To peruse this lovely volume is to step back in time and experience the world of Georgian and Regency Britain-the world of Jane Austen's enduringly popular fiction. From grand country houses to humble villagers' cottages, from formal dinners to intimate family suppers, from the streets of Bath to the Cobb at Lyme Regis, the author revisits the places familiar to Austen and her characters as she explores in depth the social and physical environment that formed the backdrop for such classics as Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility. This meticulously detailed account is an essential source of background information for all students and enthusiasts of Jane Austen's books.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
When Jane Austen's novels were published, some readers dismissed them as "too natural to be interesting." Yet their very true-to-lifeness helped earn Austen (1775-1817) her place in the literary canon. Nearly 200 years later, many praise what Austen scholar (and obvious fan) Le Faye calls her ability to create the "sensation that we are visiting genuine places and joining in the lives of genuine people." Le Faye (Jane Austen: A Family Record) argues that modern readers need a thorough explanation of Austen's milieu-Georgian and Regency Britain-in order to fully understand and enjoy her fiction. She provides just that by weaving together carefully researched biographical information, meticulously detailed descriptions of everything from social hierarchy to cosmetics and sanitation, as well as summaries of and contemporary reactions to Austen's novels. Color illustrations and maps provide further illumination, particularly the portraits suggesting what beloved characters such as Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet might have looked like. Although the volume comprises distinct sections of biography, history and criticism, the three are intermingled throughout. This generally succeeds at making the book more engaging, but sometimes Le Faye fails to clarify whether she's discussing Austen's siblings, Englishmen of no relation or fictional characters, which may frustrate readers who aren't that familiar with Austen's work. Despite this, and the fact that some points are almost painfully obvious-of course contraception and refrigeration have improved since 1817-this book is a worthy addition to the Austen fan's library. 100 illustrations, 80 in full color.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Packed with knowledge!,
By Kate Jayne (Austin, Tx United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels (Hardcover)
I am a Jane Austen fan, to say the least. I have read all her works and enjoyed them. The only thing that annoyed me was the fact that I knew little about culture and life in her day. When I saw this book I was very excited. It gives a brief history of England (during the time of Jane Austen's life), a biography of Ms. Austen, explination of the culture, and detailed explinations of each book. This book is packed with pictures and maps that are also very helpful and give each of Jane Austen's stories a "face." If you are a Austen fan, you need to read this book!
51 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A bit on the disappointing side,
By Dee (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels (Hardcover)
Being a bit of a Jane Austen magpie and already owning other books by Le Faye, I looked forward to gaining more background to the time period with this book. While there was much of interest, I'd have to say that overall I wouldn't recommend it. There were some inaccuracies in the plot summaries (minor, but there all the same), but the biggest problem for readers who may be new to Jane Austen was the lack of delineation between the real people (family members, friends) mentioned and characters from the books. I could see this becoming fairly confusing for someone who hasn't already read other biographical material. Still, it's a decent read and the information presented may stimulate a person's interest enough to want to find out more.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful glimpse into Jane Austen's world,
By A Customer
This review is from: Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels (Hardcover)
Such a nice book! This is a cozy volume, filled with background information on Jane's life, her novels, and the Regency era. Excellent pictures, interesting and well-written text. A perfect book to peruse while you drink a cup of tea on a winter's night. Would make a great gift for any Jane Austen lover.
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