frustrated over comparison to Austen

[Bridget]

Its an exciting day. Harper Lee's second novel "Go Set A Watchman" is now in stores. My lovely husband got me a copy.

I'm frustrated though at all the articles comparing Ms. Lee to Jane Austen. It rings untrue and sexist to me. As if these journalists are merely reaching for another famous "female" author with whom they can compare Ms. Lee. Why? Can she not be compared to a man? Would she not hold up? Ms. Austen is an exquisite writer. I love all six of her novels. But here's the thing. Ms. Lee only wrote two novels, which were published decades apart. Ms. Austen published her novels in rapid succession (two were published posthumously).

I think Ms. Lee is more like J.D. Salinger than Jane Austen. They are both Americans. They both wrote novels involving adolescents dealing with large themes. And after the wild success of their debut novels, they both withdrew from public life. Why not draw that comparison print journalists?

[Kressel]

Actually, it was Harper Lee's own aspiration to be a "Jane Austen of the South." People who see Austen as merely interested in love and marriage don't get what a brilliant social critic she was. And Lee most definitely was a social critic, except she took on the racism of her world, and only explored women's roles secondarily. (One of my favorite scenes in To Kill a Mockingbird is when someone asks Scout, "Don't you want to grow up to be a young lady?" "Not especially," she answers. There's a parallel scene to it in Go Set a Watchman.)

Here's another similarity: they were both masters of foreshadowing through dialogue and character. I'm thinking specifically of the banter at Netherfield and Scout's first day of school. Look at the debate over Bingley's character and consider what actually happens. Look at the names of the kids and how they act in that classroom. Awesome stuff!

So yes, the comparison is apt, and Harper Lee would have been proud of it.

[Bridget]

After I wrote my post I heard an old interview with Harper Lee where she called herself "Jane Austen of the South". I was hoping no one would notice my faux pas, but good for you for knowing the truth of the matter. Its a hot button for me, because I think there are so many brilliant female authors in America, and they don't seem to get the same amount of credit for their work as the men (I'm thinking of Eudora Welty, Willa Cather, and Kate Chopin as opposed to Mark Twain and John Steinbeck).

I also liked what you said about Lee and Austen both commenting on their respective societies. So true and a very apt comparison indeed. I still like comparing Lee to Salinger as well.

[Kressel]

Well, they were both famous recluses, but I like Harper Lee much, much more.

[Bridget]

Me too.