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. Join us at one of these events—registration information coming soon. Sign up for our mailing list for more information.
Saturday, July 25, 2020
The Jane Austen Society
Meeting will be conducted via Zoom.
Featured speaker:
Natalie Jenner
Natalie Jenner is the author of the new novel (released in May 2020) The Jane Austen Society, a fictional telling of the start of the society in the 1940s in the village of Chawton, where Austen lived.
Saturday, September 26, 2020
Emma
Meeting will be conducted via Zoom.
Featured speaker: Karen Joy Fowler
Karen Joy Fowler is the author of six novels and three short story collections. Her 2004 novel, The Jane Austen Book Club, spent 13 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list and was a New York Times “notable book.” She also wrote the introduction to the Penguin Classics deluxe edition of the complete novels of Jane Austen in 2006.
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.
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...
Your Austen Favorites
A big thank you goes to everyone who participated in last month's survey. We had a tremendous response and some wonderful comments! Special thanks go to those who found a couple of glaring omissions among the answer options (that's why the write-in vote was...
Upcoming Meetings
Your JASNA Southwest board is working hard on plans for region-wide virtual meetings while we take a hiatus in our in-person gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes the Festival of Books, which has been rescheduled for October. The Festival of Books is...
May 2 Event at Mission Inn Postponed
Your health and wellbeing, and that of the greater community, remain our highest priority. Out of an abundance of caution during these unprecedented times, we are postponing our May 2, 2020, event at the Mission Inn, "Ms. Austen Goes to Washington." The new date is...
Festival of Books Moves to October
The 25th annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books has been postponed until the weekend of October 3-4, as a precaution in light of public health concerns related to the coronavirus. JASNA Southwest will again host a booth at the event, which is the nation's largest...
Emma Swag Winners
We are pleased to announce the trivia contest winners for our Emma swag giveaways, courtesy of Focus Features. Trivia Question 1—Barbara, Santa Barbara Trivia Question 2—Fatma, Ontario, Canada Trivia Question 3—Tracy, Placentia Trivia Question 4—Catherine, Porter...
Emma Winner to Be Announced Soon
We are slightly delayed in announcing our winners of the Emma giveaways (we want to make sure we are correctly counting across all of our platforms). Stay tuned! And sorry for the delay. Thanks again to all who participated!
Emma Trivia Question No. 5: Answer
The answer to our final trivia question of the week is State of Play (miniseries), with David Morrissey (who played Col. Brandon in the 2008 S&S miniseries), Polly Walker (who was Jane Fairfax in the 1996 theatrical release of Emma) and James McAvoy (who played...
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.
