“You have bewitched me, body and soul.”

I’m not sure, but my money says that will be among the most-quoted “Pride and Prejudice” moments during the Lewiston Public Library’s Jane Austen-themed ball this Saturday, Oct. 18.

Or, perhaps Austenites will choose other books to pull quotes from — “Sense and Sensibility,” “Emma” or “Persuasion” — in ode to the British author who continues to inspire new readers and new film adaptations.

A few library staffers were prepping costumes Friday for the “Regency Ball,” billed as the library’s first annual literary ball, which urges guests to wear attire inspired by the Regency era of early 1800s England and take part in English country dancing.

Regan Flieg, lending services librarian, ran a costume workshop last month where she taught participants about the fashion of the time period and helped them come up with costume ideas for the ball. She said she’s heard a lot of excitement for the event so far, which may be capitalizing on the Halloween dress-up spirit along with an endless fandom for Austen’s stories.

Flieg said Austen’s novels have endured because of their humor, timeless characters and range of interpretation. Movies like the 1990s hit “Clueless” — which I admit I didn’t know until recently was based on “Emma” — have adapted the stories in modern settings.

“In a lot of ways it’s like Shakespeare in how it has informed our pop culture through today,” she said.

While Austen only lived to age 41 and never saw fame, her works have been read by untold millions and stood the test of time for more than 200 years. They have inspired critical essays, college courses, spinoffs, and knockoffs. If anything, the interest in Regency-era fiction has only grown in recent years thanks to popular books and TV shows like “Bridgerton,” along with new adaptations of Austen’s work. Austen’s 250th birthday is in December.

I won’t claim to have read the books — other than parts of “Persuasion,” which was assigned in a college course — but I will admit to having watched multiple film and TV adaptations of the novels, thanks to my wife.

So yes, that means I can share bold takes, like I prefer the 2005 version of “Pride and Prejudice” starring Keira Knightley because it gets the story told in a neat two hours compared to the 1995 BBC miniseries that’s closer to six. (I will admit Colin Firth’s Mr. Darcy is superior, however.)

As a father of two daughters, I’d also like to picture myself having a more Donald Sutherland-like demeanor as Mr. Bennet once the courting and marriage proposals begin.

Apparently there’s a universal rule that “Pride and Prejudice” must be readapted for new audiences every 10-20 years, because Netflix is developing a miniseries slated for release in 2026.

Every era needs its own “Pride and Prejudice,” Flieg said.

“They’re fun pieces that were a bit ahead of their time, which is why I think they’ve had such a lasting readership,” she said. “There are a lot of ways to stay connected with them now because of the characters, the humor, and they center on women’s experiences, which is not always the case with older literature.”

Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline, who is getting some help from Flieg with his ball attire, said the event is a “great example” of the breadth of programming available at the library.

“Creating community is what modern libraries are all about and I can’t wait to see everyone there,” he said.

In the meantime, Sheline is working on the finishing touches for a purple vest and cravat he plans to wear.

According to event details, English country dancing is a style of social folk dance that has been around for over five centuries and was popular during the Regency era. 

“It is an approachable style of dance that utilizes a caller who teaches each song’s dance and calls the figures as the song progresses,” the website states, adding that the dance is “beginner-friendly,” so no prior experience is needed.

The “Regency Ball” takes place in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library on Saturday, Oct. 18. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the dance starting at 7 p.m. It is free to the public, ages 13 and older.