Between the Pages: Quotes from Jane Austen

Between the Pages is a new, weekly blog series which explores the life, times and creative works of well-known authors. I plan to run the blog series until the end of 2015, focusing on one author per month. New posts every Tuesday, plus occasional bonus posts.

The first post in the series is a brief biography of the author, the second looks at the historical period of the author, and the third post discusses their creative works. Finally, the last post includes selected quotations and short excerpts by the author.

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We made it! This post marks the end of the first month of my Between the Pages blog series. We had a whistle-stop tour of Jane Austen’s life, the Georgian era and social customs of the time (with a bonus post about dresses and dancing), and her creative works.

I had fun being creative with this post. The fourth post in this series features a few select quotes from each Between the Pages author that we discuss throughout the month. Rather than simply assembling some quotes, I wanted to include a visual element as well.

My preferred learning style is reading/writing and I think it’s easier for me to be expressive in writing rather than visual design. However, design is one area that I want to develop. I don’t envisage myself becoming a graphic designer in the future, but it’s enjoyable to think about how to bring visual elements into projects.

Without further ado, here are my Jane Austen graphics!

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Image courtesy of Matthew Wiebe at Unsplash; quote from Mansfield Park.

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A wise quote from the heroine of Pride and Prejudice!

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Image courtesy of Hieu Le at Unsplash; quote from Miss Bingley, the snobbish sister of Mr Bingley. When you read the quote in context in the excerpt below, you’ll see that she actually isn’t sincere when she says this. But I agree with the sentiment of the quote on its own.

Miss Bingley’s attention was quite as much engaged in watching Mr. Darcy’s progress through his book, as in reading her own; and she was perpetually either making some inquiry, or looking at his page. She could not win him, however, to any conversation; he merely answered her question, and read on.

At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to be amused with her own book, which she had only chosen because it was the second volume of his, she gave a great yawn and said,

“How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! — When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”

No one made any reply. She then yawned again, threw aside her book, and cast her eyes round the room in quest of some amusement.

(P&P, chapter 11)

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Another wise and philosophical quote from JA’s pen; spoken by Fanny Price, the main female character of Mansfield Park.

Feel free to share feedback on the graphics, the series, or anything else!

Next time in Between the Pages, we’ll be discussing the life of Thomas Hardy.