English Speaking Union Celebrates Jane Austen and Christmas

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RUMSON – The Mon­mouth County Branch of the English Speaking Union celebrated the life and times of Jane Austen earlier this month with the help of guest lecturer Linda Dennery, a director of the Jane Austen Society of North America’s Metropolitan New York Region.

The Monmouth County Branch of the English Speaking Union celebrated the life and and times of Jane Austen recently. Linda Dennery, center, of the Jane Austen Society, with ESU board member John Rathman and Shirley Adler, ESU past president and chair of the event.
The Monmouth County Branch of the English Speaking Union celebrated the life and and times of Jane Austen recently. Linda Dennery, center, of the Jane Austen Society, with ESU board member John Rathman and Shirley Adler, ESU past president and chair of the event.

 
Her abiding love of all things relating to Jane Austen and her novels has made her a sought-after speaker on “The Inimitable Jane.”
Although Jane Austen wrote only six novels, they have never been out of print. Dennery talked about the legions of fans called, “Janeites” or “Janiacs” by some. “Enter Austen’s world and, even today, we don’t want to leave,” she said.
She talked about small family groups in small villages where, “Her heroines never leave the family circle, and there is no violence.”
The ESU Annual Traditional Christmas Dinner will be held on Friday, Dec. 6 at the Rumson Country Club. The old-fashioned English Christmas celebration is open to all. The Good News Ringers Handbell Choir of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, East Brunswick, will provide melodious entertainment, and Richard Biernacki, president, will lead a sing-along with old-time carols.
For more information about the Christmas dinner and the Monmouth County Branch of the English Speaking Union, please contact Biernacki at 732-787-2217 or monmouthesupresident@verizon.net.