What exactly does Austen mean when she describes Mrs. Clay as being "under his protection"? And what's in it for everyone involved? This episode we examine the role of mistresses in 18th-century society.

We have a launched a Patreon! To sign up and support the work we do, please head to https://www.patreon.com/TheThingAboutAusten. Thank you SO much!

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The Dashwood ladies have moved to Devon, and everyone seems to have an opinion on their new digs. This episode we discuss cottages, in all their many permutations.

If you have ever had to listen to someone brag about the house party they organized, this episode is for you.

We have a launched a Patreon! To sign up and support the work we do, please head to https://www.patreon.com/TheThingAboutAusten. Thank you SO much!

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Mrs. Bates may be sitting quietly in the corner, but her hands are always busy. This episode we are joined by knitting and crochet historian Eleanor Gilchrist to discuss the details of Mrs. Bates's knitting. We also take a look at Mrs. Smith's relationship to knitting in Persuasion.

If you have ever needed tips on how to best show off your elegant hands and neck, this episode is for you.

Thank you so much to Eleanor for joining us for this episode! You can find her on Instagram @stitchesandseeds.

You can find us online at https://www.thethingaboutausten.com and follow us on Instagram @TheThingAboutAusten. You can email us at TheThingAboutAusten@gmail.com and head over to https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutausten/shop to check out our podcast related merch.