91 of 92 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Helping to explain some of the more obscure aspects of Jane Austen's works, with elegance and art, December 26, 2006
This review is from: Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners: Compliments, Charades & Horrible Blunders (Hardcover)
Being a fan of nearly everything Jane Austen, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that I would buy this book. The Regency period of English history -- from about 1790 to 1820 -- has always interested me, and has been a lucrative trade for modern romance writers, but I was curious about something. How was the Regency period actually? And to solve that question, writer Josephine Ross goes right to the source: none other than the most famous author of the Regency period, Jane Austen, who wrote six novels, and a wide selection of letters, to find out what were the correct manners of the time.
The Regency period was a time when to know how to behave was important. Having the knowledge of when to speak, how to speak, dress, and even introduce yourself could make or break your social success. With a gentle tongue-in-cheek humor, Josephine Ross takes examples from Austen's heroes and heroines to show the right way to behave, in a series of chapters that run the gamut from conversation to marriage and children.
Beginning with an Introduction about the Authoress, Jane Austen herself, the reader is guided into the world of polite society, starting with Manners, Introductions, Conversation, Dining and Dancing, Dress and Taste, Matrimony, Family and finally, Servants. For each aspect, Ross draws on the observations made in the books and letters, and more importantly, shows why a blunder -- or save -- was made.
What I really liked about the book is that it suddenly opened up some of the more obtuse passages in the books that didn't make much sense to me when I had first read them. Of course, Jane Austen already knew that her audience were very familiar with the background that she was working with, and so naturally, didn't bother to explain anything. But for the modern reader, with our quick world of the internet, flashy clothing, and a rather casual attitude towards relationships, some of the behavior seems downright strange. Why would plain white clothing make a woman fashionable above all else; why would a gentlewoman never, but never, visit a man alone, and how being able to make an introduction could prove to be invaluable later?
And yes, many of these same ideas apply in our own world. Some might find them to be terribly old fashioned, but some basics still matter -- especially when a person finds themselves in a scenario where good manners do count, such as say, in a business setting or when meeting potential in-laws, and both skill and tact are called for.
Along with the humor and various aha! moments, the other pleasure of this book were the delicate watercolours painted by Henrietta Webb that illustrated the book throughout. They caught the mood perfectly, and with just a dash of irony as well.
For collectors and fans of Jane Austen's novels, and anyone who needs a good laugh or quiet chuckle, this slim volume -- it's under 150 pages in length -- would make a delightful little present. The layout and design is lovely, and easy on the eyes, presented in a small, hardback format. Josephine Ross has also written a more scholarly work on Jane Austen, which goes into more detail about life in the Regency period.
Happily recommended.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for the Regency Period, April 15, 2008
This review is from: Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners: Compliments, Charades & Horrible Blunders (Hardcover)
This book is great if you are interested in etiquette, dress and marriage - Regency style. The book enlightened me on several things like - if I would refuse to dance with a man when he asked me, I would have to sit out two dances - if he found another partner. If he did not find another partner, I could not dance the rest of the night! It incorporates the characters of Jane Austen - why they did what they did, or why they didn't. Great book to have! I've shared it with all of my friends!
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully Presented, May 6, 2008
This review is from: Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners: Compliments, Charades & Horrible Blunders (Hardcover)
Not only is the content of this guide insightful, witty and fun, the presentation is just wonderful. It is a slightly small book, hardcover, with a cover jacket (as pictured), as well as a string bookmark. The watercolours throughout are delightful, and add to the content.
The excerpts from Austen's letters add to the information being presented, as well as illustrative examples from her novels. This guide helped to explain some of the finer points and traditions featured throughout the novels.
A very handsome looking book with impressive content.
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