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| Austen Fun and Game: Jane Austen Trivia and Jane Austen Action Figure (complete with quill!) |
With Jane Austen's birthday less than a fortnight from Christmas, there's a lot of celebration to be had. While enjoying the festive season filled with Regency-era traditions including decorative evergreens, boughs of holly, the lighting of the Yule Log and sipping syllabub, one may also wish to add to such an Austen-inspired gathering, the exchanging of gifts. And, with the latter, Barb's Tea Service has nine very present-day present suggestions for your favorite Janeite.
Just for fun and games 🎲🎲:
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| Lego tribute to Jane Austen, reimagines her home with 361 pieces. |
1. Jane Austen Action figure:
With biting wit and layered social commentary, Jane Austen proves that the pen can, indeed, be mightier than the sword. The Jane Austen Action Figure affirms not all heroes wear capes- some come to our rescue donning bonnets and gowns. The weapon of choice, of course, is her quill.
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| Jane Austen Action Figure comes with quill and book. |
This amusing item was gifted to me a number of years ago, but can still be found on resale sights, like eBay, for $25 - $35.
2. Jane Austen Lego Set:
The Lego tribute to Jane Austen reimagines the author's home in 361 pieces. Once assembled, we find Jane standing by her fireplace surrounded by her writing table, quill, bookcase and piano-forte.
Although not personally in possession of a good fortune filled with Lego blocks, we are intrigued! We located this themed Lego set on both Amazon and Walmart websites, retailing for $79.00.
3. Jane Austen Trivia:
In pursuit of Austen trivia, test your knowledge with Jane Austen Trivia. A pocket-sized quiz collection contains 200 cards with 400 questions.
We purchased ours at a Brooklyn bookstore, but it's also available on the Barnes and Noble website. Retail price, $25.00.
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| Jane Austen-inspired books include fan fiction and reference tomes. |
Books (of course) 📚📚
Fan fiction
4. The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
Like Jo Baker's Longbourn (BTS Tea and Tomes, November, 2025), Hadlow's novel is inspired by Austen's Pride and Prejudice and puts the spotlight on the less prominent characters of the Bennet household. While Longbourn is written from the servant's point of view, The Other Bennet Sister puts Mary, the plain, bookish middle child, front and center.
Bonus! A BBC ten episode series based on The Other Bennet Sister is set to air in 2026.
A soon-to-be feature of BTS Tuesday Tea and Tomes, find The Other Bennet Sister at various bookstores, price ranging from $13.00 - $20.00
Reference books
5. Jane Austen's Wardrobe by Hilary Davidson
A great read for those wanting to know specifics on Austen's attire is found in Jane Austen's Wardrobe, written by dress historian, Hilary Davidson. The book details Jane's interest in fashion and the incredible amount of time spent in design and budget in days before "off the rack" was an option. It's also featured in this month's BTS Tuesday Tea and Tomes.
I was gifted this book last Christmas and our favorite NYC couple discovered it in a gift store in Perth, Ontario. However, one need only let their "fingers do the walking" to shop online for this handsome hardcover. Amazon and Barnes and Noble list it at $35.00
6. Jane Austen's Bookshelf
Published just this year, Jane Austen's Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney examines the authors that influenced Jane's own novels. Romney, a rare book dealer, highlights eight writers whose work was read by Austen, including Ann Radcliff and Frances Burney. Jane Austen's Bookshelf also theorizes why these novelists did not achieve the notoriety of Austen whose rock-star status continues to surge some two centuries later.
Another delightful gift received this month, retail price per the book jacket is $29.99. (Watch for this book to also be featured in a 2026 BTS Tea and Tomes)
Tea Towels 🧣🧣
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| The Jane Austen Centre in Bath sells this exclusive tea towel, but selling out fast. |
Don't throw in the tea towel just yet. There's still fancy cloths to obtain before Christmas (and, if it comes later, just take the quill and impart "gift to follow" on parchment to the destined recipient).
7. Jane Austen tea towel: Going, going, . . .get going!.
Exclusive to the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, this tea towel commemorates the 250th Birthday of Jane Austen. The supply is running low per our last look, so act fast if this is the towel you fancy. It's listed on the Centre's website at $20 US (not including shipping).
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| Shopping at Bath's Jane Austen Centre gift shop, 2023 |
If the inventory is depleted by the time you log on, we still recommend a browse through the site. We were at the Jane Austen Center in 2023 and thoroughly enjoyed the visit - gift shop and all.
8. Excellent boiled potatoes:
The Collins Cousin Cafe towel we snagged back in March is still available on Amazon for under $16.00, with a potential arrival of December 24.
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| Support the banal with this most excellent tea towel. |
Sure to please the fans of the Pride and Prejudice film adaption from 2005, this towel and Mr. Collins extoll the virtue of the most excellent boiled potatoes at the Bennet table. Like Mr. Collins, we see no disgrace in banality.
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| Pick up the latest TeaTime at Barnes and Noble or TeaTime's website |
TeaTime and Jane Austen📕🫖
9. November/December issue of TeaTime Magazine
Available at various bookstores and always at TeaTime Magazine's website, this quick "get" is the November/December issue of TeaTime which features not only scrumptious afternoon tea recipes and lovely afternoon tea rooms, but our visit to NYC's Morgan Library to view their Jane Austen Exhibit held this past summer.
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| TeaTime Nov/Dec 2025 features our article on The Morgan's Austen Exhibit |
Whether celebrating a milestone birthday like Jane or taking part in any one of the joyous holidays of the season, we at Barb's Tea Service wish you the merriest of times with family and friends and a cup of tea cheer!
Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Merry New Year!
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