ENTHUSIASTS TRY TO RE-CREATE THE AUTHOR'S ROMANTIC ERA.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Daily News Staff Writer

Nearly two centuries after her death, the romantic and refined world of Jane Austen is alive and well in movies, television shows, tea parties, reading groups and fashions that her books have inspired.

The pre-Victorian novelist is an author for our times, her resurgent popularity owing in part to what her admirers find missing in current literature and film: romance, witty conversation, gentility and strong women.

``People are tired of movies about violence and sex and car crashes. They're attracted to Jane Austen's sense of humor and her era, in which manners were important,'' said Barbara Larkin, spokeswoman for the Jane Austen Society of North America.

The society picked up many of its 3,300 members after Oscar-winning ``Sense and Sensibility'' became a cinematic hit in 1995, along with ``Clueless,'' a modern-day version of Austen's ``Emma'' set among Beverly Hills high school girls.

``Persuasion'' also was made into a movie in 1995, followed in January of this year by television's ``Pride and Prejudice,'' a six-hour miniseries, which repeats tonight through Tuesday on A&E.

Gwyneth Paltrow offered her take on the ``Emma'' character to moviegoers last month, and A&E plans yet another version of Austen's story of the busybody heroine for early next year.

So far this year, the Austen society has picked up 790 members, and her fans are taking the celebration of her sensibilities beyond the theater.

They are throwing tea parties in their homes, dressing up in the Greek-revival dresses of her era, reading passages of her novels aloud and watching Austen videos together.

Reading groups are gathering in West Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County and Pasadena, where the chapter is co-chaired by Norman and Mimi Dudley of Sylmar.

Local chapter members range in age from the early 30s to the mid-70s. Norman Dudley, a retired UCLA librarian, says Austen's levelheadedness appeals to a wide range of people.

``Quite simply, she works today, and she's helpful to a lot of women,'' he said. ``If you read her books, you'll notice that there is very little physical contact. People are extremely polite and extremely clever, and I find that refreshing. ... But then, she's always been popular in academic circles.''

Among those holding Austen tea parties are movie heartthrob Johnny Depp and supermodel Paulina Porizkova, who each hosted their own party, according to Sheryl Craig, an A&E publicist who fielded their requests for ``Pride and Prejudice'' videotapes to show their guests.

Pamela Ezell hosted an Austen tea party last week in her West Hollywood condominium. Several devotees wore tea dresses with hats and gloves, much like many characters in Austen's novels.

While guests nibbled on freshly baked scones with Devonshire cream and lemon curd - served by costumed attendants from Lisa's Tea Treasures at the Glendale Galleria - they watched a video of ``Pride and Prejudice'' and talked about Austen's allure.

Austen wrote about what she knew best: her own environment, the upper middle class of the English countrysides.

In her 42 years, she wrote six novels for which she remains famous: ``Sense and Sensibility'' (1811), ``Pride and Prejudice'' (1813), ``Mansfield Park'' (1814), ``Emma'' (1816), ``Northanger Abbey'' (1818), and ``Persuasion'' (1818).

Passing a tray of petits fours, Ezell said she's been best friends with Jane Austen since college.

``My first (Austen) book was `Pride and Prejudice,' and I still love it. I laugh out loud when I read it, and I think that if Austen were alive today, she'd be writing for TV's `Seinfeld.'

``I mean, she wasn't a highbrow, and had a timeless humor. ... She wrote about the dysfunctional family, which everybody has,'' Ezell laughed.

Saxon Trainor, an archeologist from West Hollywood who attended in a faded green Austen-esque dress with low-cut bodice, said she loves tea parties and Austen's novels because both are so feminine and civilized.

``Austen tells us what life was really like in her society, and writes about a morality that I miss in today's world,'' Trainor said.

Her friend Joie Karnes agreed. ``Each sex knew their part, whether it was dancing or socializing. ... Watch them dance. They flirt, but never press their bodies against each other. These people had principles. ... They get to know each other slowly and become friends first. And we don't have that middle ground today,'' said Karnes, a Los Angeles-based flight attendant.

``I think Austen's films have brought back romance. Everyone - including men - wants to fall in love, whether they admit it or not.''

The Austen appeal also extends to fashion. ``I don't know about the entire costume, but those little stoles are really sexy,'' said Landon Godfrey, a Los Angeles poet and screenwriter who said she got rave reviews for a pink satin stole at a recent party.

Michael Nehring, a theater professor who was the only man at the party, said Austen is an easy introduction to British culture and theater.

``Austen's works are a celebration of wit and language. And in her era and class, attractiveness was based more on wit than intelligence,'' Nehring said. ``Her female characters are so strong and clever, but trapped in the social constraints of the era. And yet they always get their man in the end.

``I guess we could learn a lot from her.''

The novel pursuit of all things Jane Austen

If you want to join in the Jane-mania ...

Call her up on the Internet: http://www.harpercollins.com. There's biographical information, books and information on Jane Austen conventions.

Join the Jane Austen Society of North America. It's a nonprofit volunteer organization founded in 1979, with a membership of more than 3,300. JASNA has an annual publication and meeting, and this year it's Oct. 11-13 in Richmond, Va. The theme is ``Jane Austen and Her Men.'' Contact: Barbara Larkin, 2907 Northland Drive, Columbia, Mo. 65202; [phone]. Membership is $23 a year; $300 for lifetime membership. Local chapter is co-chaired by Mimi and Norman Dudley of Sylmar. For more information, call them at [phone].

Attend ``Jane Austen teas'' at Lisa's Tea Treasures, a tea salon in the Glendale Galleria, where you'll sip tea and feast on scones, lemon curd, petits fours, finger sandwiches and devonshire cream for $14.95 per person. The newly opened business also caters tea parties with servers in period costumes. In the gift shop, you'll find Austen-themed books and copies of A&E's home video version of ``Pride and Prejudice.''

To get up to speed on all things Austen, read her novels, then check out some of the new books on the author and her life, including ``Jane Austen's Little Advice Book'' (HarperCollins; $15) by Cathryn Michon and Pamela Norris and ``The Jane Austen Cookbook'' (Chicago Review Press; $20) by Maggie Black and Deirdre Le Faye.

See the live musical version of ``Pride and Prejudice'' at the Globe Playhouse, 1107 N. Kings Road, West Hollywood; [phone]. It plays through Sept. 1; tickets are $18 to $25. For more information, call Bill Flannery at [phone].

See Austen come to life in ``Emma,'' now playing at neighborhood theaters. For more Austen films, rent ``Sense and Sensibility'' and ``Clueless,'' then catch ``Pride and Prejudice'' at 9 tonight on TV's A&E channel. And stay tuned for the new sitcom ``Clueless,'' which airs this fall on Friday nights.

CAPTION(S):

5 Photos, 3 Boxes

Photo: (1--Cover--Color) Hat perfectly pitched, napkin perfectly poised, Saxon Trainor sips a cup of you-know-what at a Jane Austen tea party in a friend's West Hollywood home.

(2--Color) While it's not all about tea, Austen-themed parties begin with the steamy beverage.

(3) Joie Karnes, left, and Landon Godfrey get into the Jane Austen mood at a tea party in a friend's Hollywood condo. The newly opened Lisa's Tea Treasures in the Glendale Galleria also offers ``Jane Austen Teas.''

Tina Gerson/Daily News

Box: (1) A quick course in Jane's sense, sensibility (See Text)

(2) The novel pursuit of all things Jane Austen (See Text)

?SThe novel pursuit of all things Jane Austen ?7

If you want to join in the Jane-mania ...

Call her up on the Internet: http://www.harpercollins.com. There's biographical information, books and information on Jane Austen conventions.

Join the Jane Austen Society of North America. It's a nonprofit volunteer organization founded in 1979, with a membership of more than 3,300. JASNA has an annual publication and meeting, and this year it's Oct. 11-13 in Richmond, Va. The theme is ``Jane Austen and Her Men.'' Contact: Barbara Larkin, 2907 Northland Drive, Columbia, Mo. 65202; [phone]. Membership is $23 a year; $300 for lifetime membership. Local chapter is co-chaired by Mimi and Norman Dudley of Sylmar. For more information, call them at [phone].

Attend ``Jane Austen teas'' at Lisa's Tea Treasures, a tea salon in the Glendale Galleria, where you'll sip tea and feast on scones, lemon curd, petits fours, finger sandwiches and devonshire cream for $14.95 per person. The newly opened business also caters tea parties with servers in period costumes. In the gift shop, you'll find Austen-themed books and copies of A&E's home video version of ``Pride and Prejudice.''

To get up to speed on all things Austen, read her novels, then check out some of the new books on the author and her life, including ``Jane Austen's Little Advice Book'' (HarperCollins; $15) by Cathryn Michon and Pamela Norris and ``The Jane Austen Cookbook'' (Chicago Review Press; $20) by Maggie Black and Deirdre Le Faye.

See the live musical version of ``Pride and Prejudice'' at the Globe Playhouse, 1107 N. Kings Road, West Hollywood; [phone]. It plays through Sept. 1; tickets are $18 to $25. For more information, call Bill Flannery at [phone].

See Austen come to life in ``Emma,'' now playing at neighborhood theaters. For more Austen films, rent ``Sense and Sensibility'' and ``Clueless,'' then catch ``Pride and Prejudice'' at 9 tonight on TV's A&E channel. And stay tuned for the new sitcom ``Clueless,'' which airs this fall on Friday nights.

?13- Barbara De Witt

?SWhat to name the baby, Austen style ?7

That Jane Austen, she's not only made us rethink tea, manners and Empire-waist dresses, but even our very names. According to a study by Parents magazine, the trendiest baby names today are those popular from Austen's era, including:

For girls:

Elizabeth

Emma

Charlotte

Anne

For boys:

William

Edward

Philip

?13- Barbara De Witt

Photo: (1--Cover--Color) Hat perfectly pitched, napkin perfectly poised, Saxon Trainor sips a cup of you-know-what at a Jane Austen tea party in a friend's West Hollywood home.

(2--Color) While it's not all about tea, Austen-themed parties begin with the steamy beverage.

(3) Joie Karnes, left, and Landon Godfrey get into the Jane Austen mood at a tea party in a friend's Hollywood condo. The newly opened Lisa's Tea Treasures in the Glendale Galleria also offers ``Jane Austen Teas.''

Tina Gerson/Daily News

(4--Color) no caption (Book cover - JANE AUSTEN'S LITTLE ADVICE BOOK)

(5) no caption (Book cover - JANE AUSTEN - EMMA)

Box: (1) A quick course in Jane's sense, sensibility (See Text)

(2) The novel pursuit of all things Jane Austen (See Text)

(3) What to name the baby, Austen style