MOUNT DORA
Jane Austen Fest
February 7, 8, & 9, 2025
A foot in the 21st Century and a toe in the Regency Era.
The Jane Austen Fest 2025
The 5th Annual Jane Austen Fest will be exciting and bursting with fun!
Online Registration opens on November 1st, 2024.
Lectures & Workshops
Our speakers this year include, Dr. Deborah Aschkenes, Dr. Ann Wass, Dr. Susan Jones, and Jennie Chauncey and check out our workshops page to see the new additions.
Hot Air Balloon Rides
The first Hot Air Balloon took flight in Versailles in the Regency Era in 1783 when Jane was 8 years old. Ours will be Sunday Morning.
Teas
Our Four Course Teas are held all day on Saturday at the historic Donnelly House right in downtown Mount Dora.
We Need Volunteers
Scholarships for Women
Jane Austen Donates scholarships for women who are seeking an education in literature, history, fashion, theatre, or writing/authorship
Jane Austen’s Significance
British novelist Jane Austen (1775-1817) wrote only six novels and died in 1817 at the age of 41. Yet, novelists on both sides of the pond, from Mark Twain to Kipling, could not let her pass quietly. Twain was fond of detesting Austen both in writing and speech, marveling that Austen had been allowed to die a natural death rather than face execution for her literary crimes. Kipling, however, greatly admired Austen’s work. The most famous line in his short story, The Janeites, reads There’s no one to touch Jane when you’re in a tight place.
Today her works continue to inspire debate and critique from scholarly circles to online blogs and her life continues to be explored by modern authors.
In addition to inspiring a thirst for knowledge about all things Regency, Austen has done more to inspire reproduction Regency era clothing and accessories in our century than any other author of her time. The Jane Austen Society continue to grow in membership. Their events, conferences and local chapters in both the US and abroad offer a wide range of content for serious “Janeites” as well as for those looking to simply take a step back in time for the sake of amusement and escape.
Austen’s Regency era tales of life and love brim with psychologically complex and multi-layered heroines who do not bow to the mores of their era. Add Austen’s brilliant irony to this mix and you have endless fascination and discovery for readers. Her books transcend time and geographical boundaries, allowing for adapted – and sometimes unusual – story lines in our modern books, movies and television.
Does Jane Austen remain culturally relevant today? Indeed, for as has been said, While the rules of life and love have changed since the Regency era, the game itself has not.
If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad.
Jane Austen
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Latest Posts
Jane Austen Fest E-News 10-8-2024
My dear Jane Austen Sisters, Can you imagine that 250 years after your death 1000’s of women around the world would want to celebrate your birthday? Well that’s exactly what we are going to do this February 7, 8 and 9, 2025, here in Mount Dora at the Jane Austen Fest....
Scholarship Recipient 2024
Congratulations Shelby Delaney! Congratulations to Shelby Delaney, our 2024 scholarship winner! She is a delightful young woman and plans to go to Valencia College to study English and she is taking a on-line class in screen writing. (photo left to right - Nancy...
Happy Holidays from the Jane Austen Fest
Dear Jane Austen Fans, A few more days until Christmas! Lots of hustle and bustle yet. The tree is beautiful with its lights and ornaments. Lots of excitement and screams and thank you’s floating across the room yet to come. Mount Dora is lit up. The lighting of the...