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The Friendly Jane Austen: A Well-Mannered Introduction to a Lady of Sense and Sensibility
A comprehensive and entertaining celebration of the classic works of the nineteenth-century British novelist includes a host of offbeat trivia about the author, facts about Austen's life and times, a detailed filmography and bibliography, quotations, sidebars, and information on literary themes. Reprint.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1999
7 people are currently reading
641 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Tyler
2 books69 followersI like Shakespeare, the romantic poets, the Victorian poets, modernists, middle-brow novelists and many kinds of murder mysteries and intriguing non-fiction books.
My favorite novelists are Austen, Trollope, Dickens, Eliot, Wharton, Pym, Iris Murdoch, and Elizabeth Taylor. I also like most of the great Russian novelists and just about anything that remains from the days of the doughty old widow at Windsor.
Please feel free to friend me if you take literature seriously and if you don't require the supernatural in your literature. I will not and cannot read books about vampires or werewolves or mermaids or unicorns or trips to Mars or excursions to Atlantis with a ghostly sherpa.
My favorite novelists are Austen, Trollope, Dickens, Eliot, Wharton, Pym, Iris Murdoch, and Elizabeth Taylor. I also like most of the great Russian novelists and just about anything that remains from the days of the doughty old widow at Windsor.
Please feel free to friend me if you take literature seriously and if you don't require the supernatural in your literature. I will not and cannot read books about vampires or werewolves or mermaids or unicorns or trips to Mars or excursions to Atlantis with a ghostly sherpa.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 2, 2018
This was a delightful read. Full of varied information about Austen. From her life and family to synopsis of her books, on to lists of film adaptations and sequels to the books, this has it all. Any Janeite would enjoy it but I'd highly recommend it to people who are just discovering Jane and would like a foundation to base their reading on. Informative without being heavy.
March 23, 2015
I am still laughing as I type up this review- laughing at myself that is. I recently read a review on this book and thought 'How fun! I want to read that one. I'll put it on the wish list.'
Yes, well, *shame face here* I already owned it which I discovered when I was moving some books around.
Okay to my review...
The Friendly Jane Austen is exactly what the title says. The author's goal was to make a new generation come to know Jane Austen and her works without boring them to tears. She wanted to instill a love for the writer and her books so thus we have lively discussions, quizzes, neat-o illustrations, and interviews with scholars and those who would just claim to love all things Austen.
The way the book is organized is such a treat. First the reader is challenged to figure out what type of Austen lover they are. Then the book is broke into sections where her life and her writing is mingled chronologically. The sections are formatted so nicely and easy on the eye. There are little quote bubbles placed throughout as well as illustrations.
I was particularly taken with the section on her Juvenilia as that is the area that I'm weak. It was also fun to see how Austen's thoughts on life moments was depicted.
In the end, it is a lovely and light reference tool with bibliography, index and interviews all available in the back to reference back to the location the reader needs. Loved this and would recommend it for any Austenesque lover's shelf.
Yes, well, *shame face here* I already owned it which I discovered when I was moving some books around.
Okay to my review...
The Friendly Jane Austen is exactly what the title says. The author's goal was to make a new generation come to know Jane Austen and her works without boring them to tears. She wanted to instill a love for the writer and her books so thus we have lively discussions, quizzes, neat-o illustrations, and interviews with scholars and those who would just claim to love all things Austen.
The way the book is organized is such a treat. First the reader is challenged to figure out what type of Austen lover they are. Then the book is broke into sections where her life and her writing is mingled chronologically. The sections are formatted so nicely and easy on the eye. There are little quote bubbles placed throughout as well as illustrations.
I was particularly taken with the section on her Juvenilia as that is the area that I'm weak. It was also fun to see how Austen's thoughts on life moments was depicted.
In the end, it is a lovely and light reference tool with bibliography, index and interviews all available in the back to reference back to the location the reader needs. Loved this and would recommend it for any Austenesque lover's shelf.
August 27, 2020
As with all these sort of miscellany filled books, interest will vary wildly. And good to own, because something you might skip over at one point may become of interest at a later date...
May 7, 2022
2.5 stars
What was good:
I enjoyed the quizzes throughout the book, though I'd initially thought there was no answer key and that was appalling! (There is, in fact, an answer key).
I liked the history of her family and a brief biography of Jane's siblings.
What was not so good:
While I enjoyed the sections (chapters?) on each novel, there were incredibly random sections within each. The text box asides really broke up the book for me in a way that was not always great. Also there is absolutely no need for entire interviews to be reprinted, even in part. And the pages upon pages of random quotes about Austen and her work were pretty unnecessary. So much of this book could have been cut if there was a better editor.
There weren't clear section breaks which was odd.
And while this is no fault of the author, it was really dated when talking about current film adaptations, which made me lose interest.
So while this could be a great intro to Austen and her genius, I'd recommend only the most dedicated of Janeites to pick this one up.
What was good:
I enjoyed the quizzes throughout the book, though I'd initially thought there was no answer key and that was appalling! (There is, in fact, an answer key).
I liked the history of her family and a brief biography of Jane's siblings.
What was not so good:
While I enjoyed the sections (chapters?) on each novel, there were incredibly random sections within each. The text box asides really broke up the book for me in a way that was not always great. Also there is absolutely no need for entire interviews to be reprinted, even in part. And the pages upon pages of random quotes about Austen and her work were pretty unnecessary. So much of this book could have been cut if there was a better editor.
There weren't clear section breaks which was odd.
And while this is no fault of the author, it was really dated when talking about current film adaptations, which made me lose interest.
So while this could be a great intro to Austen and her genius, I'd recommend only the most dedicated of Janeites to pick this one up.
July 18, 2022
Fun and fact-filled, The Friendly Jane Austen is more than just a biography of Jane Austen's life and her books. If you could imagine a teen magazine mixed with the game Trivial Pursuit and an English literature text book, this would be it!
I loved the way the book is split into Jane's life, each one of her books and many extras. As you read, you're not only learning more about Jane Austen and absorbing the main idea of each of her books, but so much more. There are quotes from contemporaries of Jane Austen, thoughts from her family, opinions of actors and actresses that took part in JA movie adaptations, lively quizzes, insights and gossipy guesses about what Jane Austen really thought about issues and life at the time and a list of books to read (at least up until this book was published) next. The added black and white photographs give this book a bit of a "teen magazine" feel in the very best way.
As soon as I started flipping through some of the pages, I knew that this would be an entertaining read for Jane Austen July. If you haven't read it and you're a JA fan, I highly recommend giving it a try. I learned so much about Jane Austen and her books, as well as getting a chuckle and a bit of a thrill from some of the things I gleaned from its pages. Definitely a keeper!
I loved the way the book is split into Jane's life, each one of her books and many extras. As you read, you're not only learning more about Jane Austen and absorbing the main idea of each of her books, but so much more. There are quotes from contemporaries of Jane Austen, thoughts from her family, opinions of actors and actresses that took part in JA movie adaptations, lively quizzes, insights and gossipy guesses about what Jane Austen really thought about issues and life at the time and a list of books to read (at least up until this book was published) next. The added black and white photographs give this book a bit of a "teen magazine" feel in the very best way.
As soon as I started flipping through some of the pages, I knew that this would be an entertaining read for Jane Austen July. If you haven't read it and you're a JA fan, I highly recommend giving it a try. I learned so much about Jane Austen and her books, as well as getting a chuckle and a bit of a thrill from some of the things I gleaned from its pages. Definitely a keeper!
May 26, 2017
My mom told me I *had* to read this book. I admit it was slow getting into it, but once I was in, I was set. I have always loved Jane Austen and this book was filled with interesting tidbits about Jane's life and the characters of her stories.
March 17, 2008
"Fun" book on Jane Austen. It's filled of things to agree with/disagree with & things to think about. I love it.
skimmed
January 16, 2020I own two other books in this series, The Friendly Dickens and The Friendly Shakespeare, but somehow don’t have this one (and now wonder if there are any others...). Having just read Emma, I wanted to gain some further insight, and so checked this book out from the library to decide if it’s worth buying a copy. I think it is.
It’s something of a miscellany, entirely consisting of brief essays, sidebars and brief quotes. Most of the text is organized in sections focused on Austen’s novels, though often there are cross references between the novels. There are interviews with actors who have portrayed Austen characters, essays on characters and theories, biographical information, and some literary fun, like giving Austen characters rankings on an “Elton scale” (for Mrs. Elton) to rate their obnoxiousness.
I only read the section on Emma, but this seems a great book to have on my shelf to dip into when I read Austen’s works. It’s a little bit dated, but that’s only meaningfully relevant in that the list of movies ends at 1996 (there are a few “forthcoming films” also mentioned.)
It’s something of a miscellany, entirely consisting of brief essays, sidebars and brief quotes. Most of the text is organized in sections focused on Austen’s novels, though often there are cross references between the novels. There are interviews with actors who have portrayed Austen characters, essays on characters and theories, biographical information, and some literary fun, like giving Austen characters rankings on an “Elton scale” (for Mrs. Elton) to rate their obnoxiousness.
I only read the section on Emma, but this seems a great book to have on my shelf to dip into when I read Austen’s works. It’s a little bit dated, but that’s only meaningfully relevant in that the list of movies ends at 1996 (there are a few “forthcoming films” also mentioned.)
December 21, 2009
Do you love to read books by Jane Austen? Do you watch the film adaptions and sigh every time Mr. Darcy is on the screen? Do you love Jane Austen's world? Then this is a book you must read!
It is filled with fun, trivia, facts, quizzes, interviws, pictures, history, and critical analysises about various subjects in Jane Austen's writing!
Here is an example of a critical analysis, nothing too boring: Rakes and Rattles
The author describes these terms as the two least appealing type of men who bedevil Austen's heroines. All about the characters in Jane Austen's novels such as Willoughby.
There is a quiz where you have to identify who wrote what passage of a letter and another where you have to idenitify who is being descibed by whom. There are about six quizzes with the correct answers in the back.
There is a chapter on each book plus one on Jane's early life, her popularity in the 20th century, film adaptions, and sequels.
Most books like this are dry and very scholarly criticisms. This book is light-hearted fun, filled with pictures, and little tidbits. You will not be bored reading this. It is the perfect companion for any Jane Austen novel, and a must in everyone admirer's library! If you don't read it how else will you know:
What ten things make you vulgar? Do you have sense or sensiblity? And a self evalutation quiz on how you like Jane Austen!
It is filled with fun, trivia, facts, quizzes, interviws, pictures, history, and critical analysises about various subjects in Jane Austen's writing!
Here is an example of a critical analysis, nothing too boring: Rakes and Rattles
The author describes these terms as the two least appealing type of men who bedevil Austen's heroines. All about the characters in Jane Austen's novels such as Willoughby.
There is a quiz where you have to identify who wrote what passage of a letter and another where you have to idenitify who is being descibed by whom. There are about six quizzes with the correct answers in the back.
There is a chapter on each book plus one on Jane's early life, her popularity in the 20th century, film adaptions, and sequels.
Most books like this are dry and very scholarly criticisms. This book is light-hearted fun, filled with pictures, and little tidbits. You will not be bored reading this. It is the perfect companion for any Jane Austen novel, and a must in everyone admirer's library! If you don't read it how else will you know:
What ten things make you vulgar? Do you have sense or sensiblity? And a self evalutation quiz on how you like Jane Austen!
September 26, 2007
This book is fantastic to sit around with friends and read from! There are hilarious quizzes to determine how vulgar you are and which Jane Austen character you most resemble. It's also an excellent book for those who have never read Jane Austen's work before and want to get started.
July 1, 2008
An informative but fun look at Austen's world and the lives of her characters. Very engrossing and saucy when it's called for.
July 29, 2015
This book was given to me by one of my English professors. I thought it was a fun read for any Austen fan. It gives a good insight into Jane Austen for those who have just begun to love her.
August 30, 2025
The introduction to this grabbed my attention and my heart. The author said she took a Jane Austen class thinking she would get to revel in the wonderfulness, but instead the class was very focused on literary theory and analysis. Sucked the joy right out of the endeavor. So this book was the experience she wished she'd had in that class. It was delightful and informative. It made me love Jane all over again, and it enlightened me with new perspectives. I would like to own a copy. It was published in the early 2000s, so it would also be cool to have an updated version, one in which Emma Thompson's (impeccable) Sense and Sensibility isn't the new kid on the block, and we aren't instructed to send a letter to a physical address in order to join the Jane Austen society. But mostly the content of this stayed classic and relevant and interesting, like Jane Austen herself.
June 26, 2022
This was a treasure trove of facts and insights concerning Jane Austen’s life and times, and the influence of her writing. Amazing little snapshots of facts include what an income of £100 or £10000 really meant in those times, what Jane earnt from her novels - and how resolute she needed to be to continue writing, Napoleon’s impact on England and Europe, the hierarchy of peerage, and so on. There is even one of Jane’s favourite pudding recipes. As Martin Amis said (p. 146), ‘Every Janeite is like the princess and the pea.’
March 15, 2022
I finally had good reason to stop reading this trainwreck with all its biased opinions and sloppy structure. I'm sad I didn't enjoy this, but I'd rather read a biography on Jane Austen with less speculation on her 'bad girl' writing and inappropriate reflections on such innocent characters as Elinor and her reaction to Willoughby. Don't corrupt what Austen has written with modern views that she truly gave no indication of. That's for fan fiction and Wattpad stories.
August 31, 2023
Excellent edition to my All Things Austen Shelf. It has quizzes, background info on Jane's books. It also has section on movie adaptations and retellings. Since this was wrote in 1999 it's a bit dated. For instance the Matthew McFadden Pride and Prejudice hadn't been made yet.
I was delighted to find interview with Stephanie Barron. I've been rereading her Being a Jane Austen Mystery series while waiting for Jane and the Final Mystery.
I was delighted to find interview with Stephanie Barron. I've been rereading her Being a Jane Austen Mystery series while waiting for Jane and the Final Mystery.
July 21, 2020
Part history, part summary of all her works, several interviews by all sorts of people - I have read through the list of movie adaptations and spin-offs that had been published by 1999 several times since owning this book (sometime in high school til now) but hadn't read the entire book. It being published back in 1999, it's a little dated in regards to film and spin-offs, but still enjoyable.
Read
October 11, 2023This was a very helpful (kind of) companion to Austen, I thought! I found its magazine style of formatting (imagine something like Bop meets the Old Farmer's Almanac) to be both fitting and fun. There were various blurbs of reception history from Victorian writers in this book that especially interested me, as well.
May 6, 2017
one of the easiest to use Austen references.
January 15, 2021
This book was published in 1999. I have no idea how long I’ve owned it or why it took me so long to get around to reading it.
Read
July 11, 2021Book by book. Spoilers. Quotes. Literary criticism. Broad.
never-again
February 25, 2024I did not enjoy this. The ‘introduction to Jane Austen’ spent a lot of time on adaptations which automatically makes it out of date since the most recent ones mentioned were 1999.
August 29, 2024
Very helpful for my Emma analysis at school! I really like how this book is set out, its easy to read and I like how it includes all sorts of different things.
January 1, 2018
"Every generation rediscovers Jane Austen with a renewed enthusiasm for her timeless novels. In recent years, Austen has become more popular than ever as nearly every one of her books has been gorgeously filmed and reinterpreted to reflect today's sensibilities. Both diehard Austen addicts and new converts to the cult will find endless revelations and witty insights in The Friendly Jane Austen. With quizzes, eye-catching illustrations, interviews with Austen scholars and admirers, a filmography, bibliography, browsable quotes and sidebars, and engaging commentaries that illustrate her family life, early writings, and novels, The Friendly Jane Austen answers questions such as:
*What are Jane Austen's ten surefire ways to be vulgar?
*How do you tell a rake from a rattle? (Hint: they're both rascals.)
*Why is Jane Austen sometimes called the mother of the romance novel?
*Who is Sense and Sensibility's only sexy man?
*How much money did Jane Austen earn from her books during her lifetime?
"Reading The Friendly Jane Austen is like stepping into the happy world of her fiction."
~~back cover
Very informative and an interesting read (especially if you're a Janeite, as I am.)
*What are Jane Austen's ten surefire ways to be vulgar?
*How do you tell a rake from a rattle? (Hint: they're both rascals.)
*Why is Jane Austen sometimes called the mother of the romance novel?
*Who is Sense and Sensibility's only sexy man?
*How much money did Jane Austen earn from her books during her lifetime?
"Reading The Friendly Jane Austen is like stepping into the happy world of her fiction."
~~back cover
Very informative and an interesting read (especially if you're a Janeite, as I am.)
January 30, 2012
I have a confession...I am only supposed to be skimming these Jane Austen biographies for my argumentative essay. In fact, I got a dozen of them from the library because I assumed I could do just that, skim quickly, gleaning useful bits. I did not expect to make one huge discovery about myself:
I am a Janeite. Of course, I should have realized this ages ago but it wasn't until I started reading biographies about her that I realized how serious the matter was. Not only do I find myself reading every word of books like The Friendly Jane Austen, I take immense pleasure out of it. I feel like I have joined the ranks of giggling school girls and swooning middle age women. She is Jane Austen. She has created six of the most endearing novels in the English language, how can you not love her? And so, just reading about her, and the her books, and her characters are like reading about a beloved friends. It is to good to be true.
The Friendly Jane Austen really is wonderful, and I heartily reccomend it. Tyler approaches Austen's life, works, and spin-offs with the true devotion of a Janeite. Her writing is clear and likable and her frequent quotes and interviews I found delightful. It is a delightful book, full of romping fun and good humor in the true spirit of Austen. In between comments about characters, plots, and reviews, she pours in amusing ancedotes and useful information about the age and references. Fun quizes test your knowledge of Jane Austen (I have a burning desire to read Lady Susan and Sandition) and I loved her "Are You A Janeite?" Quiz at the beginning.
Frankly, I loved this book. It reminded me why Austen is so amazing. It isn't a perfect Austen-guide, and I rather suspect you must be a Janeite or very close to really adore it, but this fan-girl found it a delightful echo to her own affection for this funny, never forgotten, delightful woman.
I am a Janeite. Of course, I should have realized this ages ago but it wasn't until I started reading biographies about her that I realized how serious the matter was. Not only do I find myself reading every word of books like The Friendly Jane Austen, I take immense pleasure out of it. I feel like I have joined the ranks of giggling school girls and swooning middle age women. She is Jane Austen. She has created six of the most endearing novels in the English language, how can you not love her? And so, just reading about her, and the her books, and her characters are like reading about a beloved friends. It is to good to be true.
The Friendly Jane Austen really is wonderful, and I heartily reccomend it. Tyler approaches Austen's life, works, and spin-offs with the true devotion of a Janeite. Her writing is clear and likable and her frequent quotes and interviews I found delightful. It is a delightful book, full of romping fun and good humor in the true spirit of Austen. In between comments about characters, plots, and reviews, she pours in amusing ancedotes and useful information about the age and references. Fun quizes test your knowledge of Jane Austen (I have a burning desire to read Lady Susan and Sandition) and I loved her "Are You A Janeite?" Quiz at the beginning.
Frankly, I loved this book. It reminded me why Austen is so amazing. It isn't a perfect Austen-guide, and I rather suspect you must be a Janeite or very close to really adore it, but this fan-girl found it a delightful echo to her own affection for this funny, never forgotten, delightful woman.
February 9, 2017
An invaluable tool for a writer working on a Regency romance, this study is cheeky as well as entertaining.
September 28, 2007
I just happened upon this little gem at my local bookstore and after thumbing through the pages for about a minute, I knew I had to have it. The layout of the book is superb as it highlights each of Miss Austen's novels and gives facts, fun lists and quotations in a light-hearted yet interesting manner. My favourite part is a list measuring Austen's antagonists in terms of "Eltons" after that lovely piece of work, Mrs. Elton in Emma. There is something for the long-time fan as well as anyone new to the novels. A must-have for any Jane Austen fan and a fantastic resource for any book club reviewing a Jane Austen novel. Well done.
September 26, 2009
This is a fun, lightly scholarly book from a fun Austen scholar. Friendly is a very good word for the whole undertaking -- you feel like you're talking with an extremely knowledgeable fellow Austenite. There are some really great things in here -- quotes about Austen from everybody from Harold Bloom to Bea Arthur. Small sections of information about Austen, her characters, the places she went, and then it goes farther. Bibliographies and movies, bookstores (probably out of date in some cases, though the books isn't so very old) and even quizzes. This is a fun book. If you like Austen, go for it. I bet you'll love it, too.
July 24, 2011
This is a cute book for all Jane Austen fans. I was particularly interested in biographical info on Miss. Austen. This book lightly skims this aspect providing only the brief basics. The remainder of the book consists of "articles" by the author and interviews of Austen scholars and movie directors. There are only a few quizzes (which was a selling point for this book). The format is neat. This is a great book for Austen beginners and lovers who want insights/explanations (what exactly is Mrs.E's caro sposo)/and just plain Jane Austen fun!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews