By Christa Protano
Attention Janeites:
In honor of Ms. Austen turning 250 later this year, we will be celebrating our beloved author all yearlong. Beginning in January, you are cordially invited to join us in our Jane Austen Reading Challenge. In addition to revisiting all six of Austen’s published novels, we’ll be taking part in a few Jane-inspired activities throughout the year and hosting a Jane-themed giveaway or two.
Are you in? Read on for our suggested itinerary and download our social media badge and reading tracker to let your fellow Janeites know you are taking the challenge. Also be sure to follow us on Instagram @canterburyclassics for monthly prompts, giveaway details, and discussion threads.
January: Pride and Prejudice
With Pride and Prejudice celebrating its publication anniversary later this month (January 28th), we thought it only fitting to kick things off with Jane Austen’s most popular novel. Likewise, we are delighted to introduce you to the refresh of our Word Cloud Pride and Prejudice. For the eye-catching blue really gives this classic an edge (wink, wink).
February: Try Your Hand at Some Needlework
You didn’t think we would only be reading this year, did you? Since we often see the Dashwood and Bennet sisters keep busy with needlework, we think it’d be fun to learn a new hobby, too. Not-so-coincidentally, February is also National Embroidery Month so we are delighted to have a full 28 days to practice with Embroider the World of Jane Austen.
March: Sense & Sensibility
“No check to my genius from beginning to end.” —Jane Austen
What better way to kick off Women’s History Month than with the debut novel of the romantic genius herself. Sense and Sensibility is March’s reading challenge pick. You’ll find this timeless story of the Dashwood sisters in our beautiful Jane Austen Boxed Set.
April: Shop for Regency Romance at a Local Bookstore
The 12th Annual Independent Bookstore Day is celebrated April 26th, so why not show some love to a local retailer and add to your Regency Romance collection at the same time? If you already have all six of Jane Austen’s novels, consider picking up a contemporary read inspired by Jane—we’ll be reading those come August.
May: Watch a Jane Austen Film or TV Adaptation
With 2025 being such a big year for Austen fans, news started circulating late last year of many a new Jane-inspired film or TV adaptions, including the BBC’s The Other Bennet Sister, a new Netflix Pride and Prejudice series, and even another Bridget Jones full-length feature. On May 4th, the original PBS series Miss Austen will grace our screens, so this month is the perfect time to take a break from all that reading.
June: Plan a Summer Picnic
With International Picnic Day being celebrated on June 18th, June is a fine time to plan a summer soiree with friends outdoors. To help you get started, our literary cookbook, Jane Austen’s Table, features plenty of recipes inspired by Austen’s six novels.
July: Mansfield Park
Though not the quintessential “summer read,” Mansfield Park is our selection for July. Though it’s more complex and serious in tone than Austen’s first two novels, we think tackling this one during the slow days of summer is doable. The first of her works written as an adult, Mansfield Park tackles themes of social structures, friendship, morality, and love. It also celebrates its publication anniversary on July 2nd.
August: A Modern Retelling of a Jane Austen Classic
Remember those new titles you got at the local bookstore? Now is the time to unpack them and settle in for some contemporary Regency Romance. In August we are reading modern retellings of Jane Austen classics. Adaptations and loosely-inspired reads are welcome as well. Here are a few recommendations:
- Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
- Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
- Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal
- Longbourn by Jo Baker
- Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
September: Persuasion
“Her pleasure in the walk must arise…from repeating to herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of autumn–that season of peculiar and inexhaustible influence on the mind of taste and tenderness–that season which has drawn from every poet worthy of being read some attempt at description, or some lines of feeling.” —Persuasion
A story about second chances that begins in the crisp, cool months of fall, Persuasion is our September challenge pick. You’ll find Jane Austen’s final novel in our brand new Jane Austen Boxed Set, available September 9th.
October: Northanger Abbey
With the spooky season upon us, Austen’s darkest romance, Northanger Abbey, is our October selection. This work is both a coming-of-age story and a parody of the Gothic novels of the nineteenth century. The main character, Catherine Morland, is destined to be the heroine of her own life story as she navigates friendships and romantic relationships—and her overactive imagination. Held from publication for more than a decade, this story was an instant success when it was finally released in 1817.
November: A Nonfiction Book About Jane
We all love Jane Austen’s books, but how much do we know about the author herself? Since National Author’s Day is November 1st, let’s take a dive into a biography about Jane, or even her own letters. Here are a few nonfiction works to choose from: Jane Austen’s Letters, edited by Deirdre Le Faye; Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley; Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin.
December: Emma
Last but certainly not least, we’ll be ending our challenge with a fun one: Austen’s comedic tale of manners and matchmaking known as Emma. Celebrating its publication anniversary on December 23rd, this entertaining read is a welcome holiday distraction.
December is also the official month of Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday (December 16th), so hats off to all of the passionate Janeites who participated in this year’s challenge and who continue to foster a love for one of the greatest classic authors of all time. Cheers!