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I am unimpressed by this book. The entire thing has this cutesy ~ooh so romantic~ tone that's all about how you the reader CLEARLY wish you lived in Jane Austen's time.
UM NO THANK YOU.
Here, let me quote you a bit of the introduction:
I should have just abandoned the book after reading this paragraph instead of going on to read THE ENTIRE BOOK.
This is clearly a book written by someone who sees Austen as nothing but a writer of romances. I do enjoy the happily ever afters, but I don't read for the "glamorous" set-pieces and characters that are just like me. I don't actually identify with any of Austen's characters -- I admire that Austen manages to make characters that are so recognizably themselves, full and entire human beings that are distinct enough that they clearly AREN'T just a reader-stand-in. And talking about Austen's glamorous world? UM NO Austen was writing some PRETTY BITING SOCIAL COMMENTARY about her world in and amongst the love stories.
This kind of romanticisation of the past (of ANY era of the past) really bugs me, not least because it a) decomplexifies the reality of history and b) inevitably involves imagining yourself in the position of the people of privilege.
So anyways. There's some decent information in here, but all couched in that obnoxious ~ooh so romantic don't you wish you were there~ tone.
The most admirable thing about this book is that it has a really great sewn binding, none of this flimsy slice-and-glue crap.
UM NO THANK YOU.
Here, let me quote you a bit of the introduction:
How to explain the sheer tingling joy one experiences when two interesting, complex, and occasionally aggravating characters have at last settled their misunderstandings and will live happily ever after, no matter what travails life might throw in their path, because Jane Austen said they will, and that's that? How to describe the exhilaration of being caught up in an unknown but glamorous world of balls and gowns and rides in open carriages with handsome young men? How to explain that the best part of Jane Austen's world is that sudden recognition that the characters are just like you? If you are nodding, Gentle Reader, this book is for you.
I should have just abandoned the book after reading this paragraph instead of going on to read THE ENTIRE BOOK.
This is clearly a book written by someone who sees Austen as nothing but a writer of romances. I do enjoy the happily ever afters, but I don't read for the "glamorous" set-pieces and characters that are just like me. I don't actually identify with any of Austen's characters -- I admire that Austen manages to make characters that are so recognizably themselves, full and entire human beings that are distinct enough that they clearly AREN'T just a reader-stand-in. And talking about Austen's glamorous world? UM NO Austen was writing some PRETTY BITING SOCIAL COMMENTARY about her world in and amongst the love stories.
This kind of romanticisation of the past (of ANY era of the past) really bugs me, not least because it a) decomplexifies the reality of history and b) inevitably involves imagining yourself in the position of the people of privilege.
So anyways. There's some decent information in here, but all couched in that obnoxious ~ooh so romantic don't you wish you were there~ tone.
The most admirable thing about this book is that it has a really great sewn binding, none of this flimsy slice-and-glue crap.
