Hark, A Vagrant!

I've got an upcoming addition to my blog, Witty Wednesdays- a weekly comic. Today, I'd like to talk about one of the many people who inspired me to finally go through with my idea.

Kate Beaton is a Canadian cartoonist who publishes a weekly webcomic called "Hark! A Vagrant".

Beaton majored in history and that has clearly been highly influential in her cartoon ventures.

Starting off on her Livejournal in 2007, Beaton now has her own website, has won several awards, and is currently in the middle of publishing her second book, "Hark! A Vagrant".

Both she and her comics have been featured in such publications as Wired, MacLeans, and The New Yorker.

Her almost-too-smart-for-the-internet sense of humor might actually cause you to look some stuff up, which I think is laudable for anything published free on the web.

Basically, her comics are fantastic and I've very rarely laughed so hard on the internet. Check out her site and her books!

Folio Friday - "Bals"

This past year saw the (probably inevitable) demise of Borders. Don't this is some tirade about the slow rattling death of printed media, I just wanted to reaffirm my belief in actual books and, through this new segments, share with you some books I either own and adore or am looking forward to getting sometime soon (finances permitting). Why do I always feel the need to create titles that feature Annoying Alliteration? I just think it's fun, so deal.

I spotted this on Fashion School Daily, the daily blog for students and faculty in AAU Fashion Department. I must say I'm drooling at the possibilities...



"From the twilight of the Romanov dynasty through the les annees folles of Art Deco Paris to the jet-set seventies, Bals explores the nine most exceptional private costume parties of the twentieth century."
-from the Assouline website





Though this title wouldn't have been my first choice (that's 'balls' in French, not a typo), I definitely want this book. I absolutely covet large picture-reference books. They are my favorite source of inspiration. There's something about turning the pages and feeling the weight of the book in your lap that makes the pictures seem even more special - not to mention the fact that resolution is almost never a problem! Here's a sneak peek of what to expect inside:

"Since the guests were asked to arrive in gondolas rather than in motor launches, the scenes outside as well as inside the palace... gave the impression of a Canaletto come to life." -Cecil Beaton, describing the scene at Don Carlos de Beistegui's 1951 ball in Venice's Palazzo Labia.

Basically, it looks like it will be a huge drool-fest for anyone who loves historical costumes as much as I do and would be a brilliant addition to any real-life library. Normally I would put a link to this product on the Amazon website since I've decided to whore myself out to them just a little (thus my lack of a tirade on the death of Borders), but this is actually a product that Amazon doesn't carry! So, instead click here to visit the Assouline website and purchase this beautiful book.

Farewell on this First Folio Friday,

I Don't Understand this Obsession With Men and Their Balls...

No, this not a post about rude jokes through the ages - a new episode of "Sex and the Austin Girl" has just gone up on Babelgum! This week: Sports!




I'd also like to take a second to thank the folks over at The Jane Austen Addict Website for publishing my review on their Press Page! It's quite an honor to be published on such an accomplished author's website. Do give them your traffic if you've got a moment or two - the website will give you information on how to enter for a chance to win copies of Laurie Viera Rigler's books:

Do enjoy the show - and the books!

Nostalgically Yours

Talk Like Jane Austen Day!

I'm sure many of you Readers have heard about the dual rallies being held on the 30th of October by both Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. If you haven't, you can click on their respective names to learn more about their shows or on the links under the posters to learn about their individual rallies.

Stephen Colbert's Rally

Jon Stewart's Rally

I'm sure you're wondering exactly how this relates to Nostalgia and to my blog - well, I'll tell you. The thirtieth of October also happens to be "Talk Like Jane Austen Day"! Just like other novelty days, "TLJAD" asks participants to step back in time and invoke the language of her novels. Austen only published four novels during her lifetime: Sense and Sensibility (which was published on October 30th - thus the date of the event), Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma. Her other novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were published posthumously.

Our tragic heroine, Jane Austen (1775-1817)

In any case, "TLJAD" be a great opportunity to host that Jane Austen party you've always wanted to throw! You can have period-appropriate party games and dancing, or have a Jane Austen film marathon. Some might even opt to dress with a Regency flair on that day - for which I refer you to my previous post on my Regency Portrait for some more information on Regency garb.
The "TLJAD" official website has some helpful hints on speaking the way she would have 200 years ago. It features definitions such as "Nice: fussy, over particular, affected" and reminds us how they would have spoken "Numbers: Not 'twenty-four', but 'four-and-twenty'". They say the list will grow as the day approaches and also offer the resource of Dr. Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language. Published in 1822, it gives an approximate idea of how Jane Austen would have spoken.

On a similar note, there's a new episode of "Sex and the Austen Girl" out this week. I've included it below. If you'd like to read my previous post and review on the subject, click here.






[Insert Austenian Remark Here]
Nostalgically Yours

Sex and the Austen Girl - Review

If any of you readers are big Jane Austen fans as I am, I think you'll very much enjoy the new Babelgum exclusive web series Sex and the Austen Girl. Inspired by Laurie Viera Rigler's Jane Austen Addict books, the series tells the experiences of two women switched out of their lives and centuries. Here's the first episode:



It's a very accurate but humorous comparison between the lifestyles of Jane Austen's time and the modern day. Throughout the current thirteen episodes, they discuss a variety of topics: from marriage to make-up to technological advances.

Anyway, this was just a quick post to share this delightful series with you. I'm also quite keen on reading the books now. If you've read those books already or are looking for more recommendations, I'd check out Austenland by Shannon Hale and Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella (also author of the Shopaholic series).

In the meantime, here are two more episodes:

Episode 5: Is Clean Sexy?


Episode 11: The 200-Year-Old Virgin


Enjoy!

Nostalgically Yours

On a side note: does anyone else find it a little disturbing that "God Bless America" and "Twin Towers" are trending fifth? And that's behind the Powerpuff Girls and Little Rascals...! Also, to anyone who hates illegal immigrants: "Torres Gemelas" is trending second. Take that, Arizona!