Austen admirer hopes to gather others for a ‘Janeites’ chapter

Hawaii fans of Jane Austen may soon have an outlet to share their appreciation for the celebrated British author.

Waikiki resident Bob Newell is welcoming all local "Jane­ites" to an organizational meeting Saturday to discuss forming a regional chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America.

"The purpose of the organization … is to encourage people to read classic literature, with an emphasis on the works and life of Jane Austen," said Newell, 64. "It’s a pretty lofty goal, to get people involved in the classics."

Works by Austen, the early-19th-century author of well-known romantic novels such as "Pride and Prejudice," "Sense and Sensibility" and "Emma," experienced a surge of worldwide popularity in the second half of the 20th century. And her fan base has only grown since, especially with a series of well-received television and movie adaptions in recent years starring the likes of Colin Firth and Gwyneth Paltrow.

The appeal of Austen’s works lies in their timeless themes, said Newell, who has been a fan for more than 40 years.

"If you read the work of Jane Austen, even 200 years later you’ll find she has something to say about people that’s universal," he said. "She’s writing about people, about love and marriage, about life and aspiration, and it just finds home with a wide audience, men and women alike."

The Jane Austen Society of North America has more than 70 regional chapters with more than 4,500 members. Every October they gather for a general meeting.

Newell’s idea to start a Hawaii chapter came after receiving a review copy of the recently published "Among the Jane­ites: A Journey Through the World of Jane Austen Fandom," by Debo­rah Yaffe. He said he found the book fascinating and contacted the author. The two carried on discussions via email.

"She said, ‘You should really start a chapter in Hawaii, and we can have a general meeting out there,’" Newell said. "I thought it was kind of funny at first. But we wrote back and forth a little more, and I thought, ‘You know, that’s a great idea. Why shouldn’t we have a chapter here?’"

So far, Newell has contacted local colleges and other organizations about forming a chapter, and the response has been positive. Activities would include discussing literature and movies centered on Jane Austen and perhaps organizing lectures with visiting scholars. He’s already contacted the Kailua-based Oahu Playford English Country Dancers about hosting a Regency-era ball.

Saturday’s organizational meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in the Alii Room of the Capital One 360 Cafe at 1958 Kala­kaua Ave. For more information, call 927-3399 or email chipschap@gmail. com.