A Jane Austen miscellany: Sisters, suitors, families, friends

by Jane Austen

Book by Austen, Jane

Genres: Fiction

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment upon the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works are an implicit critique of the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her deft use of social commentary, realism and biting irony have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.

The anonymously published Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), were a modest success but brought her little fame in her lifetime. She wrote two other novels—Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1817—and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, the short epistolary novel Lady Susan, and the unfinished novel The Watsons.
Since her death Austen's novels have rarely been out of print. A significant transition in her reputation occurred in 1833, when they were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series (illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering and sold as a set). They gradually gained wide acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience. Her work has inspired a large number of critical essays and has been included in many literary anthologies. Her novels have also inspired many films, including 1940's Pride and Prejudice, 1995's Sense and Sensibility and 2016's Love & Friendship.

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of extracts from Austen's novels that cover themes ranging from Sisters to Suitors. It's a little book and was nice to dip in and out of during my breaks at work.

[Toni Kely-Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely little book I picked up at an independent bookstore on our last Summer holidays. It includes quotes and extracts from Jane Austen's novels and really demonstrates how insightful she was regarding friendships, families, class, society, etc. She would definitely be on top of my dinner guest list if I could choose anyone dead or alive :-)

[Kira K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts:
A lovely compilation of Jane Austen’s themes of friendship, family, suitors and sisters.

[darciiii · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good introduction to Jane Austen’s style even though I don’t think I really connect with her writing I’m for sure reading more from her in the future.

[Charlotte Lilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice quick read. I haven’t read Austen fully in a few years so felt great to delve in to short paragraphs to get used to the language once more.

[Kate Balcombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Various well selected extracts from Miss Jane Austen's novels, pertaining to particularly sisters, suitors, families and friends. Miss Austen offered great advice on relationships, romantic and otherwise, and of course, provided the reader with witty, often gentle and subtle, observations of the human experience. Miss Austen's wit does make me laugh... she must have been such a quiet person at times, sitting back and keenly observing people, that were the characters in her life, and her surroundings. Conversely Miss Austen had to have been a great conversationalist. I wish I could gain such balance in my life as I do tend to talk too much :)