You can watch Finola Austin's talk at here.

The evening will include:

·       An official OxCamNE cocktail.  The recipe will be sent in advance;

·       Breakout rooms in which people will mingle, discuss the cocktail and compare the Zoom background photo’s they’re using of their favorite Oxford or Cambridge scene.

all while benefitting a good cause and, optionally, supporting a local book store.

Our guest of honor is Finola Austin (Merton and Corpus Christi Colleges, Oxford), also known as the Secret Victorianist on her award-winning blog.  She is an England-born, Northern Ireland-raised, Brooklyn-based historical novelist and lover of the nineteenth century.

She will talk about her craft as a historical novelist and her first novel, Brontë's Mistress, about the older woman who had an affair with the Brontë sisters' troubled brother, Branwell, which was  published by Atria Books in August 2020. 

New York Times bestselling novelist of The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter, Hazel Gaynor says: 

“Brontë's Mistress is a beautifully written, highly seductive debut in which Finola Austin delves into the life of a relatively unknown member of the Brontë family. The chemistry between Branwell and Lydia positively crackles on the page, and while Lydia emerges as a delicious heroine in her own right, the better-known Brontë sisters are portrayed with wit and care. Masterful storytelling which is sure to delight fans of the Brontës and of historical fiction, Brontë's Mistress comes highly recommended by this Yorkshire lass."

Finola has two degrees from Oxford – a BA in Classics & English, and an MSt in English Literature, 1800-1914. By day, she works as part of Facebook's Creative Shop, advising major financial services brands in the US on their Facebook and Instagram advertising. By night, she plies her craft as a historical novelist.  Find her online at finolaaustin.com.

Copies of Brontë's Mistress may be purchased at Book Ends in Winchester.  This link allows you to buy Bronte’s Mistress through Book End’s account at Bookshop.org.  Bookshop.org gives you a discount, to compete with Amazon, and in addition provides a 25% commission to Book Ends and has been a lifeline for  independent booksellers during the pandemic.  Since we can’t hold an actual book signing, Finola has signed a number of bookplates that will be available to purchasers.

There will be a $15 charge for the event ($10 for student members), with all proceeds to go to Boston Partners in Education, a non-profit that enhances the academic achievement and nurtures the personal growth of Boston’s public school students by providing them with focused, individualized, in-school volunteer support.

Please register here to attend.

Nine Lessons and Carols from Christ Church, Oxford 

Carol's from King's, Cambridge

Here are YouTube links to some 2020 Advent Carol Services:

Oxford

Christ Church

Corpus Christi

Magdalen

Merton

New College

Pembroke

St. Peter’s

Cambridge

Clare

Downing

Jesus

Magdalene

Trinity

Merry Christmas!