Jane Austen Society of North America
Puget Sound Region
Program of Events
2025 Upcoming Programs
Our next meeting is
Sunday, April 13, 2025 2:00 p.m.
Green Lake Branch of the Seattle Public Library
7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N., Seattle, WA 98115
A close reading of the final chapters of Persuasion
We know that on July 8, 1816, Jane Austen began what she called Chapter 10 of the second volume of Persuasion. On the last page of Chapter 11 she wrote "Finish July 18 1816".
The original ending was first published by Austen's nephew and biographer, J. Edward Austen-Leigh in his A Memoir of Jane Austen.
The cancelled chapters are the only manuscript from any of the six novels that we have in original form -- crossings-out, emendations and all. The fragment is now in the British Museum.
We will discuss the cancelled Chapter 10 as well as Chapters 10 through 12 as published.
Persuasion - The Cancelled Chapters
What would Jane Austen's mother's baby shower have been like?
June 8, 2025 * 2:00 p.m.
location TBD
We are planning a Baby Shower themed meeting for Mrs. Cassandra Austen (nee Leigh) -- Jane Austen will not be born until December so we don't want to celebrate her birth before her mother is prepared! We will learn about how women and families prepared for a birth in the late 18th Century. We are still working on a location for this meeting.
August 17, 2025
Bellevue Botanical Garden
Our meeting will be at 2 p.m.
The Bellevue Botanical Gardens are open and free from dawn to dusk
so plan to make a day of it and enjoy the full gardens
before our 2 o'clock meeting in the Aaron Education Center.
October Meeting
We are working out details for a meeting in October after the AGM
Saturday, December 6, 2025
We are planning and all day event
celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen
capped with a
Regency Ball in the evening.
Save the Date!
We have reserved the Women's University Club in downtown Seattle. More details soon!
Past Meetings
Christmas Traditions in Jane Austen's Time
Sunday, December 8, 2024
December is the time when we gather together to celebrate Jane Austen's birthday! While it is always a festive event for the life of Jane Austen, being in December also reminds us of the holidays. Our program was a look at Christmas celebrations in the time of Jane Austen. Agnes Gawne, regaled us with stories of Christmas traditions Jane might have experienced.
We will raise our glasses to toast Jane Austen with sherry or cider. As ever, Regency attire is always admired, never required.
