"Dukes Don't Need People"

The Regency era adaptation of "Seeking Persephone," is now available to purchase on Amazon Prime. This is a good one. The characters are well developed and we get to know them really well, {which is a good thing.} There's the possibility of a season two, and beyond, if it does well. I highly recommend this one. 

 

Based on a Book (of course) ~ Seeking Persephone

Coming in 2025

 

 

Emma Lion Heroine

I'm on book two of this series. Very Jane Eyre-like, very Austenique. One heroine chooses her man, collects books, and tries to keep her home in 1800's London - {the series has only been written to book 8 / 25 so far, so we don't know who she chooses yet... A Vicar? A Duke? A Byron?}. It's on Amazon as a Kindle or paperback. Your welcome.

Thornfield Hall, Home of Edward Rochester, Country Gentleman

I found this artwork by Stewart Platt of a place called, "North Lees Hall," in Derbyshire. Charlotte Bronte had visited the area with her friend Ellen Nussey to help prepare the vicarage for Ellen's brother who was the new vicar, to be arriving after his honeymoon. Charlotte and Ellen visited North Lees Hall. 

by Stewart Platt

Research into the name "North Lees Hall" translates "north" to "thorn" and "lees" to "field." This is fascinating. We can see the inspiration that Charlotte Bronte would have gotten from visiting the place which she then turned into "Thornfield Hall" the home of Edward Rochester, country gentleman.

Just for comparison, here are some photographs of North Lees Hall.

 

Wouldn't you like to walk the grounds and wander inside as Jane would have done? Jane Eyre has come to life. 

(Inspired by this post)

Bronte Parsonage Donations

We did it for Jane, now it's time for the Brontes. To keep this amazing place open into the coming year, they need our help. If you love Emily, Charlotte, Anne, and Branwell, their books, art, poetry, etc. Please consider donating!

DONATE TO THE PARSONAGE

There Was No Possibility of Taking A Walk That Day

This is a book of poetry composed during Covid 19 pandemic and all about the Brontes. Each poem has something to do with the Brontes and also experiencing a pandemic. You will find my poem called, "Homebound," in this collection. Available as a paperback book or Kindle versions.

The New Emma and Isolation

I keep seeing the new Emma flash across my Amazon as being able to watch it at home right now. It's currently playing in theaters, but because we're all homebound, we can watch it early, at home. Honestly, it's really tempting to do that, anyone else? Grab the popcorn and your wallet, and sit in your comfy chair.

The Most Wonderful Spot

by French_Manoir

I saw this on instagram {yes, I finally joined there}, and I am stunned by the beauty of this little spot created in a French manor by the owners. I simply love everything about this. So simple, yet so beautiful. I could step right in the frame and never want to leave.

Movie Stills

Classic "Little Women" from 1994.

I just adore seeing new {and old} classic movie stills. It's the first view you get of a film that you hope will match the feeling that you got from reading the book. They are usually stunning and beautiful pieces of art I think.
Here is the new still from "Little Women." One I am hearing great things about so far. I'll decide for myself when I see it in the movie theater.

And yet another "Little Women" that I've never seen before. I've always considered this a winter-themed book for some reason, so the watching of this will be beautiful and cozy. Here's to more movie stills in the future and the hope they bring!

My Library is Growing

Just bought this 1967 Washington Square Press edition of Longfellow's Evangeline. I have been buying and buying old books a lot lately and my library is growing! My goal is to eventually have at least one or multiple copies of my favorites. I also have a penchant for vintage field guides for flowers, birds, and trees. Is anyone at all surprised?

I Loved It

It's not a perfect version, but I loved this latest depiction of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. I've watched it through once and will be watching it again. Probably one of the best ones out there that tells much of the story found in the book.

Howard's End ... The Whole Thing

Howard's End is not necessarily a happy story line. In fact, I never did read the book and I did not like the 1992 version with Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins because it was downright depressing and the love story aspect between Mr. Wilcox and Miss Schlegel did not shine through for me.
That's a shame because I think that whole love story aspect is the whole thing. It is the point of Howard's End the book, written by E.M. Forster. The love story between those two is beautiful. It finally shined through for me in the new version with Matthew Macfadyen and Hayley Atwell. Now I get it and I am besotted with their love story. It's beautiful. I recommend it if you've not seen it, but be prepared for some sadness that does lighten up in the end though. 

Stacked High

Sometimes you find little gems at the used bookstore that you never expected to find. There was this gorgeous (what I thought to be vintage) French paperback of "To Kill A Mockingbird," that had to come home with me.

It now finds its place on the bookshelf with other pretty treasures stacked high on display. I've really been on a vintage paperback binge lately, not sure why, but I'm loving it. I keep seeing the 1980's set of the Anne of Green Gables books and it makes me melancholy to read them again, to escape to Anne's world. I've learned a lot from dear Anne that I'd never know about but for her. I'll be hunting for more treasures this summer.

The Works of Jane Austen

That moment when you are window shopping and find something you just cannot live without. What I found ... A 1970's copy of Jane Austen's novels in one volume. One gorgeous, pretty bound, exquisite volume of gathered words that I love, love, love.

Walk the Streets

Here is the Main Street of Haworth, Yorkshire where the Bronte family lived. Walk the streets with me, if you will, and have a Merry Merry Christmas.

 Photo from Wikipedia

For the Eyes

Art by French painter Elisabeth Sonrel

Put on Your Bonnets

Fantine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a new Andrew Davies production coming to PBS in the future, (think Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth's Pride and Prejudice), that I have really high hopes for. It is after all my favorite book and it needs to be well done to erase the 2012 version from my mind (this could have been so amazing, but it fell short). Here are the latest publicity stills from the upcoming Les Miz.

Valjean

Javert

Looks to be a good season in the autumn of 2019, perhaps. PBS/BBC has also adapted Jane Austen's unfinished book, "Sandition," that is currently airing. So put your bonnets on and get ready for some serious period film watching.

In Vintage Form

The new old books have started to arrive. I'm loving what's been popping up in the mailbox. This will definitely be a process that will take months, but the plan is to choose and find all of my favorite classic books in vintage (antique) hardback form for my library, biographies of my favorite authors, as well as old beauties that I love for one reason or another. 

For reference, here is my list of favorites, (this list is old).

The books shown in the pictures are Poems of Emily Dickinson, America and England, Certain English Towns, a science book with a gorgeous cabin/tree image, a biography of Charlotte and Emily (poor Anne is left out again). Lest you think I'm leaving out the vintage paperbacks, no worries there. They still have a place in my heart, as does Anne.

Stills, Beauties, and A Beast

 

Beauty and the Beast

 Pocahontis

Rapunzel

Snow White

See the photo shoot here

Anne of Green Gables Wedding Shoot

One of my favorite book characters is Anne Shirley,

 from Anne of Green Gables. Recently, a photographer did an Anne-Themed wedding shoot and it is beautiful. Take a peek and see what you think, all of you kindred spirits ~

Photos by http://www.jessicazaisblog.com/