Jane Austen and You

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 • 4:00 PM ET

Sponsored by the ESU Atlanta Branch

Jane Austen (1775-1817) is one of the most famous writers in English literature. Her books are read by people all over the world and have been made into countless TV, film, theatre, and radio adaptations. She is known for her sharp wit, social commentary on the English Regency period, and pioneering contributions to the development of the modern novel. Her works—such as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Mansfield Park—blend romance with incisive critiques of class, gender roles, and the expectations placed on women in 18th- and early 19th-century society.

Austen’s writing is celebrated for its elegant prose, memorable characters, and subtle irony. Though she gained limited fame during her lifetime, she is now regarded as one of the most important and beloved authors in English literature.

Jane Austen’s reputation has reached legendary status in the modern world. Her works have achieved remarkable global recognition, evidenced by their translation into more than 40 languages. The Jane Austen Society has branches worldwide including The Jane Austen Society of North America which has over 5,000 members in 83 Regions. Followers of Jane Austen on social media and local clubs total well over 100,000.

Last year marked the 250^th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth.  To understand why she is still regarded with such affection by fans the world over, our ESU Happy Hour guest speaker, John King, will discuss her family, her times, where to start (or return to) her works, and how to get the most reward from reading her novels. Whether you read Austen often, or never, you will enjoy engaging with a writer whose novels have delighted men and women in every corner of the globe for over two centuries.

This ESU Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Atlanta Branch. ESU Happy Hour programs are online, free to attend, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link.

About John King

John is a current member of the Georgia Region of the Jane Austen Society of North America and a longtime volunteer for many Atlanta civic and nonprofit organizations including past member of the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Opera, counselor for Boy Scouts of America, past Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Historic Oakland Foundation, and past Chair of the Program Committee of the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta.

For twenty years, John worked in the sale and implementation of Information Technology solutions, primarily Enterprise Resource Planning systems. In 2011 he began providing consulting and training to IT sales teams. He has delivered these services on five continents, to clients that include SAP, Oracle, Google, and IBM.

He earned a BBA degree in Marketing from Georgia State University in 1991 and a Master’s degree in Management of Technology from Georgia Tech in 1997. His interests include sailing, watercolor, horology, math, astronomy, history, and English literature.

Cocktail
Regency Mocktail
Inspired by the 19th-century punch tradition with modern non-alcoholic ingredients
Ingredients:
1 oz brewed black tea (strong, cooled; Earl Grey or Assam are ideal)
1 oz pomegranate juice (or non-alcoholic red wine for a richer base)
½ oz lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
½ oz demerara or simple syrup (to taste)
Dash of grated nutmeg
Optional: orange blossom water (1–2 drops for a floral Regency flair)
Garnish: lemon or orange wheel, optional herbs like mint or thyme