Product Description

In The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen leading scholars from around the world present Austen’s works in two broad contexts: that of her contemporary world, and that of present-day critical discourse. Beside discussions of Austen’s novels there are essays on religion, politics, class-consciousness, publishing practices, and domestic economy, which describe the world in which Austen lived and wrote. More traditional issues for literary analysis are then addressed: style in the novels, Austen’s letters as literary productions, and the stylistic significance of her juvenile works. The volume concludes with assessments of the history of Austen criticism and the development of Austen as a literary cult-figure; it provides a chronology, and highlights the most interesting studies of Austen in a vast field of contemporary critical diversity.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34874 in Books
• Published on: 1997-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 267 pages

Review
‘A book of … essays by academics, it is informative rather than opinionated, and provides a stimulating digest of ideas and information about Austen.’ Literary Review

Customer Reviews

A useful resource
I have to admit from the outset here, that I am a confirmed Janeite, I have an Austen discussion list, and I have read Austen's novels over and over again. So that may well colour what you feel about this review.

This book probably has a limited readership. Austen is still a popular author today - the string of recent movie adaptations and their wild popularity has proven that. It helps too that Austen's books can still be read these days and enjoyed without any help - after all language-wise there isn't slang and metre that puts people off Shakespeare - and her themes of love and marriage are pertinent to any age.

Yet a companion like this is really useful for there were still little in-jokes which Austen uses - her contemporary readers would have understood these without further explanation, but for us we can do with a bit more background to the times she was living in. The most useful chapters for this are 7, 8 and 9 which deal with class, money and Religion and Politics. You don't need to read to understand, but if you want to enjoy Austen's irony in greater depth they make very useful reading.

This is a neat little book if you are not sure if you want to read more on Austen either in Critical literature or biographically. It has 12 chapters in all which offer subjects ranging from the chronology of her life and work, to a good essay on her letters and style. I didn't much enjoy the chapter on Style but I was put off by the graphs in that one (don't ask!). You will pleased to know that this doesn't lack for academic credentials, but it isn't too forcefully academic. I don't think you would enjoy this book at all if you haven't read all of Austen's works, and some idea of their various characters.

So, if you are looking for a handy little volume and a quick read on Austen, her life and times then this is very worthwhile indeed. Other books on Austen that might you enjoy are Claire Tomalin's biography 'Jane Austen - a life' which is excellent. Amanda Vickery's book "The Gentleman's Daughters" is a beautifully researched and written piece on woman's lives in Austen's time and of Austen's class (even using some of her letters).

Very Interesting Read
If you're looking for a scholarly approach to Jane Austen and her works, then this is the book for you! It has contributions from scholars at several universities, and it is interesting if you want to know more detail about the history behind Austen's works and the society in which she lived.