Tracy M. (tracymar) reviewed A Reading of Jane Austen (The Gotham library) on + 408 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book is particularly interesting to readers who've read all or most of Jane Austen's novels. Rather than discuss each novel individually, the author approaches Austen's work through chapters which focus on particular themes, and elucidates how these themes are reflected in the novels. For example, in the first half of the book she discusses such themes as suppression or expression of feelings, unexpected news or events pertaining to a love object which disorients the heroine, abuse of the imagination, self-awareness and revelation, internal responses to social situations, overheard dialogue or eavesdropping. Sample chapter titles: The Feelings and the Passions, Properties and Possession, Social Groups. Although somewhat academic, Hardy's book does not read like a scholarly work (it's not full of references and footnotes, just the author's interpretations) but neither is it a mass market folksy approach to Austen. It's definitely worthwhile reading for Austen fans who've read at least three of her novels.
