Post for Thursday, April 30th - "Lady Susan" by Jane Austen - Dramatic Reading of pages 40-53 (Letters 17-20)

Google Meet for Monday, May 4th (11:30 am - 12:15 am)

Recap of Today's Class: I continued to read and perform letters from Lady Susan by Jane Austen, pages 40-53 (letters 17-20).  Below, you will a link to the full text; a trailer for the film adaptation, titled, Love and Friendship (2016); as well as the cast of characters with photos to help you put names to faces while we read.

Lady Susan by Jane Austen - Full Text

Cast of Characters from Lady Susan

Main Characters

Lady Susan Vernon: daughter of a peer. Four months a widow of an unnamed Vernon. Age, approximately 35. Daughter, Frederica Susanna. Formerly of Vernon Castle in Staffordshire six years prior. Also of Upper Seymour Street in London, and later of 10 Wigmore Street, London. The most accomplished coquet in England, manipulator, and fabulously wicked. Riches alone will not satisfy her in marriage.

Miss Frederica Susanna Vernon: daughter of Lady Susan. Age 16. At school in London. Neglected and ill educated. Considered the greatest simpleton on earth by her mother.

Mr. Charles Vernon: of Churchill, Sussex. Younger brother of Lady Susan’s first husband. Married to Catherine De Courcy six years prior. Children: Frederick and Catherine, and others in abundance.

Mrs. Catherine Vernon: daughter of Sir Reginald De Courcy of Parklands, Sussex. Married to Charles Vernon six years prior. Sister-in-law to Lady Susan. Sister to Reginald De Courcy. Children: Frederick and Catherine, and others in abundance.

Reginald De Courcy: (younger) son of Sir Reginald and Lady De Courcy of Parklands, Sussex. Age 23. Brother of Mrs. Catherine Vernon.

Sir Reginald De Courcy: (elder) of Parklands, Sussex. Married to C__ (Catherine?). Children: Reginald and Catherine.

Lady C. De Courcy: Wife of Sir Reginald De Courcy of Parklands, Sussex. Children: Reginald and Catherine.

Sir James Martin: a man of fortune. Bachelor. At first attached to Maria Manwaring. Contemptibly weak minded.

Mrs. Alicia Johnson (Left with best friend Lady Susan): of Edward Street, London. Married to Mr. Johnson. Lady Susan’s confidant.

Mr. Johnson (Middle): of Edward Street, London. Married to Alicia. Guardian of Mrs. Manwaring. Has old Aunts in Bath. A “Respectable” man plagued by the gout. Has banned Lady Susan from his house.

Mrs. Manwaring (Left): of Langford. Married to Mr. Manwaring. Discovers Lady Susan’s dalliance with her husband right under her nose and asks her to leave.

Mr. Manwaring: of Langford. Married, (wife’s name not stated). Brother of Maria Manwaring. Lady Susan’s preferred paramour.

Miss Maria Manwaring: sister of Mr. Manwaring of Langford. Unmarried. Absolutely on the ‘catch’ for a husband.


Minor Characters

Charles Smith: Tells scandalous tales about Lady Susan.

Clarkes: of Staffordshire. Frederica’s only friends.

Hamiltons: a family

James: Reginald de Courcy’s (the younger) servant.

Miss Summers: of Wigmore Street, London. Schoolmistress of one of the best Private Schools in Town that Frederica attends.

Wilson: Lady Susan’s ladies maid.