Advent Authors: Jane Austen

Expires on Tuesday 8:48am

Rachel Mann is obsessed with all things Austen. She's also the Archdeacon of Salford and Bolton, an award-winning poet and writer and author of "A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 40 Days with Jane Austen". To mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, she's going in search of Austen's faith; how her deeply held Christian beliefs influenced her writing and the impact her family had on the depictions of clergymen in her novels. She uncovers hidden messages within Austen’s works and reflects on the relevance they have in the season of Advent as we prepare for Christmas. Rachel visits Pemberley, or rather Lyme Park in Cheshire, exploring key sites from the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, to reflect on what Jane Austen's writings tell us about what she believed and her attitudes to both religion and religiosity. She speaks with comedy writer, Paul Kerensa about how Jane would have celebrated Christmas and to the Rt Revd Christopher Herbert about Jane's favourite brother Henry. Actor Amanda Root, reads prayers written by Austen herself and reflects on what she brought to the character of Anne Elliot in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Persuasion. With readings by Amanda Root and Oliver D'Souza. MUSIC INCLUDES: Pride and Prejudice (Main Theme) - Carl Davis, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Hark the Glad Sound - Cantus Vocum Chamber Choir While shepherds watched (Cranbrook) - The Parley Of Instruments The Angel Gabriel - The Ebor Singers Good Christian Men Rejoice - Guildford Cathedral Choir Dawn From "Pride & Prejudice" (Marianelli) Aria from Goldberg Variations (Bach) - Angela Hewitt Messiah: "Comfort Ye" (Handel) - Dunedin Consort/John Butt/Nicholas Mulroy O come all ye faithful - Recorded at the Daily Service Carol Concert 2024 Producer: Katharine Longworth