Poor Lizzy just can’t get away from Mr Darcy. Wherever she turns, there he is also - inscrutable as ever. When she learns from his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, that Darcy himself interfered with Jane’s happiness, Lizzy is more desperate than ever to avoid him. But then Darcy pays her a private visit, with a very surprising question... A Noiser podc…

Join us to discuss a few Taylor Swift songs and how they related to Emma. As I love to do at the end of each season I bring my two special interests together and make Rachel join me. Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube, Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble Book for an Austen Society event o…

‘November’ is the twilight of the year, the days short and cold, the air full of frost and woodsmoke. It is a time for lighting fires and wrapping up in woollen shawls and flannel waistcoats. It is also a time for sparkling candlelight, and we enjoy a night of revelry at the Netherfield Ball, complete with White Soup and delicate silk dancing slipp…

Detective Catherine is on the case. The crime? Murder most foul. If only she can find some evidence. This episode we're joined by Kate Emery of Austen Therapy to discuss Catherine's investigation, why we like to scare ourselves, and why Henry Tilney is her ultimate Austen hero. If your boyfriend has ever caught you snooping around his mom's bedroom…

In this year’s showdown, we’re pitting two of Austen’s most calculating women against each other Elizabeth Elliot from Persuasion and Fanny Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility. Both are masters of manipulation and self-interest, but in very different ways. Elizabeth Elliot, ever-conscious of appearances, rules her social circle with icy elegance, d…

In the second episode of Jane Austen's Paper Trail from The Conversation, we explore romance in the world of Jane Austen through the pages of Pride and Prejudice. Every heroine in a Jane Austen novel ends up married. It is the bow on the end of every story that ties up all the loose threads – seemingly the ultimate happy ending. However, while marr…

Es passiert also tatsächlich: Der kleine Schleimbeutel Mr. Collins macht unserer lieben Lizzy einen Heiratsantrag. Und was für einen! Er zieht sich über das ganze Kapitel und lässt uns nicht nur ein Mal die Haare raufen. Während Collins uns zunehmend in den Wahnsinn treibt, verdient sich Lizzy aber unseren Respekt zurück, indem sie echt cool ist, j…

With Easter approaching, Mr Darcy arrives in Kent for a visit with his great-aunt Lady Catherine. Lizzy soon becomes acquainted with his more affable cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, while Darcy himself remains at a distance. But it's only a matter of time before the two of them are teasing each other again, as the moderately accomplished Lizzy shows o…

In the first episode of Jane Austen's Paper Trail from The Conversation, we're delving into Austen's first novel, Sense and Sensibility where gossip – and the fear of it – plays a central role in the story. Through the rumours that swirl within its pages, we’ll find out what Austen herself thought about gossip, and the people who spread it. Along t…

Arriving at the parsonage in Kent to visit her friend Charlotte, Lizzy submits to an exhaustive tour of the neighbourhood, conducted by her tedious cousin Mr Collins. Every local landmark is pointed out in minute detail, not least the grand estate at Rosings, home to his wealthy patroness, Lady Catherine De Bourgh. Before long, Lady Catherine invit…

So lange wurde erwartet: Der große Ball auf Netherfield! Aber für Lizzy wird er zu einem wahrhaftigen Tanz durch die Hölle. Erst muss sie mit Mr. Collins tanzen und dann sagt sie aus Versehen auch noch Mr. Darcy zu, eine halbe Stunde lang seine Tanzpartnerin zu sein ... Insgesamt zeigt sich Lizzys Familie alles andere als von ihrer besten Seite. So…

Dr Alice Nagle of Austen After Dark and Fetch the Smelling Salts joins me to discuss what's going on behind closed bedroom doors in Emma Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube, Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble Book for an Austen Society event on Humanitix…

As Christmas approaches in Meryton, Mrs Bennet's personal wish list is looking distinctly unfulfilled. Not only has Lizzy turned down a proposal from Mr Collins, but Jane's budding romance with Bingley appears to have fizzled out as well. But a new year brings fresh opportunities: the lovelorn Jane agrees to accompany her aunt and uncle on a trip t…

Mr Collins wastes no time in his pursuit of a wife. Just three days after being refused by Lizzy, he's proposing again – this time to her friend Charlotte Lucas, who takes a far more practical view of the offer. And, with Darcy and Bingley away in London, the charismatic Mr Wickham has come out of the woodwork again. But what designs does the young…

Willkommen zu unserer Halloween-Folge im Oktober! Lizzy und Jane sind sich nicht darüber einig, ob es sich bei dem werten Mr. Darcy denn jetzt um einen Arschloch handelt oder nicht. Aber vielleicht sprechen wir in dieser Folge auch einfach über Vampire, Zombies, Mumien, Geister und Bräute ... Folgt uns gerne auf Instagram, YouTube und TikTok: https…

Austen ties up all the loose ends neatly Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube, Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble Book for an Austen Society event on Humanitix

It’s an eventful day at Longbourn, as Lizzy's cousin Mr Collins finally makes his move. But despite Mrs Bennet's fulsome encouragement, his unromantic marriage proposal falls on deaf ears, and Lizzy turns him down - several times. Meanwhile, things aren’t looking so bright for Jane and Mr. Bingley. His scheming sister Caroline has whisked him away …

You are cordially invited to the Netherfield Ball… where Lizzy agrees to dance with Mr Darcy - despite the nasty gossip she’s been hearing about him. Is it possible there are two sides to the story after all? And Darcy isn’t the only one who has his eyes on Lizzy at the party… her obnoxious cousin Mr Collins can’t seem to keep away from her either.…

Unsere Lizzy verhält sich in diesem Kapitel wahrlich unvernünftig ... Wir geben es nicht gerne zu, aber gegen Wicked Wickham ist die Gute leider völlig machtlos. Denn Wickham blendet sie nicht nur mit seinem guten Aussehen, er ist auch extrem manipulativ in seinen Äußerungen und ein Meister darin, sein Gegenüber zu lesen. Deswegen sind wir der Mein…

Harriet is engaged, Mr Woodhouse is a proud Grandpa. We discuss who we'd rather date - Knightley or Frank. Plus there's a new t-shirt! Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube, Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble Book for an Austen Society event on Humanitix…

There’s bad blood between Darcy and Wickham, and Lizzy soon has the full story. According to Wickham, Darcy sabotaged his career plans, forcing him to join the Army instead. What a scoundrel! Jane Bennet warns her sister not to take Wickham’s account at face value. But does she always just think the best of everyone, or might she actually have a po…

Two new bachelors arrive on the scene at Meryton, in the form of obsequious clergyman Mr Collins - the distant cousin who is destined to inherit the Bennet house – and the dashing young officer Mr Wickham. Both men make strong impressions on Lizzy and her sisters... but which of these two potential suitors will strike first? A Noiser podcast produc…

It’s that time of year again, spooky season! 🎃 Join Martha and me as we dive into our fourth Horrid Novel, Regina Maria Roche’s Clermont. In this episode, we unravel the twists and turns of this wonderfully Gothic tale, from mysterious family secrets to dramatic reunions. We chat about the novel’s influence on Jane Austen, share plenty of laughs, a…

In dieser Doppelkapitelfolge lernen wir den Schleimbeutel Collins noch etwas besser kennen, und bemerken dabei, dass er ein sehr paradoxer Charakter ist. Daher auch sein neuer Spitzname: Oxymorönchen. Aber noch ein weiterer wichtiger Charakter taucht in dieser Folge erstmalig auf, und zwar niemand geringeres als der unfassbar gutaussehende Mr. Wick…

Mrs Weston has her baby and Mr Woodhouse is babied Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube, Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble Book for an Austen Society event on Humanitix

Jane remains at Netherfield as she slowly recovers from her illness. Meanwhile, downstairs in the drawing room, Lizzy shows no sign of letting Mr Darcy off the hook, teasing him about his stubbornness and pride. But despite Caroline Bingley's best efforts to stir up trouble between them, Lizzy's provocations only seem to stoke Darcy's admiration fo…

De către Harriet and Ellen

With her sister Jane laid up in bed with a cold, Lizzy becomes better acquainted with Mr Darcy, pushing back at his unrealistic expectations of the accomplishments a young woman should have mastered. But the more she resists him, the more Darcy seems to admire her - much to the irritation of Bingley's sister Caroline. The next morning, it's a full …

Wir sind zurück aus der Sommerpause und legen direkt wieder los mit einer DKF (Doppel-Kapitel-Folge)! Die Mädels (Jane und Lizzy) kehren endlich (aber zum Leidwesen ihrer Mutter) nach Hause zurück. Und dort erwarten sie spannende Neuigkeiten. Denn ... ein Fremder nähert sich ihrem Familiengut, der in ihrer aller Zukunft keine unwichtige Rolle spiel…

Mrs Elton is eager to spill the tea and show her superiority Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube, Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble Book for an Austen Society event on HumanitixDe către Frances Duncan

After dazzling the wealthy Mr Bingley at the Meryton Ball, the eldest Bennet sister, Jane, receives an invitation to visit him and his sister at Netherfield Park, the grand estate he's renting nearby. At her mother's insistence, she makes the journey on horseback, arriving drenched and bedraggled thanks to an only slightly mistimed thunderstorm. Th…

Introducing Jane Austen's Paper Trail, a new podcast from The Conversation. When she died aged just 41, Jane Austen's sister, Cassandra, burned most of her letters. What's left gives us tantalising clues about who she really was. Austen's characters jump to life on screen with a new adaptation for each generation… but 250 years after her birth, the…

‘October' is full of autumn leaves, muddy walks, crisp apples and spooky stories. We take forays into The Watsons and Mansfield Park, celebrate the publication of Sense and Sensibility, play bilbocatch and reflect upon the importance of aunts. As the month draws to a close, we mark the coming of winter with a Hallowe'en special - dipping into North…

Mrs Bennet has a problem - five of them, in fact. Not one of her daughters has managed to secure a husband. And with no boys in the family, when Mr Bennet dies, their house will be inherited by a cousin, leaving the female Bennets homeless. And then who should arrive in the sleepy Hertfordshire town of Meryton but a pair of distinctly eligible bach…

What was Jane Austen’s world really like? 🤔 Far from the serene ballrooms and genteel romances we often imagine, Austen lived through decades of chaos, revolution, war, and empire. In this episode of What the Austen? I’m joined by historian and author Helena Kelly to uncover how these turbulent times shaped Austen’s life, her family, and her novels…

Mr Knightley gives more advice on being a good man as he reads Franks letter Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube, Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble Book for an Austen Society event on HumanitixDe către Frances Duncan

Have you heard of this really, really, REALLY amazing house called Rosings? No seriously, it's basically the greatest house that has ever been built. And the windows! Don't even get me started. I mean, honestly, look at that gorgeous glazing. This episode we're joined by Dr. Emily Davis-Hale of Reclaiming Jane to discuss Lady Catherine, her windows…

Emma reads Frank’s letter to Mrs Weston Rachel forgets that I already made the requested “Mrs Elton Sucks” t-shirt (you can get one here) Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube, Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble Book for an Austen Society event on Humanitix…

Endlich ist Jane wieder unter den halbwegs gesunden Menschen und wagt sich in den Kreis der Netherfielder Gesellschaft. Allerdings bekommen wir sie immer noch nicht wieder zu hören, denn das neue Kapitel dreht sich viel eher um das Dreiergespann Darcy-Caroline-Lizzy. Schreitet mit uns gemeinsam durch den Saal, wo unsere Figuren so gut zur Geltung k…

Mr Knightley returns and confesses all! Rachel hijacks the podcast greetings and tells us about Pirates of the Caribbean 3 Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube, Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble Book for an Austen Society event on Humanitix…

Von einem kleinen Pferdehof in Schweden reisen wir gedanklich zurück nach Netherfield, wo sich Bingley, Darcy und Lizzy einer hitzigen Debatte unterziehen. Es wird philosophisch und ... ja, auch etwas streitwütig, falls das ein Wort ist. Da hält sich dann sogar mal Miss Bingley raus, sie hat viel mehr Sorge darum, dass Darcy's Schreibfeder nicht or…

“How could Jane Austen write so convincingly about love and heartbreak if she never fell in love?”In this episode, I’m joined by author and literary critic Paula Byrne to explore Jane Austen’s love life, beyond the well-known stories.You might already know about the dashing Tom Lefroy, made famous in Becoming Jane with Anne Hathaway and James McAvo…

There is a lot of awkward going around and we consider different partnerships than Austen did Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube, Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble Book for an Austen Society event on HumanitixDe către Frances Duncan

Duty to one’s family and to one’s heart is on the line as final declarations of intent and love are made. A letter slipped covertly into a palm features a renewed declaration of constant, undying love. Air is cleared and the pride that kept lovers apart is thrown away; both parties feel that in finding their way to each other, they are happier than…

‘September' is a time for holidays, sea bathing, and maybe even a seaside romance. We follow the Dashwood women as they move to Barton Cottage, and Anne Elliot as she leaves Kellynch for Uppercross. We also accompany Jane herself on a visit to London, where she stayed at her brother Henry's house in Covent Garden and enjoyed a trip to the Lyceum an…

Werter Hörerkreis, die arme Jane ist immer noch krank, wo soll das nur hinführen? Na ja, ihre Mutter ist natürlich der Ansicht, ihre Krankheit könnte sich gerne noch länger ziehen, dann kann sie wenigstens auf Netherfield verweilen. Dort macht sich Mrs. Bennet mit ihrem Auftritt und ihren Worten übrigens keine Freude und treibt vermutlich nicht nur…

Emma discovers that Harriet is into Mr Knightley just as she discovers that she, herself, is too! Support the podcast and hear episodes early on Ko-fi Find Frances on YouTube, Instagram or at her website Buy our merch on Redbubble Book for an Austen Society event on Humanitix

In this episode, we talk about the upward and downward social interactions taking place, what the implications are behind the Dalrymples being Irish aristocracy, the introductions of Mrs Smith and Nurse Rooke, the comedy of Mary’s letter and Admiral Croft’s meeting with Anne, and the fact that in the book’s timeline it is only a month before Napole…

This week, I’m thrilled to be joined by actress and writer Susannah Harker forever beloved to many of us as Jane Bennet in the iconic 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice. Nearly thirty years on, Susannah is stepping back into Jane’s world, but this time, she’s reimagining the character’s life (and her own) in a brand-new comedy-drama, Jane Bennet’s Second…