense = Reason, logic, and prudence.
Sensibility = Emotion, feeling, and responsiveness.
✅ How It Fits the Story
The two main sisters embody these qualities:
Elinor Dashwood represents Sense—she is rational, self-controlled, and values duty.
Marianne Dashwood represents Sensibility—she is passionate, romantic, and guided by
emotion.
Their experiences in love and life show the strengths and pitfalls of both approaches.
✅ Broader Significance
Austen uses the contrast to explore:
The balance between reason and emotion in human relationships.
Social expectations in Regency England—where neither extreme guarantees happiness.
By the end, both sisters learn to temper their dominant trait, suggesting harmony between sense and sensibility is ideal.
2.Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) is a classic novel of manners set in Regency
England. It explores themes of love, social class, family expectations, and personal growth,
all through sharp wit and irony.
The story follows Elizabeth Bennet, one of five daughters in a middle-class family, and her
evolving relationship with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, a wealthy and reserved gentleman.
Initially, Elizabeth dislikes Darcy due to his pride and her own prejudice, while Darcy misjudges
Elizabeth’s social standing.
Through misunderstandings, family drama (including Lydia Bennet’s scandal), and self-reflection,
both characters overcome their flaws.
The novel ends with mutual respect and love, challenging rigid social norms of the time.
Main Characters
Elizabeth Bennet – The intelligent, witty heroine known for her independence and strong moral
sense.
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy – A wealthy, reserved gentleman whose pride initially clashes with Elizabeth’s
prejudice.
Jane Bennet – Elizabeth’s gentle and kind elder sister, admired for her beauty and grace.
Mr. Charles Bingley – Darcy’s amiable friend, who falls in love with Jane Bennet.
The Bennet Family
Mr. Bennet – The sarcastic, somewhat detached father.
Mrs. Bennet – The mother obsessed with marrying off her daughters.
Lydia Bennet – The youngest, flirtatious sister whose scandal creates family tension.
Mary Bennet – The studious, moralizing sister.
Kitty Bennet – The impressionable sister, often influenced by Lydia.
Other Key Figures
Mr. George Wickham – A charming but deceitful officer who misleads Elizabeth.
Mr. Collins – The pompous clergyman and heir to the Bennet estate.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh – Darcy’s wealthy, domineering aunt.
Charlotte Lucas – Elizabeth’s sensible friend who marries Mr. Collins for security.
The title “Pride and Prejudice” is deeply symbolic and perfectly reflects the novel’s central themes
and character arcs:
Why the Title Fits
1. Pride (Mr. Darcy)
o Darcy’s initial arrogance and sense of social superiority create misunderstandings
and distance between him and Elizabeth.
o His pride blinds him to the warmth and worth of those outside his elite circle.
2. Prejudice (Elizabeth Bennet)
o Elizabeth’s quick judgments, influenced by Darcy’s aloofness and Wickham’s charm,
lead her to misinterpret Darcy’s character.
o Her prejudice delays her recognition of Darcy’s true virtues.
3. Mutual Transformation
o Both characters overcome these flaws—Darcy tempers his pride, and Elizabeth
learns to question her assumptions.
o The resolution underscores Austen’s message: self-awareness and humility are
essential for love and happiness.
The title also reflects societal pride and prejudice—class distinctions, gender expectations, and
family ambitions in Regency England.
It signals Austen’s ironic critique of human vanity and the tendency to judge hastily.
3.Mansfield Park
Mansfield Park is the third published novel by the English author Jane Austen, first published in 1814 by Thomas Egerton. A second
edition was published in 1816 by John Murray, still within Austen's lifetime. The novel did not receive any public reviews until 1821.
The novel tells the story of Fanny Price, starting when her overburdened family sends her at the age of ten to live in the household
of her wealthy aunt and uncle and following her development into early adulthood. From early on critical interpretation has been
diverse, differing particularly over the character of the heroine, Austen's views about theatrical performance and the centrality or
otherwise of ordination and religion, and on the question of slavery. Some of these problems have been highlighted in the several
later adaptations of the story for stage and screen.
Maria, Lady Bertram, Fanny's aunt. Married to the wealthy Sir Thomas Bertram, she is the middle one of three sisters of the Ward
family, the others being Mrs Norris and Fanny's mother, Mrs Price.
Ten-year-old Fanny Price is sent from her impoverished home in Portsmouth to live with the family at Mansfield Park. Lady Bertram
is Fanny’s aunt and her four children – Tom, Edmund, Maria and Julia – are older than Fanny. All but Edmund mistreat her, and her
other aunt, Mrs Norris, wife of the clergyman at the Mansfield parsonage, makes herself particularly unpleasant.
On a visit to Mr Rushworth's estate, Henry flirts with both Maria and Julia. Maria believes Henry is in love with her and so treats Mr
Rushworth dismissively, provoking his jealousy, while Julia struggles with jealousy and resentment towards her sister. Mary is
disappointed to learn that Edmund will be a clergyman and tries to undermine his vocation.
Henry leave, Mary gets married When Henry returns to Mansfield Park, he decides to entertain himself by making Fanny fall in love
with him. Fanny's brother William visits, and Sir Thomas holds what is effectively a coming-out ball for her. Although Mary dances
with Edmund, she tells him it will be the last time, as she will never dance with a clergyman. Edmund drops his plan to propose and
leaves the next day, as do Henry and William.
When Henry next returns, he announces to Mary his intention to marry Fanny. To assist his plan, he has used his family's naval
connections to help William achieve promotion. However, when Henry proposes marriage, Fanny rejects him, disapproving of his
past treatment of women. Sir Thomas is astonished by her continuing refusal, but she does not explain, afraid of compromising
Maria.
To help Fanny appreciate Henry's offer, Sir Thomas sends her to visit her parents in Portsmouth, where she is taken aback by the
contrast between their chaotic household and the harmonious environment at Mansfield. Henry visits, but although she still refuses
him, she begins to appreciate his good features.
Later, Fanny learns that Henry and Maria have had an affair which is reported in the newspapers. Mr Rushworth sues Maria for
divorce and the Bertram family is devastated. Tom meanwhile falls gravely ill. Edmund takes Fanny back to Mansfield Park, where
she is a healing influence. Sir Thomas realises that Fanny was right to reject Henry's proposal and now regards her as a daughter.
Edward marry Fanny.
4.EMMA
Before she began the novel, Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like. In the first
sentence, she introduces the title character by stating "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home
and a happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the
world with very little to distress or vex her."[4] Emma is spoiled, headstrong, and self-satisfied; she greatly overestimates her own
matchmaking abilities; she is blind to the dangers of meddling in other people's lives; and her imagination and perceptions often
lead her astray.
Emma, written after Austen's move to Chawton, was her last novel to be published during her lifetime,[5] while Persuasion, the last
complete novel Austen wrote, was published posthumously.
The novel has been adapted for a number of films, television programmes, and stage plays.
Before the end of November, Emma and Mr Knightley her neighbor, close friend snd critick are married with the prospect of "perfect
happiness." They will live at Hartfield with Mr Woodhouse
Emma Woodhouse, a wealthy, charming, and somewhat spoiled young woman, lives in the village of Highbury.
Confident in her matchmaking skills, Emma meddles in the romantic lives of others—especially her friend Harriet Smith—while
ignoring her own feelings.
Her misguided attempts lead to misunderstandings, social awkwardness, and emotional turmoil.
Through these experiences, Emma matures, recognizing her own flaws and ultimately finding love with Mr. Knightley, her long-
time friend and moral guide.
5.Northanger Abbey
Northanger Abbey is a coming-of-age novel and a satire of Gothic novels.Although the title page is dated 1818 and the novel was
published posthumously in 1817 with Persuasion, Northanger Abbey was completed in 1799.From a fondness of Gothic novels and
an active imagination distorting her worldview, the story follows Catherine Morland, the naïve young protagonist, as she develops to
better understand herself and the world around her.
Gothic fiction, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror (primarily in the 20th century), is a literary aesthetic of fear and haunting. The
name of the genre is derived from the Renaissance-era use of the word "gothic", as a pejorative term meaning medieval and
barbaric, which itself originated from Gothic architecture and in turn the Goths
Gothic aesthetics continued to be used in Victorian literature in novels by Charles Dickens and the Brontë sisters, as well as in
works by the American writers Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Later, Gothic fiction evolved through well-known works
like Dracula by Bram Stoker,
The novel covers a wide array of topics such as high society, Gothic fiction, bildungsroman, the value of reading, and the
importance of time. This novel is considered to be more juvenile than her others. Brother published
Throughout Northanger Abbey, Austen makes references to many different Gothic novels, most notably Ann Radcliffe's The
Mysteries of Udolpho. Northanger Abbey is credited for reviving interest in seven Gothic titles that had largely fallen into obscurity;
the "horrid novels"
Several Gothic novels and authors are mentioned in the book, including Fanny Burney and The Monk.Isabella Thorpe gives
Catherine a list of seven books that are commonly referred to as the "Northanger 'horrid' novels".These works were thought to be of
Austen's own invention until the 1920s, when British writers Montague Summers and Michael Sadleir found that the novels did
exist.The list is as follows:
o Castle of Wolfenbach (1793) by Eliza Parsons. London: Minerva Press.
o Clermont (1798) by Regina Maria Roche. London: Minerva Press.
o The Mysterious Warning, a German Tale (1796) by Eliza Parsons. London: Minerva Press.
o The Necromancer; or, The Tale of the Black Forest (1794) by "Lawrence Flammenberg" (pseudonym for Karl Friedrich
Kahlert; translat…
o The Mysteries of Udolpho
The most significant allusion, however, is to Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho, as it is the Gothic novel most frequently
mentioned within this text. Notably, Jane Austen sold the manuscript of Northanger Abbey to the same firm that published Radcliffe's
novel in 1794.
This outside text is first mentioned in Chapter Six, when Isabella and Catherine discuss the mystery "behind the black veil", and
further establish their friendship based on their similar interests in novel genre and their plans to continue reading other Gothic
novels together. Austen further satirizes the novel through Catherine's stay at Northanger Abbey, believing that General Tilney has
taken the role of Gothic novel villain.
Austen's discussion of Udolpho is also used to clearly separate Catherine and the Tilney siblings from John Thorpe, as when
Catherine talks about the novel with him, he crudely responds that he "never reads novels" but qualifies his statement by arguing he
would only read a novel by Ann Radcliffe, who is the author of Udolpho.[76] Here, Austen humorously categorizes Northanger
Abbey's characters into two spheres: those who read novels, and those who do not. When Catherine and Henry Tilney later discuss
reading novels, and Henry earnestly responds that he enjoys reading novels, and was especially titillated by Udolpho, the match
between Catherine and Henry is implied as both smart and fitting.
Seventeen-year-old Catherine Morland is one of ten children of a country clergyman. Although a tomboy in her childhood, she is "in
training for a heroine"and is fond of reading Gothic novels "provided they [are] all story and no reflection
6.Persuasion
Persuasion: story begins 7 years after the broken engagement. The story concerns Anne Elliot, an Englishwoman of 27 years,
whose family moves to Bath to lower their expenses and reduce their debt by renting their estate to an admiral and his wife. The
wife's brother, Captain Frederick Wentworth, was engaged to Anne in 1806, but the engagement was broken when Anne was
persuaded by her friends and family to end their relationship. Anne and Captain Wentworth, both single and unattached, meet again
after a separation lasting almost eight years, setting the scene for a second, well-considered chance at love and marriage for Anne.
The novel was well received in the early 19th century, but its greater fame came later in the century and continued into the 20th and
21st centuries. Much scholarly debate on Austen's work has since been published. Anne Elliot is noteworthy among Austen's
heroines for her relative maturity. As Persuasion was Austen's last completed work, it is accepted as her most maturely written
novel, showing a refinement of literary conception indicative of a woman approaching 40 years of age. Her use of free indirect
speech in narrative was in full evidence by 1816.
Persuasion has been the subject of several adaptations, including four made-for-television adaptations, theatre productions, radio
broadcasts, and other literary works.
Austen personally was appalled by what she came to regard as her own misguided advice to her beloved niece Fanny Knight on the
very question of whether Fanny ought to accept a particular suitor, even though it would have meant a protracted engagement.
Fanny ultimately rejected her suitor and married someone else after her aunt's death.
Austen was keenly aware that the human quality of persuasion—to
persuade or to be persuaded, rightly or wrongly—is fundamental to the
process of human communication, and that, in her novel "Jane Austen
gradually draws out the implications of discriminating 'just' and 'unjust'
persuasion." Indeed, the narrative winds through a number of situations in
which people influence or attempt to influence other people, or themselves.
"The novel's entire brooding on the power pressures, the seductions, and
also the new pathways opened by persuasion.
What sells? Robert T.Kiyosaki : Not a book that is written well, but that is marketed well.
Live. Love. Lead. Learn. Leave a Legacy.
This is meera, Signing off with Gratitude for your patience, I am sorry if I have bored you or for errors or omissions, Please forgive
me. I love you all. Please be Good.
Happiness Always!
Memoire of Jane Austen ~ James Edward Austen - Leigh
"It was not what she knew but what she was, that distinguished her from others." So says her nephew in his book Memoire of Jane Austen ~ James Edward Austen - Leigh.
The total earning from her books during her life time was 700 pounds, she had more fame and earned more revenue gradually over the years. Her father tried to help her with publishing, but initially it did'nt work out. Her initial books said 'Written by a Lady' instead of the author name and subsequent books had reference to the earlier book in the author name. As she held the first copy of Pride and Prejudice, she wrote to her sister, "I have got my own darling child"
When she was unwell and bedridden and her attended asked her "what you want" her response was "Nothing but death".
7th of 8 children. At the age of 32 her father died, her first book was published when she was 38 years of age, she died when she was 44 years. How long was her author career? - 7 years during this period 6 of her books were published. She lived from 1775 to 1817.
It is said that the first book she wrote was Northhanger Abbey in 1798 which was her last published book in her lifetime, published in 1817. She started writing for her own amusement and for family plays. She first finished writing as a novel Pride and Prejudice but her first published book was Sense and sensibility in 1811. Third came Mansfield part in 1814. These three were published by Egerton. then came Emma in 1816, followed by Northhanger Abbey and persuasion, these three were published by Murray.
She was the product of her time, with no classical education, no extensive acquaintance with English Literature and not in any company of literary circle. She came from a well bread and closely knit family.
She showed women as intelligent, capable and witty. She had unpublished poems as well, which were published in the book. She had a clear good handwriting, and was always cheerful.
To write one need to have intellectual freedom. Be oneself more than anything else. Be the inheritor and originator of your work.
Her advise to her nephew was to read until 16 and start writing only after 16.
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Got this to speak at Chinnmaya school to celebrate her 250th mam, where Kairali mam began her talk with this slide:
Imagine scrolling through your social media feed and seeing someone post: "Just got ghosted by a guy who seemed perfect - great job, good family, rich, handsome and charming in person. Found out he was convinced by his best friend to leave me. Now everyone's talking about it." #brokenheart #meandfriends #datingishard #relationshipworries #overbeforeitbegan."
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AI helps edit it as below:
“It was not what she knew but what she was, that distinguished her from others.”
So wrote James Edward Austen‑Leigh, Jane Austen’s devoted nephew, in his Memoir of Jane Austen. That single line captures the essence of a woman whose quiet life produced some of the most enduring works in English literature.
Jane Austen lived from 1775 to 1817, the seventh of eight children in a close‑knit, well‑bred family. She had no classical education, no extensive acquaintance with English literature, and no access to the literary circles of her time. Yet, she became one of the most celebrated novelists in history. Her strength lay not in privilege but in her originality, wit, and ability to observe human nature with piercing clarity.
Her writing journey began as amusement—stories for family plays and private reading. The first novel she wrote was Northanger Abbey in 1798, though it was the last to be published during her lifetime, in 1817. Her first published work was Sense and Sensibility in 1811, followed by Pride and Prejudice in *1813, which she lovingly called her “own darling child” in a letter to her sister. Then came Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1816), and finally Persuasion and Northanger Abbey (both published in 1817). In just seven years, from age 38 to 44, she published six novels—an extraordinary achievement considering her circumstances.
Financially, her success was modest. During her lifetime, she earned about £700 from her books. Her father tried to help her publish early on, but those attempts failed. When her works finally appeared, they bore the anonymous credit “Written by a Lady.” Later editions referenced her previous titles rather than her name. Fame and revenue grew gradually, long after her death.
Austen’s life was marked by resilience and candor. When bedridden and asked what she wanted, she replied simply: “Nothing but death.” She died at 44, leaving behind a literary legacy that continues to shape modern storytelling.
What made her remarkable? She was a product of her time yet ahead of it. Without formal schooling or elite connections, she wrote with intellectual freedom—being herself, more than anything else. Her novels portrayed women as intelligent, capable, and witty, challenging stereotypes of her era. She believed that to write well, one must be both the inheritor and originator of one’s work. Her advice to her nephew was clear: read until sixteen, and write only after sixteen.
Her style was sharp yet graceful. She captured the drama of everyday life—love, pride, prejudice, persuasion—with humor and insight. Imagine translating her themes into today’s world: scrolling through social media and seeing a post like this—
“Just got ghosted by a guy who seemed perfect—great job, good family, rich, handsome, and charming. Turns out his best friend convinced him to leave me. Now everyone’s talking about it. #brokenheart #datingishard.”
Sounds familiar? That’s the timeless relevance of Austen. Her stories of relationships, choices, and social pressures resonate even now.
Beyond her novels, Austen left unpublished poems and letters, all marked by her cheerful spirit and neat handwriting. She showed that creativity thrives not in privilege but in authenticity. Her career reminds us: to write, you need freedom of thought and courage to be yourself.
Two centuries later, Jane Austen still speaks to us—not through grand declarations, but through the quiet power of observation and truth. Her life teaches that greatness is not about what you know, but who you are.