Sisters Jane and Anna Maria Porters’ books took Regency-era England by storm just a few years ahead of Jane Austen, and their lives were chock-full of fascinating (and insufferable) characters, intriguing romantic escapades, event-filled interludes at the homes of wealthy acquaintances and desperate gambits to stay one step ahead of the poverty line. Joining us is ASU Regents Professor of English, Devoney Looser, whose new book is Sister Novelists: The Trailblazing Porter Sisters, Who Paved the Way for Austen and the Brontes. Kirkus Reviews calls it “a triumph of literary detective work.”Discussed in this episode: Sister Novelists: The Trailblazing Porter Sisters, Who Paved the Way for Austen and the Brontes by Devoney LooserDevoney LooserJane AustenSir Walter ScottBraveheart (1995 film)Artless Tales by Anna Maria PorterThe Dashwood Sisters“L'Allegro” by John Milton“Il Penseroso” by John MiltonThaddeus of Warsaw by Jane PorterThe Scottish Chiefs by Jane PorterThe Hungarian Brothers by Anna Maria PorterQueen VictoriaAndrew JacksonEmily DickinsonWaverly by Sir Walter Scott“The End of the English Major” (The New Yorker, 2/27/2023)Sophia Lee's The Recess  For episodes and show notes, visit: LostLadiesofLit.com Follow us on instagram @lostladiesoflit. Follow Kim on twitter @kaskew. Sign up for our newsletter: LostLadiesofLit.com Email us: Contact — Lost Ladies of Lit Podcast