Libby Davis

In defence of the ballet from a non-ballet dancer

I am not a ballet dancer. Little me might have tried desperately to become one, but the artistic merit and the sheer strength the graceful athletes, who have both dedicated their lives to training their bodies and refining their insane talents, was way out of my ability. Perhaps this has...
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Posted Apr. 29, 2026

Faux Austen: Regency romances Austen would have approved of

With Austen so heartbreakingly finishing just six novels, Austen fans have been left desperately yearning for our kick of romance, forged from country dances and longing stares. Thankfully, her influence is everywhere, with period dramas such as Sanditon (based on Austen’s uncompleted novel of the same name) and the cultural...
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Posted Dec. 3, 2025

Where to start with Jane Austen

In December 1775, Jane Austen was born in Steventon, Hampshire. Now, 250 years later, she is lauded as one of the world’s finest novelists in literary history. Over 30 million copies of Austen’s books have been sold, her face is immortalised on the 10-pound note, and countless novels, film, and...
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Posted Dec. 3, 2025

The original autumn girl: Anne Shirley’s whimsical legacy

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers” is plastered all over social media the moment the first of October strikes, used as the caption to photo carousels of pumpkins, hot drinks and falling leaves. L M Montgomery’s beloved heroine Anne Shirley’s ruminations on shedding leaves...
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Posted Nov. 17, 2025