The Thing About Austen By cover art

The Thing About Austen

By: The Thing About Austen
Listen for free

  • Summary

  • The Thing About Austen is a podcast about Jane Austen's world — the people, objects, and culture that shape Austen's fiction. Come for the historical context and stay for the literary shenanigans. Think of us as your somewhat cheeky tour guides to the life and times of Jane Austen.
    © The Thing About Austen Podcast. Music "Studio per Il Pianoforte, Op. 30, No. 21 in G Major" by Johann Baptist Cramer. Performed and recorded by Karali Hunter. Used with permission of artist.
    Show more Show less
Episodes
  • Episode 89: The Thing About Henry Crawford Reading Shakespeare

    Episode 89: The Thing About Henry Crawford Reading Shakespeare
    May 7 2024

    If you thought that Mary Crawford with her harp was the only siren in the Crawford family, think again. Henry Crawford is here with a volume of Shakespeare, and WOW. Prepare yourselves. This episode we unpack this scene's particular Shakespearean allusion, examine the status of reading aloud during Austen's time, and discuss Fanny's reaction to Henry's reading.

    You can find us online at https://www.thethingaboutausten.com and follow us on Instagram @TheThingAboutAusten and on Twitter @Austen_Things. You can also email us at TheThingAboutAusten@gmail.com.

    We have merch! Check out https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop to see the current offerings.
    Show more Show less
    32 mins
  • Episode 88: The Thing About the Bennet Sisters' Shoe-roses

    Episode 88: The Thing About the Bennet Sisters' Shoe-roses
    Apr 23 2024

    Grab your dancing slippers and your shoe-roses because the Netherfield Ball is right around the corner, and the Bennet sisters are ready to party. This episode we take a look at the fancy footwear frills of the 17th and 18th centuries and the ways in which those trends transitioned into the Regency era.

    You can find us online at https://www.thethingaboutausten.com and follow us on Instagram @TheThingAboutAusten and on Twitter @Austen_Things. You can also email us at TheThingAboutAusten@gmail.com.

    We have merch! Check out https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop to see the current offerings.
    Show more Show less
    19 mins
  • Episode 87: The Thing About Emma's Portrait of Harriet with guest Georgie Castilla

    Episode 87: The Thing About Emma's Portrait of Harriet with guest Georgie Castilla
    Apr 9 2024

    Emma is trying to paint Harriet's portrait, but it's hard to concentrate with Mr. Elton mouth breathing over her shoulder. But still, Mr. Elton is obviously in love with Harriet. Right? Right?!? This episode we welcome returning guest Georgie Castilla of Duniath Comics as we discuss Emma's attempt at combining the art of matchmaking with the art of portraiture.

    Thank you so much to Georgie for joining us for this discussion! You can find him online at www.duniathcomics.com and on Instagram @duniathcomics, and you can follow along as he adapts Emma at https://www.youtube.com/@duniathcomics.

    You can find us online at https://www.thethingaboutausten.com and follow us on Instagram @TheThingAboutAusten and on Twitter @Austen_Things. You can also email us at TheThingAboutAusten@gmail.com.

    We have merch! Check out https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop to see the current offerings.
    Show more Show less
    32 mins
Art World Literary History & Criticism
Show more Show less

Featured Article: We’re Booked—The Best Literature Podcasts for Every Bibliophile


Love everything books and literature? Of course, you do—that’s why you're here! Don’t worry, you’re in good company. If you're a book aficionado who loves chatting about literature with like-minded people, literature podcasts are the perfect addition to your listening lifestyle. There’s no shortage of great book podcast options to choose from. Here are just a few of the best literature podcasts, covering many different genres and styles of podcasting.

Featured Article We’re Booked The Best Literature Podcasts for Every Bibliophile

What listeners say about The Thing About Austen

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    19
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    18
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    18
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com reviews

Amazon reviews
Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for holly buck

Lively and fresh!

Zan and Diane deliver the important and juicy stuff that help makes Jane Austen live on! What a gem! Thank you!

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User

enjoyable

relaxed discussion that goes deep without being stuffy at all
Unique topics related to all things Austen

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amy Darrah

Depth through details

There are many cultural details in Austen’s novels that I’ve glossed over for decades without thinking too much about. The Thing About Austen digs into these nuances with guests who are experts in things like miniature paintings and astronomy. Zan and Diane find seemingly unimportant details that once they are examined give Austen’s novels much more depth. Thank you Zan and Diane. I look forward to each pod cast episode.

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Rachel A.

really interesting historical context

I didn't spend any more time thinking about General Tilney's pamphlets than Catherine Morland did, so this episode was super interesting. It also perfectly explained Henry Tilney's comment about neighbors being voluntary spies, which had puzzled me before and I had assumed to mean he had gossipy neighbors - turns out to be much less benign!

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Wendy Lanehart

Enjoyed it!

I love the level of detail and the insight into the Navy in Austin’s books

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Sarah C.

The Bits and Bobs of Austen Become Relevant Here

I love Jane Austen's works (my favorite is most likely Persuasion) so finding this podcast was a great discovery. There are many things in Austen's stories, usually contemporary items or places, that are not as easy to understand when you first read the novels. For example, Mr. Woodhouse of Emma is a known hypochondriac but it turns out he might be a bit justified about worrying about his grandchildren's health due to bad air as the podcast shows. Or how Mrs. Henry Dashwood of Sense and Sensibility turned out to be getting something valuable when she got to keep the linens brought with her upon her marriage (something Fanny Dashwood tries to take from her, along with Norland). Unless you read about Austen's world or on the books that explore Regency Life, details like these can slip through the cracks. But not with this podcast team!

I enjoy every episode I listen to, especially when they're on the more obscure or less recognizable topics like Blaize Castle or Tattersall's. If also you read or listen Georgette Heyer's novels, some of what they discuss also is useful for reading her books (Tattersall's plays a part in The Grand Sophy for example) so it's doubly enjoyable. The experts are knowledgeable and definitely bring some fun to some sometimes obscure or specialized topics. The stargazing episode was cool because the person they had on to talk about the scene from Mansfield Park actually was able to figure out when the scene was set historically just by the details in the book, which was impressive and showed Austen was not adverse to real-life details.

If you love Austen and want to learn more about her or maybe some of those details in the books that don't translate to modern culture as well (Udolpho, anyone?), check out this podcast!

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Robin H.

These women are both smart and funny!

I really enjoy listening to this podcast and look forward to each episode as they come out. Their humor is snarky ala Jane Austen and the more in depth explanations help to make Miss Austen's novels more enjoyable. Thank you for your time and research.

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!