The Friendly Jane Austen: A Well-Mannered Introduction to a Lady of Sense and Sensibility [Paperback]

Natalie Tyler (Author), Reid Boates (Contributor), Jon Winokur (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 2001

Every generation rediscovers Jane Austen with a renewed passion for her timeless stories of romance, family relations, and foibles of human nature. Today she is more popular than ever. Natalie Tyler captures the essence of this enthusiasm in a book that shuns obscure academic approaches and provides lively

discussions about every one of Austen's novels and characters. Readers can experience the highlights of Austen's early writings, learn about the man who almost won her hand, and puzzle over what on earth she meant by the last line of Persuasion. Tyler includes quizzes, eye-catching illustrations, interviews with Austen scholars and lovers of her work-such as Jane Smiley, T. C. Boyle, and Miss Manners-plus a filmography, a bibliography, and browsable quotes and sidebars to create this wildly entertaining Austen

companion.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Like an Austen novel, the depths of this work are easy to miss in its light tone, which screens a panoply of Austen paraphernalia. Part of the "Friendly" pop reference series, this title marries in-depth information about Jane Austen's work and world with an easy-to-read and fun format. Full of quizzes, illustrations, quotes, and interviews with scholars and actors, this work can be read straight through or dipped into at leisure. Tyler provides the reader with concise, valuable information on Austen's juvenilia, her novels, and the films based on those novels. Also included are notes on period ideas and items that will increase the reader's understanding and appreciation of the novels, among them recipes for syllabub and Bakewell pudding and the differences between a rake and a rattle. This title will be welcome reading for students and Austen fans alike. Recommended for public libraries.AKaren E. Sadowski, Simmons Coll.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Natalie Tyler has been a devoted Jane Austen scholar and lecturer for more than a decade. She is a professor at Ohio State University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (July 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141001925
• ISBN-13: 978-0141001920
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,283,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderfully entertaining., November 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Friendly Jane Austen (Hardcover)

We see a different side of Jane in this captivating book. There is something new to discover on every page. I loved learning what sort of Janeite I am. A quiz will classify you. Tyler is a witty and erudite writer. She kept me turning pages to the end.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for Jane Austen fans everywhere!, November 27, 1999

By 

Marcy Gomez (Kansas City, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Friendly Jane Austen (Hardcover)

This is easily one of the most entertaining books I've read on Jane Austen (and, believe me, I've read lots!). It's a must-have for Janeites everywhere and is loaded with fascinating facts, fun tidbits and even interviews from actresses to authors to scholars who have been involved in Jane Austen work in varied forms. This is the kind of book that you would return to over and over again. This book, along with Daniel Pool's "What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew," is one of the best ever written on Ms. Austen. Highly recommended!

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars entertaining and educational!, July 15, 2000

By 

N. Gargano "nokegchris" (Waynesville NC and Bradenton, Fl) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Friendly Jane Austen (Hardcover)

I am a newcomer to the joys of Jane Austen (kind of embarrassing because of my age)and I read this after having read Ms. Austen's 6 completed and most widely read novels. I really enjoyed reading this book,it has a little biographical info, trivia and insight into the stories themselves. Although I didn't agree with everything the author expressed, I would turn a page and learn something about something else. And of course, as I was reading it, I kept saying to myself, oh, I need to go back and reread this book and see what this author is talking about. How cannot you not recommend a book that inspires you to reread all of Jane Austen's books! This book could also be useful in a classroom of high school students, what a fun way to introduce Jane Austen to students who think she is boring or hard to read.