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Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Jane Austen's life was more fascinating than fiction. I travelled to four destinations to learn all about it
On a peaceful street in Winchester, England's medieval capital, stands P&G Wells, advertised as 'Britain's oldest bookshop (probably).' From the wood-panelled storefront, you can spot a window display dedicated to the literary legend who once frequented this place herself: Jane Austen. A sculpture, by local artist Robert Truscott, depicts her at a writing table with quill in hand, oblivious to anyone's gaze. It's a fitting scene. In her lifetime, no one had any inkling she would become one of the world's most adored authors. Her books were published anonymously. The first edition of 'Sense and Sensibility' declared only that it was written 'By a Lady.' I picture Austen browsing these shelves, which now showcase her six completed novels — plus some of the countless works she inspired. Stacks of sequels, spinoffs and other fan fiction prove her enduring modern appeal. Would we have 'Bridget Jones's Diary' without 'Pride and Prejudice,' or 'Clueless' without 'Emma'? As if! Just a small selection of the books that Austen has inspired, on display at P&G Wells. The author once frequented the historic Winchester shop. 'This is incredible, isn't it?' says tour guide Erica Wheeler, gesturing to the great many Austen biographies. 'Everybody's so interested in her — and not just in the books. Everybody wants to know about Jane Austen herself.' Austen's life story is as intriguing as her fiction, and 2025 is an opportune time to learn all about it. This is the writer's 250th birthday, inspiring a year-long calendar of special events, including festivals, lectures, museum exhibitions, theatrical performances and fancy costume balls. There will be celebrations in Steventon, Bath, Chawton and Winchester , all destinations that claim her as a local. Just a few doors down from the P&G Wells bookshop is another historic address. The painted-brick home at 8 College Street is nondescript, save for a small plaque: 'In this house Jane Austen lived her last days and died 18th July 1817.' The author had come to Winchester seeking care for a mystery ailment. She perished shortly thereafter, at age 41. The private residence, now part of Winchester College , has never opened to the public, until now. This summer (until the end of August), Janeites from around the world can come see an artifact-filled exhibition or sign up for a private guided tour. A five-minute walk away is Austen's final resting place, the most prominent landmark in town: Winchester Cathedral . How did then-obscure Austen end up in one of Europe's finest medieval cathedrals, under the same roof as kings? Word has it that family — one brother was a clergyman — may have pulled some strings. A gravestone only hints at Austen's vocation, mentioning 'the extraordinary endowments of her mind.' A brass tablet, added in 1872, is more forthright, revealing she was 'known to many by her writings.' Left: The memorial stone marking Jane's final resting place inside Winchester Cathedral. Right: A brass tablet, added in 1872, belatedly acknowledged her writing talent. Jane Austen was born in 1775, in the tiny, rural Hampshire village of Steventon, where she grew up with seven siblings and spent her first 25 years. Today, a classic red phone booth, emblazoned with her name and turned into a free little library, serves as an adorable 'visitors' centre.' The Austen family home, the old rectory, was demolished long ago, but the open field where it stood will host a Regency-themed fair in her honour next month. A tree-shaded lane leads up to St. Nicholas Church, where the writer's father, Reverend George Austen, preached. It's still an active place of worship for the community of 250 locals and has become a small-scale tourist attraction. 'There's not a lot to see, in a way,' churchwarden Marilyn Wright tells me, 'but the countryside hasn't changed.' Taking in the bucolic atmosphere, the bluebells and birdsong, I can see why Austen was so fond of long walks in the country, a favoured pastime in her fiction. Travellers can follow in her footsteps on the newly opened Overton Jane Austen Trails . The most obvious pilgrimage site for Janeites is Bath , recognized by UNESCO as one of the great spa towns of Europe. Today, it's home to a small, dedicated museum, the Jane Austen Centre . It hosts a 10-day Jane Austen Festival each September, where you might see the 'largest gathering of people dressed in Regency costumes' (the festival holds the current Guinness World Record). Bath's annual Jane Austen Festival is the largest celebration of its kind. Events include guided walks, theatrical performances and costume balls. Austen herself held little affection for Bath. Although 'Northanger Abbey' and 'Persuasion' are set here, she didn't write much in the city. She moved to Bath in 1801, along with her dear sister, Cassandra, because her parents wanted to retire in the resort town, which attracted the gentry during the social season. 'Bath was the place you brought your unmarried daughters to get them married. So I think the Reverend Austen chose Bath because he thought, My daughters are in the last-chance saloon. I must get them married, and Bath is where to do it ,' explains Theresa Roche of Strictly Jane Austen Tours , guiding me along the cobblestone streets and grand Georgian crescents in her period costume: a butter-yellow gown with matching gloves, pearls and parasol. As it turned out, Bath didn't set the scene for a new romance. (Austen did once accept a marriage proposal, from the brother of friends, but had a change of heart by the next day.) Instead, a plot twist: Reverend Austen died, abruptly. 'That left the mother and the two daughters, now 'unmarriageable,' basically relying 100 per cent on the brothers,' explains Roche of the women's precarious fate. 'By 1806, their money has run out, and they're living in a slum. They're desperate,' says Roche. Jane Austen's lucky break came out of tragedy: Her wealthiest brother, Edward Austen Knight, lost his wife during childbirth. With 11 kids to raise, he realized his mom and two sisters could look after his brood. 'He offers them a cottage to live in for the rest of their lives,' explains Roche. 'And if he hadn't done that, I don't think we would have Jane Austen's books.' Jane Austen's House, in Chawton, Hampshire, is a cherished museum in the red-brick cottage where the author spent her last eight years. Located in the village of Chawton, this red-brick cottage is now the charity-run museum known as Jane Austen's House . Carefully restored, right down to the historically faithful botanical wallpaper, it's one of the most treasured literary sites in the world. Austen thrived here over the last eight years of her life, happy to be back in her beloved Hampshire. Inside the drawing room, I picture Austen doing her first-ever reading of 'Pride and Prejudice' right when it was published, sharing it with a neighbour one wintry evening in 1813. (She didn't disclose she was the author.) In the dining parlour, I see the tiny walnut table where she wrote and revised her novels. Her eyesight was bad, so it was placed by the window for the best light. In another room, a special exhibition called ' Austenmania! ' pays tribute to 1995, which saw 'the birth of modern Austen fandom.' That year, and purely by coincidence, four Austen-related adaptations hit screens: 'Pride and Prejudice' (of Colin Firth lake-diving fame), the BBC's 'Persuasion,' Ang Lee's 'Sense and Sensibility,' and the coming-of-age rom-com 'Clueless.' It was such a cultural moment that Entertainment Weekly named Jane Austen one of its Entertainers of the Year. When 'Pride and Prejudice' was published, Jane Austen gave her first-ever reading in this drawing room. Austen wasn't a household name until long after her death, and it was her own life that helped earn her books a wide audience. When one of her nephews published 'A Memoir of Jane Austen' in 1869, her works finally caught the general public's attention. A fascinating heroine, flouting convention. A true tale of dramatic twists and turns and triumph. Talk about main-character energy. 'What's revolutionary about Jane Austen: two things,' says Roche during our tour in Bath. 'She made money by her own hand, long before it became normal. And she created women characters who weren't perfect. She was, in many ways, ahead of her time.' How to get there: From London, train service connects to Bath and Winchester; both cities are walkable once you arrive. Smaller destinations like Chawton are easiest to reach by car; arrange a ride with a local taxi company. Where to stay: Hotel Indigo Bath offers playfully designed accommodations in an 18th-century Georgian building, including 'literary hideaway' rooms (one inspired by Austen). In Winchester, Kyoto Kitchen Rooms is a boutique micro-hotel above the city's popular Japanese restaurant. What else to do: In Bath, the modern Thermae Bath Spa is the only place in Britain where you can bathe in water from hot springs (go midweek and early to avoid crowds). After visiting Jane Austen's House, stroll to her rich brother Edward's manor, Chawton House , where the current special exhibition 'Sisters of the Pen' highlights Austen and other women writers of her era. Before flying home, catch a London showing of ' Plied and Prejudice ,' an irreverent, not-for-kids rendition of Austen's best-loved book. The writer travelled as a guest of VisitBritain, Visit West and Visit Hampshire, which did not review or approve this article.
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
7 love triangle movies to watch after 'Materialists'
'Materialists,' a highly anticipated romance movie came out on Friday. Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal play characters stuck in a love triangle. Here are seven other love-triangle movies to watch next. "Materialists" could become a classic love triangle movie after it was a hit with critics. The film stars, which came out Friday, stars Dakota Johnson as a matchmaker torn between her romance with a rich financier, Harry (Pedro Pascal), and her broke ex, John (Chris Evans). It's directed by Celine Song, whose directorial debut, " Past Lives," was also about a love triangle and was nominated for two Oscars. The success of that past film, the recognizable stars, and the popularity of the love triangle trope have created a buzz around "Materialists," which could make it a commercial success. If you want more love triangle drama after "Materialists," here's what to watch next. "Challengers" Song's husband, Justin Kuritzkes, wrote 2024's " Challengers," one of the year's most talked about movies. The film, directed by Luca Guadagnino, stars Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor as two tennis players who go from friends to rivals as they compete for victory and the love of a woman (Zendaya). Though the film was not a major box office hit, it reignited the discourse around love triangle movies and horniness in art. "Past Lives" Song's 2023 film "Past Lives" follows two friends from South Korea, Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), over 20 years after Nora's family emigrates to Canada. While the pair has a deep connection, the timing is never right and Nora gets into a relationship with another man. "Past Lives" isn't a traditional love triangle movie because the rivalry doesn't start until halfway in the movie, but is just as emotional. "The Twilight Saga" "Twilight" is one of the most iconic movie franchises of the the early 2010s — and it centers on a love triangle. The series' main plot follows Bella (Kristen Stewart), a teenage girl who gets caught in a love triangle between her classmate (Robert Pattinson), a vampire, and her childhood friend (Taylor Lautner), who is secretly a werewolf. If you're looking for films about messy romance, all five "Twilight" movies are available on Netflix. "Bridget Jones's Diary" Before "Twilight," the buzzy love triangle movie of the 2000s was " Bridget Jones's Diary." In this rom-com, the heroine, Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger), is on a journey to improve her life and forms connections with two men: Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), a sleazy womanizer, and Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), a judgmental, cold lawyer. "Bridget Jones's Diary" is a lot more comedic than "Materialists" but is similarly realistic about the struggles of modern dating. "The Age of Innocence" " The Age of Innocence" is an Oscar-winning movie directed by Martin Scorsese and an adaptation of Edith Wharton's 1920 novel of the same name. The film, set in the 1870s, follows Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis), a lawyer who is engaged to marry May Welland (Winona Ryder), but instead falls for her scandalous cousin Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer). It's essentially "Bridgerton" season two set in the Gilded Age. Newland is stuck between following his heart, adhering to society's conventions, and committing to May. "Brooklyn" The love triangle in "Brooklyn" doesn't just see a woman have to choose between two men, but two countries. Saoirse Ronan plays Eilis, an Irish immigrant in 1950s New York who falls for an Italian man (Emory Cohen). But when a tragedy brings her home to Ireland, she forms a relationship with another man (Domhnall Gleeson). "Brooklyn" was nominated for three Oscars and is rated highly by critics and the audience alike on Rotten Tomatoes. "Brooklyn" is available to stream on Hulu. "She's Gotta Have It" "She's Gotta Have It," directed by Spike Lee, is more of a love square than a love triangle movie. Nola (Tracy Camilla Johns) is a young woman secretly in a relationship with three men she loves for different reasons. When the men meet and discover they are dating the same woman, Nola is forced to choose between them. But this film is a cautionary tale rather than a romance.
Perth Now
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Renée Zellweger would return to her iconic role as Bridget Jones if given the chance
Renée Zellweger would return to her iconic role as Bridget Jones if given the chance. The 56-year-old actress first brought Bridget Jones to life in 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary, reprising the role in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in 2004 and Bridget Jones's Baby in 2016. She has now told The Hollywood Reporter: 'I keep my fingers crossed that (author and Bridget Jones creator Helen Fielding) might want to share some more of her own experiences through the world of Bridget.' Bridget originally appeared in newspaper columns for London's Independent before blossoming into a bestselling novel series and then a film franchise. Renée added about where the movie series is at: 'My understanding was that this was kind of it, but I keep my fingers crossed that she might want to share some more of her own experiences through the world of Bridget.' Mad About the Boy expanded the Bridget Jones universe by introducing new characters, including Chiwetel Ejiofor's Scott Walliker, a teacher at Bridget's children's school, and Leo Woodall's Roxster McDuff, Bridget's younger love interest. At the February New York City premiere for Mad About the Boy, Renée reflected on the supposed end of the franchise, telling People: 'We've been forging this friendship for over 25 years together through this journey, shared journey, Bridget Jones' journey. 'It was both wonderful and really sad.' On whether the film marked Bridget's final appearance, she added: 'That's what I understand. That's what Colin (Firth) said.' Helen, now a parent to teenage girls herself, explained the ongoing appeal of Bridget Jones to younger generations: 'There is a new audience for Bridget in amongst 15- to 25-year-olds, and it doesn't require neuroscience to connect that with the effect of social media. 'As a parent with a houseful of teenage girls, I know how reassuring it is to share the feelings around these things and to laugh together about the issues.'
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Renée Zellweger Living Solo Again As Ant Anstead's Life Spirals Into Legal And Financial Chaos
Renée Zellweger and Ant Anstead's once-blossoming romance appears to be entering turbulent waters. The couple, who have been together since 2021, are now reportedly living apart, while rumors of financial ruin and new associations cast shadows on their future. With Ant's car business crumbling and Zellweger focused on work in New York, insiders say the situation is far from stable. Zellweger and Anstead, who began dating four years ago, are reportedly no longer sharing a home. According to insiders, the couple hasn't lived under the same roof for over a year. Anstead had been renting a modest two-bedroom property in Laguna Beach for $4,250 a month, while Zellweger continued residing in a $30,000-a-month clifftop rental nearby. A spokesperson for Anstead confirmed to the Daily Mail that the small home 'was rented solely by Mr. Anstead,' and the landlord clarified that Zellweger was not on the lease. Meanwhile, Zellweger has been in New York filming the hit Hulu series "Only Murders in the Building." Despite the physical distance and ongoing speculation, a source close to the "Bridget Jones's Diary" star maintains that 'they are still dating.' As Anstead's personal life becomes more complicated, his living arrangements have sparked more questions. He's been repeatedly seen spending the night at the upscale home of Julia French, a glamorous 36-year-old divorcée in Laguna Beach who is currently in the process of divorcing her hedge fund founder husband, James Hanna III. Anstead and French reportedly share a connection through their children, as one of her kids attends the same school as Anstead's son, Hudson. A source revealed to the outlet, 'When Ant's working late or needs childcare, Hudson goes back with Jules' kids. Then in the evening, Ant picks Hudson up.' The source also hinted at a 'flirtatious friendship' between Anstead and French, adding, 'When he moved out of his rental, he moved into the apartment above the garage at Jules' place.' Even after four years of dating, Zellweger seems hesitant to take the next step with Anstead. When Anstead lost his rental, it was assumed that he would move in with Zellweger again. However, that didn't happen. A source close to the Oscar-winning actress said, 'Renée currently has a rental in Laguna. When Ant lost his rental, the obvious thing would have been for him to move into the rental with Renée. But she doesn't want them cohabiting, so he has to find his own place to stay.' The insider explained that Zellweger's reluctance may stem from wanting to keep some personal space amid Anstead's growing troubles. 'That's kind of how the relationship works,' the source added, suggesting Zellweger may be trying to maintain boundaries while still being supportive from a distance. Anstead is facing a wave of legal and financial issues that have significantly impacted his lifestyle. His company, Radford Motors, recently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Delaware, a move that often leads to liquidation. Additionally, the British TV presenter is facing lawsuits from customers who allege fraud and breach of contract. One lawsuit claims that a customer paid a deposit for a $1 million custom Lotus race car, only for the car never to materialize and the money to remain unrecovered. Anstead or his company is being sued for over $3 million. Adding to the mess, the landlord of his Costa Mesa workshop reportedly filed for eviction. Although Anstead's spokesperson later claimed the filing was 'made in error' and withdrawn, sources say staff haven't been seen at the workshop in over a week. While Anstead deals with his personal and professional woes, Zellweger is staying focused on her acting career. She has been filming in New York and keeping a relatively low profile. Her publicist declined to comment on the current state of her relationship, but those close to her insist that she's still in a relationship with Anstead, though it is complicated by distance and logistics. Meanwhile, Anstead continues to maintain that his relationship is private. 'He continues to remain private about his cherished personal relationship,' his representative stated. Zellweger's silence on the matter is noteworthy and could be reflective of her preference to avoid drama and stay focused on work while things settle down.
Edinburgh Live
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Celebrity Traitors' Celia Imrie suffered ‘horrific' treatment in doctor's ‘sleep room'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Former patients of psychiatrist William Sargant have revealed the horrifying treatment they received at a renowned London hospital. Author Jon Stock has collected stories from several of Sargant's victims, including well-known actress and star of 'Celebrity Traitors', Celia Imrie. Speaking to the Mirror, Jon said that a majority of the people subjected to Sargant's cruel "Sleep Room" therapies were women and young girls. The troubling revelations include Sargant's preference for lobotomising unhappily-married women, rather than allowing them to go through with divorce. Sargant justified his disturbing stance by saying: "A depressed woman, for instance, may owe her illness to a psychopathic husband who cannot change and will not accept treatment. Separation might be the answer, but... we have seen patients enabled by a [lobotomy] to return to the difficult environment and cope with it in a way which had hitherto been impossible." (Image: Hilary Stock) The unethical doctor went as far as humiliating his female patients by having them parade nearly-nude before audiences of medical students. Amongst those mistreated by Sargant is acclaimed actress Celia Imrie, whose credits include hits like 'Bridget Jones's Diary' and 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'. She is set to appear again on television screens in the BBC's 'Celebrity Traitors'. Imrie confided to Jon about developing an eating disorder during her youth after being labelled "too big" to realise her ambition of becoming a ballet dancer. (Image: GL Weekend) She detailed her extreme efforts to lose weight, stating: "I worked out every means possible to dispose of food, determined to get 'small' enough to be a dancer, and I was soon little more than a carcass with skin." Her experience under the care of Sargant was disturbing, as she recounted: "The side effects were startling. My hands shook uncontrollably for most of the day, and I'd wake up to find clumps of my hair on the pillow." Celia described the harrowing ordeal: "But the worst consequence was that everything I saw was in double vision. When Sargant came into the room, there were two of him. It was horrific and terrifying." She further explained the treatment's impact: "Even simple tasks such as picking up a glass of water became impossible. I was injected with insulin every day too. Sargant was a big believer in fattening up his patients to get them well and you soon put on weight with insulin. "I think I had what was called 'sub-coma shock treatment'– you weren't given enough insulin to induce a hypoglycaemic coma, but it was enough to make you drowsy, weak, sweaty and hungry." She added: "I will never know for sure if I was given electric shocks during my stay," due to missing medical records, a situation Celia blames on Sargant: "Some years back, I tried to find my hospital records, to see the details of my treatment. Unfortunately, Sargant seems to have taken away a lot of his patients' records, including mine, when he retired from the NHS in 1972." (Image: Alamy Stock Photo) She concluded with lingering doubts, expressing: "Either that, or they were destroyed. I can't remember ECT happening to me, but I can remember it happening to others." Sargant's methods were brutal and included electroshock therapy. "I vividly recall every sight, sound and smell," Celia remembered. "The huge rubber plug jammed between her teeth; the strange almost silent cry, like a sigh of pain, she made as her tormented body shuddered and jerked; the scent of burning hair and flesh. It was a terrible thing for a fourteen-year-old to witness." (Image: Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Women were placed in Sargant's care for the most trivial of reasons. Jon told the Mirror that patient Mary Thornton was admitted to The Sleep Room after her parents suspected she was having a romance with an "inappropriate" boy. She told Jon that she also only has patchy memories of her treatment: "One is of the electrodes being attached to the side of my head. I remember the complete, utter terror because I didn't even know who I was." Jon says this was a common reason for young women's hospitalisation: "In the mid 1960s, for example, a wealthy businessman contacted Sargant, explaining that his daughter had fallen in love with an "unsuitable" local man in Europe and wanted to marry him." Sargant was tasked with curing the young girl's love-struck "madness." He explains: "A photo later emerged of Sargant, the father and a heavily sedated daughter standing at the door of the aeroplane that had returned her to the UK." A former student at the hospital told Jon: "Basically, Sargant brought this attractive young woman back at the end of a needle." Rumours link Sargant to the CIA's infamous MK Ultra "mind control" programme, with speculation that the US spy agency may have funded some of his work. Jon states: " The minutes of St Thomas' Research Advisory Committee meeting reveal that in September 1963, Sargant announced that an anonymous donor would fund the salary of a research registrar (£80,000 a year in today's money) for two years. Sargant refused to reveal the donor's identity." (Image: Chris Floyd) Jon confirms that Sargant did have ties to the intelligence community, stating: "Sargant did regular work for MI5 – in 1967, for example, he was called in to assess the mental health of Vladimir Tkachenko, a suspected Russian defector." However, Jon admits that proving Sargant's association with the CIA is one of the most challenging aspects of the story. One former serviceman, Eric Gow, who participated in drug trials under the impression he was helping to cure the common cold, reported being given massive doses of LSD. Jon says that Gow claims to recall seeing Sargant overseeing some of these experiments at the MOD's chemical and biological research facility at Porton Down. The Sleep Room: A Very British Medical Scandal by Jon Stock is published by the Bridge Street Press (£25).
