“Jane Austen’s Ordinary and Extraordinary Life”
with Viki Barie
Saturday, May 21, 2022 for
Saturday’s Zoom event with Viki Barie was a masterclass in all things Regency and Jane Austen. If you missed it make sure to visit our
YouTube channel soon and catch up on her presentation.
Viki delivered a carefully and lovingly crafted discussion full of in depth and insightful information on Austen and the era she lived in.
She seamlesly and meticulously discussed a diverse range of topics starting from George III’s family and reign and effortlessly transitioning into the many wars won and lost, building the British Empire, textiles, trade, cotton mills, consumerism, slavery, the value of human life, the labor force and so much more all while weaving key details about Austen’s life, family, and novels and situating her perfectly into a complex historical moment.
As the discussion progressed Viki unpacked details of Austen’s early life and family history. She sprinkled in family stories that may have influenced parts of her novels like aunt Jane Cholmeley Leigh Perrot’s trial over stolen lace and the very real possibility of being hanged or transported if convicted.
Saturday’s presentation was insightful, informative and worth rewatching and taking notes for any Janeite interested in Austen’s world, context and history.
Viki attended her first JASNA AGM in 1983 (St. Louis) and became a JASNA Life Member in 1987. She has served as regional coordinator (St. Louis, Missouri, and Sacramento), JASNA membership chair, JASNA Churches Committee member (2006 to 2017), and held many other local and regional offices. Viki has taught classes on Jane Austen at the University of California, Irvine extension program, as well as at various local and regional JASNA groups. She has been closely involved with the Orange County reading group since 1994. For her day job, Viki is a fundraiser at Providence St. Joseph Hospital Foundation in Orange. She has over 30 years of experience in major and principal giving, annual giving, special events, grantwriting, volunteer development, and nonprofit management. Viki earned a B.A. in English and a B.S. in geology from Washington State University at Pullman, Washington.
