SISTERS, SISTERS THERE were never such devoted sisters. Ring a bell? It should. A holiday bell, to be specific, since those are the opening lyrics to perhaps the most memorable song from White Christmas, that fine movie that is now playing on TV almost nonstop in the festive season. Sisterly devotion is also the theme to so much of what we write about here at TSP, perhaps never more so illustrated than by the December 16th birthday girl, Jane Austen (1775), and the astonishing act of sisterhood performed by her sister after the death of the famous writer.
Have you seen our Sisterpedia section? The story of the devotion between the Austens is all there, as is a similar story of no less devotion between Emily Dickinson and her sister, Lavinia, and the great poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, and her sister, Norma.
What is it about sisters who are writers and their devoted sisters? My sister and I are both writers and we push, pull, urge and support each other, as well as read each other’s stuff, and have done so since the beginning of our careers. We also never let the other get stuck. Maybe it’s a writer thing. Maybe it’s a sister thing, though while you’re pondering that, here’s a clip of that White Christmas song. It will get you in the mood to be a devoted sister.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
No, no, no! I was so looking forward to reading something (anything) re Jane Austen, but was distracted by the egregious error in the first paragraph. ‘Holiday Inn?’ Just how many times have we seen ‘White Christmas,’ anyway?
If a correction is made, I can then enjoy your article to the fullest. By the way, of the two films I far prefer ‘Holiday Inn,’ but can only find it showing on AMC which interrupts with commercials and chops out those pesky non-PC numbers and scenes. That definitely lessens the movie. If anyone knows another channel running it, please mention here.
I forgive you, Marion. But lay off the eggnog for a while.
Oy! Caught me in the eggnog is right! And I know the difference! Mistake corrected in the copy, as noted, with gratitude. Burp!
~LOL~
I did not see the original error, but have to agree that Holiday Inn is far superior to White Christmas.
Growing up in Chicago, one of the local television stations put together a Christmas montage including the dreaded non-PC scene that AMC deletes from their version of Holiday Inn. I was young at the time but experienced a flashback when I saw the movie for the first time and saw the kids singing . . . talk about a full-circle holiday!
Shamefully, I must admit that I have not read any Austen. It’s one of those things that I keep meaning to do and yet somehow never manage.
Resolution for the New Year? Possibly!
Yo, Roadchick. What a great resolution: More Austen. She’s divine, she is. And snarky. And very much the greatest observer of human nature. Enjoy that resolution, sister. And come back soon.
My favorite Jane Austen novel is Pride and Prejudice, although I read Persuasion a few years ago and was quite enamored by it. But there is really nothing more entertaining in the world than reading about poor Mr. Bennett’s ongoing ordeals with his wife and daughters!
Hey, Sandy. So glad you are a Janeite. You’re right, of course: There really is nothing more entertaining than Mr. Bennett’s strife with fatherhood and marriage. Sigh. And grin.
It was one of those things that convinced me Pierre was *the one* (as if I needed more convincing after broadway marquee lights flashing “that’s him”, and “he’s the one”, but that is another story…) — when I asked him what his favourite book was, he said “Pride and Prejudice”. Kismet.
(of course, it was all slightly misleading… like most men, he sticks to non-fiction for the most part… but it really *is* his favourite novel!).
I wonder what Jane would make of her posthumous fame?
Hi, Monika: Do tell the other story to your sisters here at TSP some time real soon, please, since that sounds like a 20th (or 21st) century Jane Austen plot twist to me. I, too, wonder what Jane would think, and genuinely hope that she believed in how good she was, and that she dared to dream of delighted people reading her in the 21st century, and beyond. Thanks for coming by. Hope to see you soon with that marguee tale.