Jane Austen Society of North America, Southwest Region
Welcome
Whether you have just discovered Jane Austen or are a lifelong aficionado, you are welcome at the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) and our local region of the society, JASNA Southwest.
Our region is the largest and one of the oldest in the national society. We host four regional meetings annually that feature a wide range of speakers and presentations, offer numerous local reading and game groups, sponsor a Young Filmmakers Contest and maintain a comprehensive guide to Austen Adaptations.
Learn more about the benefits of joining JASNA and JASNA Southwest on our membership page.
We hope you enjoy exploring our site and we hope to see you soon!
Left: Lyme Park stood in for Pemberley in the 1995 Pride and Prejudice miniseries.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
Until it’s safe to meet again in person, we are holding virtual meetings with speakers on a wide range of topics. We’ll be posting information on the next set of virtual events soon. Sign up for our mailing list for more information.
Upcoming In-Person Events
We are pausing our in-person events until it is safe for large groups to meet again in person. Stay tuned for announcements on upcoming virtual presentations and meetings. Sign up for our mailing list for more information.
POSTPONED: Stay tuned for new date and information
Austen Family Theatricals
A staged reading will follow the presentation.
Featured speaker:
Melinda Finberg, a dramaturg and theatre history scholar at the USC School of Dramatic Arts
June 19, 2021
NEW DATE
The Grand, Long Beach
Fashion Afoot: Costumes, Shoes and Dancing in the Regency Era
Following the presentations and lunch, we’ll engage in a dance lesson.
Featured speakers:
Deborah Nadoolman Landis, renowned film costumer and director of the Copley Center for Costume Design at UCLA
Kimberley Alexander, author of Treasures Afoot: Shoe Stories from the Georgian Era
Annie Laskey, English Country Dance expert
Saturday, November 13, 2021
NEW DATE
Mission Inn, Riverside
Miss Austen Goes to Washington
Our event will explore Regency-era politics as well as Austen’s influence today.
Featured speakers:
Congressman Mark Takano (D-Riverside), former English teacher who launched a Jane Austen reading group on Capitol Hill
Austen scholar Sheryl Craig, author of Jane Austen and the State of the Nation
Follow Us
Reading, Film and Game Groups
For the upcoming schedule for each of our reading, film and game groups, visit the groups page.
Karen Joy Fowler Video Live
The video from the September 26 JASNA Southwest meeting featuring author Karen Joy Fowler (The Jane Austen Book Club and numerous other titles) is now live on the JASNA SW YouTube page. Her enlightening talk covered Emma and Austen's Hidden Gothics—the untold, highly...
Remastered Pride and Prejudice Streaming on BritBox
In honor of the 25th anniversary of BBC’s Pride and Prejudice starring Academy Award winner Colin Firth, enjoy the newly remastered edition exclusively on BritBox premiering on September 25. BritBox is a streaming service from BBC Studios & ITV offering the...
AGM Registration Opens Sept. 1
Registration for JASNA's Annual General Meeting: A Virtual Event opens at 9 a.m. Pacific on Tuesday, Sept. 1! Cost is $89 per person, which includes 30 days of access to watch presentations. Registration closes on Oct. 1. You must be a JASNA member, but you can join...
Register Now for Sept. 26 Event
Registration is now open for our free Zoom event on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. with featured speaker Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club. Fowler will give a talk titled "Emma and Austen's Hidden Gothics." Fowler is the author of...
Register Now for Aug. 16 Meeting on the Juvenilia
Registration is now open for our next free Zoom event, to be held Sunday, August 16, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Pacific time. The West Los Angeles Reading Group is inviting JASNA members and friends to attend this regularly scheduled reading group meeting, featuring the...
Young Filmmakers Judges Announced
We are thrilled to announce the judges for our third annual Young Filmmakers Contest: Ashley Clements, star of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and a writer/producer, including an upcoming modern adaptation of Macbeth Laurie Viera Rigler, author of Confessions of a Jane...
Registration Open for FREE Zoom Presentation on July 25
Join JASNA Southwest for a free presentation and Q&A featuring author Natalie Jenner (The Jane Austen Society) on Saturday, July 25, 2020 from 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Registration is open now! Natalie Jenner is the author of the new novel (released in May 2020) The...
Take Our Event Survey!
During these unprecedented times, we are working hard to remain connected while staying physically distanced. We would love to hear your perspective on what would make you feel comfortable to return to in-person gatherings like our regional meetings after health...
Vote for Your Favorite Austen Film Portrayals!
Last month, you told us your favorite Austen novel, heroine, hero and more. This month, in recognition of the landmark anniversary years for so many versions of Pride and Prejudice (1940, 1980, 1995 and 2005), we thought it would be fun to learn who plays your...
Immerse yourself in an Austen novel, participate in a reading or game group or catch up on the latest JASNA Southwest news.
Explore the benefits of becoming a JASNA and JASNA Southwest member, or join or renew your membership now!
Join other Jane Austen fans from around Southern California by attending one of our regional meetings.
Greet visitors at our Festival of Books booth, organize a new reading group or assist with events and more as a valued volunteer.
Support JASNA’s Southwest region with a tax-deductible donation in any amount. Your gift truly makes a meaningful difference in all we do!
Discover a treasure trove of resources, including our comprehensive guide to film adaptations as well as books Austen herself admired.
Email jasnasw or visit our contact page to direct your query on a specific topic or to a board member. We look forward to hearing from you.
Join Our Mailing List
Sign up today to receive our monthly e-newsletter, event invitations and occasional news, such as free Austen-related film screenings. We never (ever) share your information with anyone. Period.
