It may be centered on an author who wrote 200 years ago, but the local chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America is not satisfied to dwell on the past.
“We don’t always stick with the same old things, and that’s what keeps people interested,” said Virginia Lee, one of the coordinators for the Southeastern Virginia Region of the society.
For Lee, a native of England transplanted to her namesake, Austen has always been a part of her life. Even her wedding dress was a gown in the Jane Austen style.
She joined the local area society in 2007, delighted to find camaraderie in a group with a shared passion. The group fell into inactivity a few years ago, until Lee stepped up to the helm.
Now the club is up to 62 regular members in the area, stretching from high school age through retirement.
Lee said the range of programs keeps her involved with the club, and is also its way to reach potential participants.
“We don’t want to just have a book club group,” she said. “We want to be able to enhance that by giving people the opportunity to dress in period clothing, and come to teas and dances.”
For those who might love Austen without having ever read her books, Lee said a variety of immersive activities is a way to staying connected to the author without the pressure of reading assignments and forced discussion questions.
Lee’s favorite program is an annual 18th-century tea dance held at Bruton Parish in December in honor of Austen’s birthday. Most guests dress in period attire – the rest in formalwear – and embody the manners and moves of the era.
“We had a hard time closing it down because nobody wanted to stop dancing,” Lee said of last year’s dance.
Up next on the schedule for the local chapter is a talk on Austen accessories Sunday in the Schell Room of the Williamsburg Regional Library. Lee, along with club officer Bonnie Fairbank, will present “Jane Austen’s 4-H Club: Hats, Hair, Hosiery & Hankies,” to help Austen enthusiasts learn how to craft an appropriate costume.
Lee encouraged anyone curious to come out for the event, which like most for the group is free and open to the public.
The group does not charge any local dues – membership fees can be paid directly to the Jane Austen Society of North America. Click here for information on how to become a member.
Those interested in joining the local chapter can contact Lee at 221-6686.
