Jane Austen Soirée - A celebration of Jane Austen’s Birthday + Giveaway

Welcome to the Jane Austen Soirée - A celebration of Jane Austen’s Birthday

Today is Jane Austen's birthday and since she is one of my favorite authors, it's time to celebrate!

Happy Birthday, Jane!

The Jane Austen Soirée is a blog hop with the intention of celebrating Jane Austen's birthday. 
The bloggers involved will post their favorite page from their favorite Austen and host a few giveaways. I'll be hosting a giveaway as well so be sure to check the end of this post.

One of my favorite books by Jane Austen is Persuasion so here's a page from the book:

Anne and Captain Wentworth from Persuasion (2007 TV series)

"Mrs. Croft left them, and Captain Wentworth, having sealed his letter with great rapidity, was indeed ready, and had even a hurried, agitated air, which shewed impatience to be gone. Anne knew not how to understand it. She had the kindest "Good morning, God bless you!" from Captain Harville, but from him not a word, nor a look! He had passed out of the room without a look! 

She had only time, however, to move closer to the table where he had been writing, when footsteps were heard returning; the door opened, it was himself. He begged their pardon, but he had forgotten his gloves, and instantly crossing the room to the writing-table, and standing with his back towards Mrs. Musgrove, he drew out a letter from under the scattered paper, placed it before Anne with eyes of glowing entreaty fixed on her for a time, and hastily collecting his gloves, was again out of the room, almost before Mrs. Musgrove was aware of his being in it: the work of an instant! 

The revolution which one instant had made in Anne was almost beyond expression. The letter, with a direction hardly legible, to "Miss A. E -- ," was evidently the one which he had been folding so hastily. While supposed to be writing only to Captain Benwick, he had been also addressing her! On the contents of that letter depended all which this world could do for her. Anything was possible, anything might be defied rather than suspense. Mrs. Musgrove had little arrangements of her own at her own table; to their protection she must trust, and, sinking into the chair which he had occupied, succeeding to the very spot where he had leaned and written, her eyes devoured the following words -- 

"I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in F. W." 

 "I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible. A word, a look will be enough to decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never."

Isn't that a wonderful letter? I think so. :)

What is your favorite page from one of Jane's novel? Comment and let me know!

Giveaway:

You can win a Jane Austen inspired bookmark with your favorite quote by Jane Austen! Here's an example:

You can get a bookmark like this at: CreationsbyGC

The contest is open internationally. 

Fill in the rafflecopter form below and good luck. 

Deadline 18 December. 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Don't forget to check out the other blogs: