When it comes to literary staying power, there aren't many authors in the sophisticated sphere of Jane Austen. The Regency-era writer penned only six books, but they have remained classics and been the basis for television dramas, movies and plays. They've also inspired what Kennesaw State English Professor Laura Dabundo dubs "the Jane Austen military industrial complex": works that put favorite characters in new, dramatic plot lines, on paper or film. (One even went so far as to turn Mr. Darcy into a zombie hunter.)
"It all came together in the '90s with the BBC and American Austen movies," said Dabundo, a specialist in English Romanticism who teaches Austen courses. "And since then, it's exploded. Just why is the $64,000 question. For a lot of people, the movies came first. Colin Firth in 'Pride and Prejudice' is everybody's favorite."
Whether they're Firth fanatics or fans of the original stories, Austen followers have kindred spirits in the Atlanta chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA). Since 1996, these loyal readers have met monthly for discussions, teas and celebrations of all thing Austen.
While the national group boasts about 4,000, the Atlanta chapter has 59 dues-paying members from around metro Atlanta. In a bid to recruit new members, the group will make its debut at the AJC Decatur Book Festival this weekend with three adjoining tents packed with 16 Austen-inspired authors and books from another 12.
"I'd never even heard of the terms 'Austen-inspired' or 'Austen fan fiction' until a few years ago," said chapter leader Randy Brannen. "There's a huge presence online, with dozens and dozens of Web pages about authors writing it. But I'd say the more academic part of Austen is our foundation."
Chapter meetings often highlight aspects of life during Austen's era. The group has partnered with other local organizations and scholars to explore dance and music as well as the characters and plot lines. The connections to history brought Brannen and his wife Diane into the group when he moved to McDonough several years ago.
"I was looking for history-related things to do and found this group of very learned people," he said. "But we'd like to increase our offerings beyond just book discussions. We've always held a December tea party for Austen's birthday, and we've met with other [regional] Austen groups. Most people find us through the fan fiction and films. I think everyone is in love with Mr. Darcy."
What everyone can't agree on is the merit of fan fiction versus the real Jane.
"A lot of people are purists," said member Jan Ashe, a retired grandmother from Bethlehem. "For some, it's difficult to embrace the adulteration of her characters and stories by others. But over time, I think they've realized that these writers don't take anything away from Jane, and they draw young people into an awareness of her. They might read the fan fiction first, but they'll go to Jane after that."
Nancy Mayer, a law librarian and former chapter president, said members have written their own sequels to the stories, but admits she's not a big fan of the spinoffs.
"Many of them don't capture her characters, or keep them in character, either," said the Sandy Springs resident. "I like Jane Austen because she wrote realistic books. She didn't have people floating down the Mississippi in canoes. It's a commentary on her day with stories of real people."
Some readers don't get the Austen attraction at all, said Dabundo, who is also a member of the Atlanta chapter and author of the recently-published "The Marriage of Faith: Christianity in Jane Austen and William Wordsworth."
"Austen has always caused polarized views," she said. "Students often have difficulty with the language." The characters "speak in paragraphs and have a better vocabulary. Some say she seems very frivolous, writing about these people who live lives of leisure. But it's not all shopping and matchmaking. In Austen's day, marriage was the only way a young woman could be assured of her future. These are serious issues and serious people we can recognize in our own friends and families. That's what makes Austen so popular."
A longtime Austen fan, Ashe discovered the Atlanta chapter last year and has been one of the key organizers of its festival participation. She keeps up with the fan fiction online where she's found new favorite authors, some of whom will be at the event this weekend.
"I think it's unheard of to have this many Austen authors lined up," said Ashe. "We started with just a few, then they started asking their friends, so we've got people like Amanda Grange and Pamela Aidan."
Three Austen-related authors will be on the festival's courthouse stage at 5:30 p.m. Saturday . Abigail Reynolds and Regina Jeffers will be joined by essayist and former Yale English professor William Deresiewicz. A complete list of the attending authors is online at www.jasnaatlanta.org.
AJC Decatur Book Festival
Friday through Sunday Aug 31-Sept2
The largest independent book festival in the U.S. features activities for readers and book lovers of all ages in various genres. The festival kicks off Friday with a keynote address by Decatur's Natasha Trethewey, Pulitzer-prize winner and recently-named poet laureate. More than 300 local and national authors, including Michael Connelly, Kathy Reichs and "Mutts" cartoonist Patrick McDonnell, will be part of the event. Admission to the festival and all events is free. Information: www.decaturbookfestival.com.
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