Explore the life and times of Jane Austen—and the “company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation”—with JASNA St. Louis!
Our quarterly meetings often follow this format:
- Spring and Autumn – a deep-dive speaker presentation of interest to JASNA members. Open to the public.
- June – often a book review or discussion or another topic delivered by one of our region members. For members and their guests.
- December – a birthday celebration for Jane Austen, light and entertaining in nature, also delivered by one of our region members. For members and their guests.
We also meet for virtual presentations and book or film discussions.
View our upcoming programs here.
Members, find recordings of our virtual programs here (password protected).
Learn more about programs and topics we have covered in previous years:
2024
- April 8. “The Influential Porter Sisters.” Presented by Mary Beth Wilczak. St. Louis County Library, Mid-County Branch. Open to the public.
- June 1. Summer picnic and discussion of The Jane Austen Remedy. Historic Hanley Park Pavilion in Clayton. Members and their guests.
- September 8. “When Hollywood Met Jane Austen: Revisiting the 1940 MGM Film Pride and Prejudice.” Presented by Cathy Reilly and Cheryl Habenstab. University City Library. Open to the public.
- December 14. “Brisé Fans: An Essential Accessory in the Time of Jane Austen” with author Candice Hern. Holiday gathering and celebration of Jane Austen’s birthday. University City Library. Open to the public.
2023
- March 25. Tour of Chawton House with Dr. Kim Simpson. Virtual.
- June 10. Summer luncheon at Tower Grove Park with Jane Austen bingo. Members only and their guests.
- September 25. Discussion of Jo Baker’s 2013 novel Longbourn. Presented by Kathie Bassett and Ellen Kunkelmann. St. Louis County Library, Mid-County Branch. Open to the public.
- December 16. “A Tribute to Bettye, A Toast to Jane.” Holiday luncheon followed by selections from three original readers theatre pieces by Bettye Dew, personal recollections, and a book exchange. The Gatesworth. Members and their guests.
2022
- February 26. Book Discussion: Joanna Trollope’s Sense and Sensibility: A Novel. Hosted by Ellen Kunkelmann. Virtual.
- March 5. Tour of Jane Austen’s House at Chawton Cottage. Hosted by Jane Austen’s House. Virtual.
- April 30. “Sanditon, Bridgerton, and David Copperfield: Modernizing the Representation of Black People in 18th- and 19th-Century England.” Presented by Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina (North American Friends of Chawton House speaker series). Virtual.
- June 4. Picnic luncheon in Forest Park, plus Sense and Sensibility Discussion. Presented by Sheila Hwang. Members and their guests.
- September 17. “Sense and Sensibility: Sisterly Talk” readers theatre at Tower Grove Park. Written and directed by Bettye Dew and presented by an ensemble cast. In person.
- December 3. Holiday tea and book exchange at London Tea Room. Members and their guests.
2021
- February 20. What Kitty Did Next Book Discussion. Hosted by Christine Rosica-Smith. Virtual.
- March 27. “What Jane Saw.” Presented by Anastasia Biermann, Kathie Bassett, and Ellen Kunkelmann. Virtual.
- June 5. “Just Plain Jane: What Did Jane Read?” and “Jane’s Greatest Reader Contest.” Written and directed by Bettye Dew and presented by an ensemble cast. Virtual.
- July 18. “The Lady’s Magazine and the Making of Jane Austen.” Presented by Jennie Batchelor (North American Friends of Chawton House speaker series). Virtual.
- September 26. “What Jane Heard.” Presented by Rose Nester. Virtual.
- October 23. “Ayesha at Last: Remixing Pride and Prejudice.” Presented by Uzma Jalaluddin (North American Friends of Chawton House speaker series). Virtual.
- December 4. “JASNA-STL Presents Our 40th Anniversary Celebration.” Presentation by Founding Members Phyllis Thorpe, Nancy Kaprelian, Cathy Reilly, and Bettye Dew. Virtual.
2020
- March 4. “The History of the Epistolary Novel.” Presented by Mary Beth Wilczak and Bettye Dew. St. Louis Mid-County Library. Open to the public.
- June 6. Readings from Jane Austen’s Juvenilia. Virtual.
- October 17. Stephenson House Tour and Mourning Customs Exhibit at the 1820 Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House. Members and their guests.
- October 24. “Childhood in the Georgian/Regency Period.” Presented by Ellen Kunkelmann. Virtual.
- December 5. “Birthday Celebration and Scenes from Lady Susan.” Written and directed by Bettye Dew and presented by an ensemble cast. Virtual.
2019
- March 10. “Mrs. Allen’s Closet OR Costume in the Time of Jane Austen.” Presented by Cathy Reilly. University City Library. Open to the public.
- June 1. Summer Luncheon. Discussion of Jane Austen: The Secret Radical by Helena Kelly. Members and their guests.
- September 22. “The Gothic Context of Northanger Abbey.” Presented by Anastasia Bierman and Dr. John Greenfield. University City Library. Open to the public.
- December 6–8. JANE AUSTEN FESTIVAL. Presented by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Webster University, and the Jane Austen Society of North America Metropolitan St. Louis Region.
2018
- March 25. “A Travelogue Through Jane Austen’s England.” Presented by Alison Roberts. University City Library. Open to the public.
- June 2. Summer Luncheon. “Readings from Persuasion.” Reservations required. Members and their guests.
- September 23. “Comparing Two Films Versions of Persuasion.” Presented by John Greenfield. University City Library. Open to the public.
- September 27–30. Jane Austen Society of North America Annual General Meeting Kansas City.
- December 8. Annual Austen Birthday Luncheon at the Gatesworth. “Speculation and Mansfield Park.” Members and their guests.
2017
- February 26. University City Library. Curtis Sittenfield discussed her book Eligible, her updating of Pride and Prejudice. A University City Library event to which Region Members were invited.
- March 26. “Leadership Skills of Lizzie Bennett (and Others).” Presented by Robert Mai. University City Library. Open to the public.
- May 19. Region members attended First Impressions, an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by the Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble.
- June 3. “Music from Jane Austen’s Time.” Elaine Pontious (harp) and Rose Marie Nester (vocals) offered selections from the era, plus music Austen copied into her own songbooks. Members and their guests.
- June 6. At Oasis, a lifelong learning program for adults ages 50 and over, Region member Sheila Hwang, associate professor of English at Webster University, taught a class on the card game Speculation. JASNA St. Louis members and other class members learned to play this game, as well as how Austen used this game in Mansfield Park to reveal the inner workings and motivations of her characters.
- September 22. Our regular fall meeting. Lunch at the historic Oakland House, followed by a private tour. Members and their guests.
- November 16. Members were invited to hear Curtis Sittenfeld read and discuss Eligible at Webster University.
- December 3. Members were invited to attend the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ production of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, a play that seeks to answer this question: “Will Mary Bennet find romance and love during a Christmas visit to Pemberley?” Some three dozen Region members planned to attend this production.
- December 9. Annual Austen Birthday Luncheon at the Gatesworth. Members and their guests.
2016
- March 13. “Highbury and Cranford: Food and Community.” Presented by Sheila Hwang, PhD, and Jennifer Frangos, PhD, both of Webster University. Slideshow presentation comparing food, settings, and company in Emma’s Highbury and Mary Gaskell’s Cranford. Webster University’s Pearson House. Open to the public.
- April 23. “A Facilitated Conversation.” Presented by Bob Mai. Buder Library. Open to the public.
- June 4. Summer Luncheon at the Gatesworth. “Bending Little Minds: Harriet Smith and Henrietta Belfield.” Presented by members of JASNA St. Louis. Members and their guests.
- September 17. “Readings from Emma” at the Tavern of Fine Arts. Optional lunch was at 11am. Program was from 1pm–3pm. Open to the public.
- December 10. Annual Austen Birthday Luncheon at the Gatesworth. “A Partial Knowledge of Circumstances”: Chapter XIII: Christmas Scenes in Emma.” Presented by Bettye Dew. Members and their guests.
2015
- April 26. “The Material World of Jane Austen’s Time.” Presented by Anne Woodhouse, PhD, Curator of Domestic Life, Missouri Historical Society. Slideshow presentation. University City Public Library. Open to the public.
- June 6. Summer Luncheon. “Information Leads to Inspiration.” Presented by author Kara Louise. Members and their guests.
- September 26. “Jane Austen’s Portsmouth.” Presented by Toby Benis, PhD, Professor, Department of English, Saint Louis University. Slideshow. University Public Library. Open to the public.
- December 12. Annual Austen Birthday Luncheon at the Gatesworth. Games led by Lynn Fields and Bettye Dew. Members and their guests.
2014
- March 29. “Reading Mansfield Park.” Lunch at Tavern of Fine Arts from 11am to 3pm. Open to the public.
- June 7. Summer Luncheon. “What Was Fanny Reading? Exploring Fanny’s Reading List.” Members and their guests.
- September 27. “Did Jane Austen Prefer a Plain Dish to a Ragout?” Presented by Julienne Gehrer, Regional Coordinator, JASNA Kansas City. University City Library. Open to the public.
- December 13. Annual Austen Birthday Luncheon at the Gatesworth. Members and their guests.
2013
- February 24. Sense and Sensibility. Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Virginia Jackson Browning Mainstage Theatre in Webster Groves. Open to the public.
- June 1. Summer Luncheon and Book Review. Presented by Rose Nester. Members and their guests.
- September 14. “Jane Austen, Publisher: Writing Herself into Money and Longing for More.” Presented by Liz Cooper, JASNA Wisconsin Region member. University City Library. Open to the public.
- December 14. Annual Austen Birthday Luncheon at the Gatesworth. Members and their guests.
2012
- March 11. “Sense and Sensibility as Austen’s Problem Novel.” Presented by Joan Klingel Ray, PhD, Professor of English and President’s Teaching Scholar, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. University City Library. Open to the public.
- June 2. Summer Luncheon and Book Review. Members and their guests.
- September 23. “Opposites (Don’t) Attract: Same-Sex Desire in Austen’s Novels and Heritage Cinema.” Presented by Toby Ruth Benis, PhD, Professor of English, Saint Louis University. University City Public Library. Open to the public.
- December 15. Annual Austen Birthday Luncheon at the Gatesworth. Members and their guests.