Jazba Singh resplendent in Austen-inspired regalia. Photographer: Dan Jackson. Photo Editor: Liliana Braumberger.
Those who think Jane Austen’s fiction is nothing more than dusty, buttoned-up romance between the landed gentry, and therefore anachronistic to contemporary literature’s interest in race, sex and identity politics, are sorely mistaken.
Featuring a team of guest presenters and expert Austenites, activities on offer range from sewing, crafting and letter writing, to speed dating, dancing and fashion displays. There’s even going to be a dive into what constituted Regency social media as well as a discussion of Austen’s connection to the British East India Company, and even an Escape Room.
Thuy On is the former Reviews and Literary Editor of ArtsHub and an arts journalist, critic and poet who’s written for a range of publications including The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Sydney Review of Books, The Australian, The Age/SMH and Australian Book Review. She was the Books Editor of The Big Issue for 8 years and a former Melbourne theatre critic correspondent for The Australian.
She has three collections of poetry published by the University of Western Australian Press (UWAP): Turbulence (2020), Decadence (2022) and Essence (2025).
Threads: @thuy_on123 Instagram: poemsbythuy
