Austen: Annotated and Adapted Thiel College F'24

The intricacies of courtship and marriage come with webs of harsh rules and nuance in etiquette. This exhibit explores the different aspects of marriage and courtship during the Regency era as well as in Jane Austen's novels in how men and women could get to know one another in ways that were socially acceptable -- through the courtship rules and rituals, to chaperones and their roles; the… more

A gallery exhibit showcasing religion in Jane Austen's Society. A variety of images are displayed and shown, including religious clothing from the time in which Jane Austen was alive, an 1806 King James Bible, old Church documents playfully filled out by Austen and a marriage witness signature from her and her sister, stained glass windows, and church pews that discuss designated seating… more

To better understand the world of Jane Austen's works, we need to understand the society she is writing in. Even though she does not often describe what her characters are dressed in, when she does bring up fashion, it is often notable in terms of character personality, social status, or plot. Regency fashion is notable in its distinct rejection of the former era of fashion as it had… more

Assemblies, balls, and dancing are central to the plots and themes of many of Jane Austen’s novels.  Similarly, these events were central to sociability during the Georgian and Regency Eras, as they provided a socially acceptable setting for men and women to meet and begin forming relationships.  Knowledge of these aspects of society help readers to better understand Austen’s writing… more