Product Description
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." --Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

There was never a more astute chronicler of the hits and near-misses of love than Jane Austen. Now, she helps readers discover their inner heroines and get the guy in this witty book of romance and dating strategies.

Utilizing wisdom inspired by Jane Austen's novels, from Sense and Sensibility to Pride and Prejudice and beyond, author Lauren Henderson creates an indispensable guide for navigating the all-too-mystifying dating scene. Harnessing the triumphs and pitfalls of Austen's classic characters, Henderson shows how qualities like honesty, self-awareness, and forthrightness always win the right man -- and still let you respect yourself in the morning.

A completely new and amusing approach to dating, Jane Austen's Guide to Dating includes insightful personality quizzes that reveal which Jane Austen character you -- and your mate -- most resemble. Armed with this knowledge, you can learn what to do if you're a Lizzie, but the object of your affection is a Bingley. You can even find out how to gain the clearheadedness and confidence that Anne Elliot had and almost lost in Persuasion.

Full of wit and truly useful advice that has stood the test of time, Jane Austen's Guide to Dating will help readers overcome the nonsense and find the sense (and sensibility) to succeed in a lasting relationship. Fans of Jane Austen and newcomers alike will delight in this fun, fresh, and audacious guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Enjoyable and Helpful Read
An enjoyable book that every person dating needs to read. The part of the book that struck me most was only be with people who bring out the best in you. How sad that we have to teach that concept, but I think so many people would be much happier if they followed that one simple concept. You do not have to have read Austen's books to follow the concepts (but really, why haven't you at least read Pride and Prejudice?), the author gives you enough info to follow along, coupled with real life examples of her concepts. Thoughtful, well-written ideas that assist anyone dating or anywhere where you find yourself interacting with people. Like, you know, the planet.

Have some manners, please.
A time honored read for every young person. A bit encrypted at first but there is a lot to learn. Spend the time and read the whole book. Jane Austen's words still hold treasures even in today's crazy world.

I liked this more than I thought I would!
I never thought I would like Jane Austen. I had looked upon her as a Victorian "Chick Lit." Romance author in the same vein as our modern day Mills and Boon or Harlequin writers.

This brings me to author and self confessed Jane Austen fan Lauren Henderson, who is the author of "Jane Austen's Guide to Dating".

I'd first seen Lauren's book when browsing through book catalogues and thought "How could "Old World" principles apply to the modern day?"

Turns out Lauren has discovered a revelation, you can apply old-fashioned values and morals to modern day dating. In fact the principles are also relevant to people already in relationships.

Lauren discusses different situations of dating in a light, mature way using Jane Austen scenarios, then she explains how the principles apply today. Her examples use both male and female perspectives, so it has not been written exclusively from a female point of view. Both sexes can learn a lot from this book.

The most valuable thing I learnt from this book was "don't judge a book by it's cover. Open it up and peruse what is on the inside, just as with people it may surprise you and you might even learn something.

If you have a penchant for reading dating books, throw all the other dating books you own out and get this one. It is the only one you need.

good premise that falls short
I am a big Jane Austen fan and that was the best part of this book: the examples from Austen's novels.The rest of the book read a lot like pop psychology and I have to agree with the other reviewer that commented on the "bar hopping, and sleeping around" aspect to many of the examples; a bit of a turn off for me.Some good analogies, and the woman can write.

Great gift for that single English Major
Bought this for an English teacher friend and she loved it.Makes some good points and is humorous just like Jane Austen herself. ... Read more

Product Description
Would you brave gun-toting militias for a cut and blow dry? May's a tough-talking, hard-smoking, lecturer in English. She's also an Iraqi from a Sunni-Shi'ite background living in Baghdad, dodging bullets before breakfast, bargaining for high heels in bombed-out bazaars and battling through blockades to reach her class of Jane Austen-studying girls. Bee, on the other hand, is a London mum of three, busy fighting off PTA meetings and chicken pox, dealing with dead cats and generally juggling work and family while squabbling with her globe-trotting husband over the socks he leaves lying around the house. They should have nothing in common. But when a simple email brings them together, they discover a friendship that overcomes all their differences of culture, religion and age. "Talking About Jane Austen in Baghdad" is the story of two women who share laughter and tears, and swap their confidences, dreams and fears. And, between the grenades, the gossip, the jokes and the secrets, they also hatch an ingenious plan to help May escape the bombings of Baghdad... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A wonderful read!
I found this book impossible to put down and read it non-stop over a long weekend. The story was gripping, as events unfold for May living in an increasingly deadly Iraq, and Bee's herculean efforts to get May to safety are blocked at every turn. Like other reviewers have said, this book gives real personal insight into living with war; something often ignored or passed over by media accounts. More than that, the story reveals how the tiniest twists of fate can affect us in such dramatic ways. But this book is not all doom and gloom. Bee's persistent optimism is so inspiring, and May's efforts to secure a good hair dye made me gasp and laugh in the same breath. More than anything, this book spoke about compassion, and about how individuals can make difference in each other's lives. I have bought this book for other friends to read and highly recommend it to everyone.

Engrossing, upto a point
The book is written in the epistolary form and is engrossing. It's amazing to read about an ordinary woman's life in a war torn area as she is trying to carry on with her daily life. The bonding between the two women is touching and you immediately care for the two people. But the narrative began to lose some steam in the second half, but still, it was a fairly easy read to the end.
Bee's part can border on the tiresome due to her obsession with the mundane. Although she is is a journalist, one is not privy to her work much as her laundries and domestic fights. I would have enjoyed it much more if her part was more well rounded.
The title, of course, was not the right choice. It is very little about Austen.

... Read more

Product Description

Many rumors abound about a mysterious gentleman said to be the love of Jane's life—finally, the truth may have been found. . . .

Customer Reviews (66)

A plausible love affair for Miss Jane
I've always been a huge Austen fan and regularly reread P&P and S&S, so I was a natural for this book. James has concocted a plausible love affair for Miss Jane, one which ended badly for romance but wonderfully for readers because it inspired Austen's greatest fiction and provided the impetus she needed to get serious about her writing. She appears to be faithful to the known facts of Austen's life and inserts period details with a light touch.

A bit disappointing, but not terrible.
As I write this review, I'm heaving a huge sigh--because the Jane Austen fan in me both loved and hated this book. Loved it, because of its attempt to create not just Jane's life, but her world. Hated it, because the writing seemed more affected than accurate. Also, the idea that many of the finer points of Jane Austen's works came from her life was a good one, but I feel that Ms. James took it a bit too far. Not just general characteristics of the people about her, but many exact or nearly exact situations from Austen's books were "re-created" in this novel, and that just didn't sit right with me. Of course...I can't help but love all things Austen, so I still give Lost Memoirs 3/5 stars.

Disappointing and Fluffy
This was boring and read like a hackneyed romance novel. If you're looking for Austen's wit, complex plotting, and wonderful turn of phrase, stick with her books.

Not as good as her novel on Charlotte Bronte
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen is a fictional memoir that attempts to tell the story of the long lost love of our beloved novelist, Jane Austen. In the fictional editor's forward it is stated that a chest full of documents written by Jane Austen were found at Chawton Manor House. These forgotten memoirs contain the story of Mr Frederick Ashford, Jane Austen's true love and the inspiration for many of her novels including Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Persuasion.

The novel was a quick and fun read. Did the writing do justice to Jane Austen? Did I feel like I was reading the words of Miss Austen herself? No. There was and will only be one Jane Austen. I'm afraid there is no way a contemporary writer can capture Austen's wit and powerful storytelling.

As for those who feel that Syrie James butchered this book, trust me, there are worse novels out there. I think this was a decent effort to imitate the writing of one of the best English novelists of all time.

Now for the content, I was little more impressed with the beginning of the novel. It brings the readers face to face with the troubles that plagued the Austen family, such as Mr Austen's death and the uncertain future of his daughters.

Somehow, towards the middle of the book the novel started fusing into a mix of Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. Jane actually starts to live out events that happened to her characters in various novels. It was little odd.

There was another strange thing about this novel. Syrie James felt the need to define terms which any Austen fan should be familiar with. Do any of us really need a definition of a phaeton or a pelisse in a footnote?

This was an incredibly fast read. Syrie James mixed fact with fiction to create a man we all wish could have been a part of Jane Austen's life. I have also read SJ's The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte. I'm a bigger Austen fan than Bronte, but if I had to pick between both novels, I would buy the one on Bronte.

a great palate cleanser
So after reading something heavy and important like "What is the What" I really like to follow up with some easy pleasure reading. I call these "palate cleansers".

This book is written very much in the style of a Jane Austen novel, except the English is more modern and easier to read. It is a fictional account based on fictional memoirs written by Jane. It was a quick, enjoyable read. It is interesting how romantic Austen's novels are without any evidence of a deep love in her own life. James did a great job of bringing Jane to life. When I re-read "Sense & Sensibility" or "Pride and Prejudice" I will feel a little closer to the stories.

I love the Emma Thompson version of S&S and will probably rent it and P&P again this summer after reading this book! I love the story I heard at the time the movie came out that Emma had the sheep's hair permed so they would be more true to the era!?

Guys won't like this book. But it is a sweet story, and a bit of a window into women's lives at the time. Good, fun summer book:-) ... Read more

Product Description
"You must drink tea with us tonight." Sense & Sensibility

Who would not want to sit down with Jane Austen and join her in a cup of tea? Here for the first time is a book that shares the secrets of one of her favorite rituals. Tea figures prominently in Jane Austen's life and work. In fact, the beloved novelist was the keeper and maker of tea in her family. Tea with Jane Austen begins with tea drinking in the morning and ends with tea in the evening, at balls and other gatherings.

Each chapter includes a description of how tea was taken at a particular place or time of day, along with history, recipes, excerpts from Austen's novels and letters and illustrations from the time. The book also reveals how to make a perfect cup of tea! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Tea Time
Tea with Jane Austen is a lovingly told tale of the importance of tea in the life of those who lived in the Regency Era. It is all here: How to make tea, tea and toast for breakfast (the usual breakfast fare for all but the wealthiest households), seeping the tea leaves, tea caddies and miscellaneous utensils, shopping for tea sets, and the different types of teas. In Austen's time, tea was a valuable commodity that was kept under lock and key. In the Austen household, Jane was the keeper of the keys to the tea chest.

But, for me, the most interesting part of the book was Jane's excursions into London to buy the best tea from Twinings warehouse. This was the most expensive way of buying tea, but there was a reason for buying the best. Tea was regularly adulterated with things you don't want to think about. Dregs were sold out the back door by kitchen maids. After being dried, they were mixed with "leaves, twigs, and sometimes floor sweepings." That's if you were lucky. "The dyes used on adulterated tea were often quite poisonous."

Although the afternoon tea we associate with the British belongs to the Victorian Era, there were rituals aplenty in the Regency Era, and this book shows how important tea was to Jane Austen and her contemporaries. Five stars.

Fun info and recipes
This book was full of fun facts about what Jane Austen would've been eating and drinking! It was just fabulous. I even attempted one of the recipes: Modern Bath Cakes! They were super yummy. I would really like to get my own copy and try a few more of the recipes. This is a fun read for those who enjoy Jane Austen and the Regency era.

Tea with Jane Austen
I enjoyed this book immensely!It is the perfect blend of history, fiction, illustration, and antectdote.I now have a greater understanding and appreciation for the Regency period, and a richer perspective of Jane Austen and her characters.I will most certainly be reading it again--at teatime of course!

Tea with Jane Austen
Delightful! If you enjoy the rituals and relaxation of sipping tea while reading your favorite Jane Austen novel than this is a neccessary companion.

great read!
This book was a great read on the history of tea in Jane Austen's time, as well as fun to see what tea meant for her and people in her day. There are some yummy recipes mixed in and lots of refrences to her novels which adds some fun and insite!

Loved it! ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you've read Jane Austen once or read her yearly, or if you simply yearn to be Elizabeth or Mr. Darcy, this new Bedside companion will be a perfect match. Janeite and newcomer alike will revel in the entertaining capsules of each of Austen's beloved novels, along with information on such important subjects as white soup, carriages, what happened at the ha-ha, and, of course, all those characters we love to hate. In the spirit of Austen, maps, puzzles and quizzes are provided--including the one and only Jane Austen aptitude Test. The reader is taken on location to Steventon, Jane Austen's childhood home, to Bath, the city she was happy to leave, and elsewhere. Also included is an interview with Karen J. Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club. An Austentatious work, indeed! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Quick Jane Austen Fix
This is a great book for just opening up at any page and reading.Good book.Great to take along while waiting for a plane or bus.Or just about anything.

Fun book for any Jane Austen fan
In a time of books and movies that just try to capitalize on the success that Jane Austen's works are having, Adams' Companion is a lighthouse of risible splendor that brings fun to any gathering of fans of Jane Austen.
I look forward to giving my mother, a great Jane Austen scholar herself, a copy of this book for Mother's Day; I just know that she will love it! There are many types of Jane Austen fans and all can enjoy all sorts of different aspects of Austenian information.
Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who can read English, even to those who can't but would like to learn to read English.
: )

A great gift for Mother's Day -- or any day!
I was moved and impressed by this book.Clearly, the authors admire and care about the many aspects of Jane Austen's novels.You can share their joy and delight in all things Austen!This book would make a great gift for Mother's Day (I have four deserving mothers in mind who will love a chance to escape into Jane Austen's world). Busy moms can pick it up for a few minutes, and always find something enjoyable in it.This is a book I have at my bedside, and I highly recommend it for those readers who have a passion for Jane Austen.And for those who are new to Jane Austen, "The Bedside, Bathtub & Armchair Companion to Jane Austen" is a great introduction!

A Companion's Companion
Thanks to the authors for this engaging read. Filled with Regency facts to help us better understand some of the nuances of Jane Austen's novels, the book transitions effortlessly to modern takes (i.e. JARPing) on our favorite author, her family, her books, and her fans.For those of us who consider Jane Austen a "constant companion" this book is a welcome addition and can be enjoyed by scholars and non-scholars alike.

More than a Companion
This book was a delight to me, an enthusiastic reader of Jane Austen (and Proust, and Georgette Heyer, and Patrick O'Brian). While it is designed to be picked up and put down with short essays on different topics, I couldn't put it down at all and it came with me on the subway, to bed, and on line at the bank - and I had to wrest my copy from the hands of an interested friend along the way. I chuckled along with the wonderful discussions of all things Jane as they related to movies, books and contemporary as well as historical life, and was particularly happy to be introduced to books and movies I had never read or seen. The writers brought me some of the comfort Ms. Austen has bestowed over the years, and I thank them! ... Read more

Product Description
For everyone who loves Jane Austen...a marvelously entertaining new series that turns the incomparable author into an extraordinary sleuth!

On a visit to the estate of her friend, the young and beautiful Isobel Payne, Countess of Scargrave, Jane bears witness to a tragedy. Isobel's husband—a gentleman of mature years—is felled by a mysterious and agonizing ailment. The Earl's death seems a cruel blow of fate for the newly married Isobel. Yet the bereaved widow soon finds that it's only the beginning of her misfortune...as she receives a sinister missive accusing her and the Earl's nephew of adultery—and murder. Desperately afraid that the letter will expose her to the worst sort of scandal, Isobel begs Jane for help. And Jane finds herself embroiled in a perilous investigation that will soon have her following a trail of clues that leads all the way to Newgate Prison and the House of Lords—a trail that may well place Jane's own person in the gravest jeopardy.Amazon.com Review
In a time of near Jane Austen-mania, whatbetter heroine to solve a mystery than Jane herself? Only two things arerequired: a satisfying, well-structured whodunit plot and a knack forrendering Austen's style at picking up the most delicate nuances in socialbehavior. Stephanie Barron succeeds on both counts. When the squire of acountry manor in Hertfordshire is found lifeless in his bed, foul play issuspected and Jane is called upon to unravel the mystery. Along the way,Barron employs Jane as the first-person narrator and adeptly re-createsAusten's voice and delightfully subtle humor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (60)

A Supremely Enjoyable Romp!
I must admit that I began Miss Barron's book feeling a little silly.I've been on quite the Jane Austen kick lately, and thought this would be a cute, if not quite satisfying, diversion to patch me through the hours between reading aloud "Pride and Prejudice" with my husband.

I was very pleasantly surprised, then, to find Miss Barron's book supremely enjoyable.She captures Austen's voice quite well, and refrains from indulging a modern reimagining of Austen and her contemporaries - there is no anachronistic (and oversimplified) feminist whining about the constraints of women's dress and station, for example.(Not to say that such complaint is always unwarranted, but to me such imposition of modern sentiments does violence to the text or film in which they are inserted - as though women in previous generations spent most of their time conscious of the distinct oppression of the female sex, and bemoaning it.)Eliza, Austen's sister-in-law and the Comtesse, is rather more liberally drawn, but the reader gets the impression that this portrayal is a rather accurate one, rather than an excuse for the author to inject some modern commentary on the Georgian era.

Not being a particular consumer of mystery novels, I can't speak of the novel's plot as it compares to the quality of other mysteries, but I found it quite difficult to leave off reading.The construction of the plot was enough to keep me exceptionally interested and keep me guessing until the end - where some personal suspicions were rebuffed, and others fulfilled.

I also found Miss Barron's presentation of the series rather pleasing; the book is presented as one of a collection of papers found in the Baltimore estate of some very distant descendants of Miss Austen, and this reader, at least, found it easy and enjoyable to play along and pretend that this was a very real discovery to give us more of a peek at the character and personal qualities of the elusive Miss Austen.

The "editor's" notes throughout the text are also singularly informative and profess Miss Barron (at least to this novice) as extremely qualified in the historical particularities of the Georgian and Regency eras.

Upon finishing this book, I have to say that my only fear is in procuring the next of its series!

Disappointing
The idea of Jane Austen solving mysteries is interesting, and the author obviously studied the time period, as there are many details that sound authentic.However, I found it difficult to believe the 'found diary' idea, and the footnotes are so distracting as to positively destroy any possible enjoyment the book offers.Moreover, the footnotes explain 'gaming hell: a site where gambling occurs' but does not explain 'pelisse'.

When she got out of her own way, the author succeeded in writing a book with some playfulness, a bit of cunning, and a mildly interesting story.But there's no reason this group would have been hauled before the House of Lords, and then released, and then all gathered together at the end so there could be a big revelation and the book could have a climax.It really doesn't.Nothing is actually resolved in a satisfactory way.

As a reader of mysteries, I am always on the lookout for new series.That is, appartently, why I continue to read the Bruce Alexanderbooks even though they are populated with a host of irritating characters masquerading at being British.But Jane and her next encounter may be out of my reach.If the books lose the footnotes and establish better flow, it would go a long way toward making the books enjoyable.

Enjoyable
I'm currently enjoying the works of Donna Leon and P.D. James, two first-rate mystery writers.I am also a Jane Austen fantatic.I'd stumbled across the Stephanie Barron titles here at Amazon some time ago but, having read some poor Austen sequels/spinoffs in the preceding months, wasn't tempted.However, I recently read some of the reviews and decided to try the Barron that reviewers seemed to favor, "His Lordship's Legacy".I quite enjoyed that and decided to give the first entry in the series a try ... and found "Scargrave Manor" quite enjoyable.Like other reviewers, I thought the all-too-frequent use of lines from Austen's novels was annoying. And the resolution of the mystery seemed a bit forced.On the positive side, Barron's attempt to re-create Austen's prose style largely succeeds and, clearly, her understanding of the Regency period is excellent.The first half of the book was a bit of a slow read - compared with the works of Austen herself, Leon, and James - but it began to pick up after a while.Overall, "Scargrave Manor" was an enjoyable read.

Sloppy editing
I wish to comment only on the quality of editing apparent in the Kindle edition.The book is riddled with typos; some of which are easily overlooked because the context allows you to understand the error, but some of them are simply incomprehensible.It appears as though a voice-recognition software translated the words, or that the Kindle edition was transcribed by a non-english speaker, although neither option makes sense to me.A couple of examples: the word "gentleman" appears frequently as "gendeman", and the word "the" appears alternately as "die" and "the".Ultimately, the frequency of these errors is cumulative and disruptive to the reading experience.

18th/19th Century England
This is the first in a series of Jane Austen mysteries. The style of writing and period details wonderfully reflect the era in which Austen lived (late 18th/early 19th century Regency England). Woven through are well researched bits concerning the manners, status and limitations on the lives of the period's "young ladies of more fashion than means. " The author further provides introductory information about Austen and interjects an occasional informative footnotes throughout the text. ... Read more

Product Description
Advice delivered with sense and sensibility just in time for the major motion picture Becoming Jane

Women have looked to Jane Austen’s heroines as models of appropriate behavior for nearly two centuries. Who better to understand the heart of a heroine than Austen? In this delightful epistolary “what if,” Austen serves as a “Dear Abby” of sorts, using examples from her novels and her life to counsel modern-day heroines in trouble, she also shares with readers a compelling drama playing out in her own drawing room. Witty and wise—and perfectly capturing the tone of the author of Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice—Dear Jane Austen is as satisfying as sitting down to tea with the novelist herself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

A fun escape for any Janeite
Dear Jane Austen: A Heroine's Guide to Life and Love is a fun little book that is written in the voice of Jane Austen giving advice on love and life to current day females. This book made me smile, it's a well written tribute to Jane Austen that I think most fans of hers would enjoy.

The book starts in 1816 where Jane Austen is finishing off the last sentence of Persuasion when her niece comes in with letters for her. Women write to Jane asking her for advice on life and love.
Jane gives some sound advice, while making references to her novels as well as to the people in her own life, such as her sister. There are also several Austen novel quotes throughout the book.
I finished this book in one sitting and really enjoyed it. I laughed out loud at a few of Jane's comments. Especially when Jane refers to gothic novels like Wuthering Heights.

do think that the author catches Jane's voice well, and this book is a fun escape for any Janeite looking for a quick and entertaining read.

'By the bye, I have recently made a survey of your circulating library, where I was astonished to find volumes containing enough conduct guides to stretch, if laid end to end, from Bath to Southampton. It is evident that my Emma is not the only clueless female.'


Author Patrice Hannon really does give some good advice through the voice of Jane.
The questions are very specific and the answers are thought out and very well written. You can see how knowledgeable the author is concerning Jane Austen's work as well as her private life. She even refers to Austen's lesser known works such as Lady Susan and The Watsons. I recommend this book to any Jane Austen fan. It is a quick and sweet Austen fix.

The Best Austen Advice Guide Around
The construct of this book is a clever one: Hannon creates fictitious letters from modern women asking for advice on a range of issues, from low self-esteem and dysfunctional families to premarital sex and cohabitation, beauty tips and personal finances to, of course, marriage. She then responds to these very modern queries in the voice of Jane Austen herself--a voice that Hannon captures with near perfection. By drawing upon examples from all of Austen's work to illustrate her advice, as well as creating a fictional narrative that sheds light on Austen's life, Hannon displays her impressively in-depth knowledge of Austen and her novels. Hannon's work is infused with Austen's spirit, and her analysis of scenes, characters, and themes--both major and minor--from all of her novels is a treat for any Austen fan.

Yet the most important, and certainly the most valuable, aspect of Hannon's work is the advice she provides to soothe the woes of her modern-day correspondents, woes to which many a modern female will certainly relate. In contrast to the Austen advice guides that adapt Austen's ideals to fit twenty-first century manners and mores, Hannon preserves Austen's eighteenth-century mentality--and morality. And, amazingly enough, her advice is perfectly relevant and much more sensible than any reconstruction of it could ever be, as she stresses the importance of integrity, propriety, and poise, among many other virtues, with graceful wit. Austen fans will find Hannon's work a treasure trove of quotes, characterizations, and reminiscences from Austen's novels; and all readers will recognize the universal relevance and wisdom of Austen's ideals.

Jane would be pleased . . .
I would highly recommend this book to all readers; you do not need familiarity with Jane Austen's works. Patrice Hannon does an excellent job of bringing Austen's voice to present day and she writes in an entertaining style. Hannon's answers to the Dear Jane Austen letters are filled with wit and much wisdom that's pertinent to today's women. Advice such as ". . . women simply do not let their imperfections erode their opinion of themselves . . ." self-confidence and self-respect are key. And my favorite: "The best way to ensure your success is to be content in the present reality." What else is there? Great book!

I was utterly charmed.
It is very obvious that Patrice Hannon has taught English literature, and in particular Jane Austen, because of the idea and execution ofthis book.I found myself utterly charmed by her Jane Austen "voice".

At first, I was a little hesitant about how I would bridge the time-span gap for Jane Austen giving advice on life and love to twenty-first century heroines.Hannon herself advises readers (in the Author's Notes) to not "dip in" and read sections out of order but to proceed in an orderly fashion so that the framework of the book can be revealed in a very particular way.I had a dilemma.Should I follow my inclinations and read Chapter Five, A Heroine Knows a Hero When She Sees One--Or Does She? first, as I wanted to?Or should I follow the advice of the person who actually put this book together from concept to print?Luckily for me, I decided to follow her advice and I read it all the way through for my first, but surely not my last, "dip".It is sound advice.A reader needs to understand who's who and what is happening to and around "Jane" in order to keep from being confused.

Jane Austen is still living in the early 1800's.The letters are all from would-like-to-be heroines who are living in the twenty-first century.How was this possible?I still can't answer that question.The final page and a half of the book may be an explanation.But then, maybe not.Two friends could have some really good conversation over that.I'm looking forward to it!

Austen gets letters from modern young women asking her very specific questions of how she or her heroines would have dealt with problems they are encountering now.All the answers come from Austen's real life experiences or from her writings and the experiences of her characters in all her books.Once I caught on to the technique used, it was absolutely fascinating for me to read the question and then try to figure out which examples could be used to supply the answer.I wasn't always right but it was fun to try.Ms Hannon has a vast knowlege of the Austen books.She uses passages from those books along with "Jane's" expanding on the subject to give advice to would-be heroines.I don't think she ever used the same example twice.It was phenomenal.The writing is in the style of Jane Austen and rings wonderfully true.If this author had not been able to "sound" like Jane Austen, this would have been a painful book to read.Because she was "being" Jane, I learned historically accurate facts concerning her life.It was as if I was reading a biography only lighter, friendlier, smoother.

There are chapters on character, family, friends, being in the world, knowing a hero when you meet him, s_x, marriage, beauty tips, money and happy endings.The questions asked in the correspondence are very, very real and current for today's woman.The answers are all taken from people and situations which existed almost 200 years ago and yet they are woven together in such a way that the 200 year old answers still can and do apply to now, to today.I hope lots and lots of young women (and even men can benefit from this advice) will read this advice and take it to heart.Obviously Ms Hannon has seen these problems played out before her in modern settings.She just used a rather original way to give out good, sound advice.

Highly, highly recommended.Even if you don't think you need the advice, read it for the total immersion in the life and thoughts and characters of Jane Austen.Two things which I came away with that surprised me very much, I need to go back and re-read Northanger Abbey.And maybe I need to give Fanny Price another chance too!

A wonderful experience for the true Jane Austen fan
DEAR JANE AUSTEN: A Heroine's Guide to Life and Love by Patrice Hannon
October 3, 2007

Rating:4 Stars

Here's a must-have for Jane Austen fans and fans of good literature everywhere.DEAR JANE AUSTEN is a collection of fictional letters written by Jane Austen to women of the 21st century who write to her for advice on love and other related topics.Patrice Hannon, an expert on all things Jane Austen, has done an excellent job in creating these letters in the same voice and writing style that one has come to recognize.Topics addressed by Miss Austen including tips on extra-marital sex, finances, etiquette, family matters, and how to recognize the special man that may become ones future husband.

DEAR JANE AUSTEN is a very short book, approximately 150 pages in length, but I didn't find it a fast read.This does not read like a contemporary book but as if it were written in the 1800's.But don't let this stop you. For the true Jane Austen fan, this is a definite must-read.Run to your nearest bookstore or order it online.You will not regret it, as it was a very enjoyable experience. ... Read more

Product Description
In a publishing career that spanned less than a decade, Jane Austen used the romantic endeavours of her well-plotted characters as a stage from which to address issues of gender politics and class-consciousness rarely expressed in her day. The novels included in this beautiful leatherbound collection, "Sense and Sensibility", "Pride and Prejudice", "Mansfield Park", "Emma", "Northanger Abbey", "Persuasion" and "Lady Susan", represent all of Austen's mature work as a novelist and provide the reader with an introduction to the world she and her memorable characters inhabited. "Jane Austen: Seven Novels" is part of "Barnes & Noble"'s series of quality leatherbound volumes. Each title in the series presents a classic work in an attractively designed edition bound in genuine bonded leather. These books make elegant additions to any home library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Beautiful Book!!
I love this book!!It is a beautiful novel.It is over 2.5" thick and it brings in the mystery of the 1800's..I can not wait to finish all of the novels.This is the perfect gift for any Austen lover.

Austen Novel Collection
A beautifully bound book, it could have come from the time of Jane herself, perhaps would have had a place on the shelves at Pemberley!The illustrations move right back to a time of formality and good manners.I like to just hold this book and think of all that goes into the making of a good novel, the writng, the pictures, and the important art of bookbinding.And the price of the book would be a very good one for just one novel.I am happy with my purchase of this collection.

Beautiful book but did not hold up
I bought this book as soon as I saw it. It is beautiful. The page edges are painted gold. There is an attached gold ribbon. Unlike most hardcover books, the book was not glued to the center of the hardcover backing/binding. The book is held in place by the first and last page of the book. After 1.5 weeks of on and off reading, the book tore from the hardcover. Such a disappointment... The content is of course fantastic.

A Beautifully bound book though print is small
I am grateful to have this collective edition, which I later found at my local B&N for a little less than I paid for it on this site. However, it is beautifully bound and contains seven of Austen's novels, including the "big six." The only complaints I have are: 1) Re. the book itself--the print is a bit smaller than my poor middle-aged eyes are comfortable with. I definitely need reading glasses with this one. 2) The seller wrapped this relatively weighty and lovely book VERY POORLY...a book of this quality should be properly wrapped and prevented from moving and bumping around during shipping...as a result, one edge of the front cover is slightly bent (no big deal, it's just the principle of the matter) and upon opening, the book is slightly coming apart from its binding (fixable and not new to B&N special edition books). From this Amazon seller, the book came wrapped in an over-sized, thinly bubble-lined envelope. Don't recommend sending any books, much less any precious items of literature in this manner. Otherwise, I wish there were other/more publishers out there who would put together, in beautiful binding, classic authors' collective works, and make it affordable to the public. B&N currently has this market cornered.

A beautiful edition.
The "Jane Austen Seven Novels" leather-bound book is a beautiful edition, highly recommended if your an Austen-fan and like to have one book to carry with you that gives you a sense of simple luxury in otherwise non luxurious settings (a ride on a bus, in a subway, or at the college cafeteria all come to mind). ... Read more

Product Description
Jane Austen's complete novels, collected together in one comprehensive volume, now published with the complete set of Hugh Thomson's famous illustrations.

Comprises the complete text of: "Sense and Sensibility", "Pride and Prejudice", "Mansfield Park", "Emma", "Northanger Abbey", "Persuasion", "Lady Susan", and "Love and Friendship".

This collection allows readers to explore the development of one of the English language's greatest writers, following her development from the farcical comedy of "Love and Friendship" and "Northanger Abbey", via her most popular work, "Pride and Prejudice", to the masterpiece "Emma", and the considered romance of "Persuasion". A unique collection of the finest and most perceptive love stories ever written.

Hugh Thomson first illustrated Jane Austen's works in the 1890's; his illustrations are prized for their wit and liveliness. The illustrations in this edition have been photographed directly from the original books, and digitally retouched for enhanced clarity.

Copies of the original Hugh Thomson illustrated edition of Pride and Prejudice, from which these illustrations are taken, are highly prized by collectors, and valued at up to $10,000. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Mr. Darcy be Darned!
Somehow, I managed to miss reading the Jane Austen novels throughout my youth.As a 34 year old woman, I've developed a bucket list of sorts, and on the top of that list is reading the complete works of Jane Austen.This book has all of the novels in one.While a bit cumbersome to hold (I'm a night, just before bed reader) I make due with it by folding it back over itself.So far, I've read Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park. Both are completely accurate and perfect. LOVE Jane Austen!

Wonderful Buy
To get straight to the point; this book is a great buy.I read a few reviews where the font was criticised, however I found no problem with it at all. The printing paper is of great quality- none of that type which gets faded and yellow, and also the book's cover is just beautiful.

All of my favourites are in the book as well as the added bonus of "Love and Friendship." I admit, I had some doubts about this purchase at first, especially due to the fact that the chapters do not start on separate pages, so if a chapter finishes on one page, then the new chapter continues on the same page. However, this issue is minor and does not detract from the fact the it's a great buy.

Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery
Jane Austen. Her name is practically synonymous with classic, understated romance, as well as comedies of manners with a subtle, sly sense of humor.

And Austen's "The Complete Novels" brings together the full complement of her finished novels, from the little-known "Lady Susan" to the classic bestseller "Pride and Prejudice" (and everything in between). This collection is flled with lovably flawed heroines, beautiful formal prose, and some rather unconventional love stories.

"Pride and Prejudice" become a problem when Elizabeth Bennett takes a dislike to the handsome, aloof Mr. Darcy -- and her prejudice against him builds after he sabotages her sister's love match, and the charming Wickham drops some shocking claims about Darcy's nastiness. But when scandal hits the Bennett family, Darcy may be their only hope. And "Sense and Sensibility" clash when the two Dashwood sisters, smart Elinor and romantic Marianne, both fall in love -- one with a man she can't have, and the other with a guy who may be horribly unsuitable.

In "Persuasion," Anne Elliott was once engaged to the impoverished sailor Frederick Wentworth, but was persuaded to break it off. Now he's returned as a wealthy hero... and Anne still loves him. "Mansfield Park" is shy Fanny Price's's home, along with the rich relatives who usually treat her as a servant (except for her kindly cousin Edmund). But when the flirtatious, fashionable Crawfords arrive in the neighborhood, it unbalances the lives of everyone at Mansfield Park.

And "Northanger Abbey" is a fitting location for Austen's spoof on gothic romances, in which the hyperimaginative Catherine Moreland is taken under the wing of the Tilney family, and especially handsome Henry -- and learns a lesson about the difference between fantasy and reality. "Emma" is a frothy romantic comedy about a rich, somewhat spoiled young lady who tries to arrange the lives of people around her so that everyone is happy (except nothing is that simple!).

And as an addition to Austen's main body of work, this edition includes the novella "Lady Susan," who is sort of the evil sociopathic twin of Emma -- a brilliant and manipulative widow who seduces, plots and schemes. And "Love and Freindship" is a hilarious spoof of gushy romantic literature.

Except for "Lady Susan," each story is a love story, tempered with some clever commentary on the society of Austen's day (example: entailment, which plays a part in several plots), and a biting, sharp-edged wit (the mockery of the toadying Mr. Collins and the obnoxious Elliott family).

And despite the formal stuffiness of the time, Austen painted her stories vividly --powerful emotions and vivid prose ("The wind roared round the house, and the rain beat against the windows"), as well as deliciously witty dialogue ("I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine"). But she also weaves in some intensely romantic moments as well ("Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death...").

Austen also had an interesting range of heroines -- quiet ones, melodramatic ones, intelligent ones, naive ones, and mildly spoiled ones who think they know best. But each one has a major character flaw that must be overcome before she can find true love and happiness. And she has an equally fascinating range of love interests -- quiet soldiers/sailors, sexy charmers, blunt gentlemen, andand especially the smart, sexy Mr. Darcy (who has a flaw of his own to overcome alongside Lizzie).

Jane Austen's "Complete Novels" draws together all her finished novels, and let readers explore the mannered society and obstacle-filled love lives of her heroines.

Great for the Price
This book is exactly what it says it is; 8 Jane Austen books in one.There are a lot of words on the page in 2 columns with very little margin, it's true, but that hasn't stopped me from enjoying it.I've read 2 of the books already, even late at night, and had no difficulty whatsoever.So if you want an inexpensive way of acquiring all of Jane Austen's works, than this is it.If you want something that looks pretty and you can hand down to your grandkids, than you should probably buy each book separately.

For Bookworms
As said in other reviews; Small font. Written in columns. Very word packed. Chapters, and the actual different books, hard to find.
LOVE it!! 582 pages with 8 books in it. Perfect for a bookworm! ... Read more

Product Description
With its imperfect but charming heroine and its witty and subtle exploration of relationships, Emma is often seen as Jane Austen's most flawless work. Now, with the BBC's superior adaptation, this captivating story is sure to win the hearts of countless new fans.

Beautiful, smart, rich-and single-Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr. Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protegée, Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

It's such a happiness when good people get together
"Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition" is a suitable heroine for Jane Austen's lightest, frothiest novel. While "Emma" is not nearly as dramatic as Austen's other works, it is an enchanting little comedy of manners in which a young woman with the best intentions meddles in others' love lives... with only the faintest idea of how people (including herself) actually feel.

After matchmaking her governess Miss Taylor, Emma Woodhouse considers herself a natural at bringing people together. She soon becomes best buddies with Harriet, a sweet (if not very bright) young woman who is the "natural daughter of somebody." Emma becomes determined to pair Harriet with someone deserving of her (even derailing a gentleman-farmer's proposal), such as the smarmy, charming Mr. Elton. When Emma's latest attempt falls apart, she finds that getting someone OUT of love is a lot harder than getting them INTO it.

At around the same time, two people that Emma has heard about her entire life have arrived -- the charming Frank Churchill, and the reserved, remote Miss Jane Fairfax (along with rumors of a married man's interest in her). Emma begins a flirtatious friendship with Frank, but for some reason is unable to get close to Miss Fairfax. As she navigates the secrets and rumors of other people's romantic lives, she begins to realize who she has been in love with all along.

Out of all Jane Austen's books, "Emma" is the frothiest and lightest -- there aren't any major scandals, lives ruined, reputations destroyed, financial crises or sinister schemes. There's just a little intertwined circle of people living in a country village, and how one young woman tries to rearrange them in the manner that she genuinely thinks is best. Of course, in true comedy style everything goes completely wrong.

And despite the formal stuffiness of the time, Austen wrote the book in a languidly sunny style, threading it with a complex web of cleverly orchestrated rumors and romantic tangles. There's some moments of seriousness (such as Emma's rudeness to kind, silly Miss Bates), but it's also laced with some entertaining dialogue ("Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way") and barbed humor (the ridiculous and obnoxious Mrs. Elton).

Modern readers tend to be squicked by the idea of Emma falling for a guy who's known her literally all her life, but Austen makes the subtle relationship between Knightley and Emma one of affectionate bickering and beautiful romantic moments ("If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am. You hear nothing but truth from me").

Emma is a character who is likable despite her flaws -- she's young, bright, well-meaning and assured of her own knowledge of the human heart, but also naive and sometimes snobbish. She flits around like a clumsy butterfly, but is endearing even when she screws up. Mr. Knightley is her ideal counterpoint, being enjoyably blunt and sharp-witted at all times. And there's a fairly colorful supporting cast -- Emma's neurotic but sweet dad, her kindly ex-governess, the charming Frank, the fluttery Miss Bates, and even the smarmy Mr. Elton and his bulldozing wife.

"Emma" is the most lightweight and openly comedic of all Jane Austen's novels, with a likable (if clueless) heroine and a multilayered plot full of half-hidden feelings. A lesser delight. ... Read more

Product Description
With its imperfect but charming heroine and its witty and subtle exploration of relationships, Emma is often seen as Jane Austen's most flawless work. Now, with the BBC's superior adaptation, this captivating story is sure to win the hearts of countless new fans.

Beautiful, smart, rich-and single-Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr. Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protegée, Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

It's such a happiness when good people get together
"Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition" is a suitable heroine for Jane Austen's lightest, frothiest novel. While "Emma" is not nearly as dramatic as Austen's other works, it is an enchanting little comedy of manners in which a young woman with the best intentions meddles in others' love lives... with only the faintest idea of how people (including herself) actually feel.

After matchmaking her governess Miss Taylor, Emma Woodhouse considers herself a natural at bringing people together. She soon becomes best buddies with Harriet, a sweet (if not very bright) young woman who is the "natural daughter of somebody." Emma becomes determined to pair Harriet with someone deserving of her (even derailing a gentleman-farmer's proposal), such as the smarmy, charming Mr. Elton. When Emma's latest attempt falls apart, she finds that getting someone OUT of love is a lot harder than getting them INTO it.

At around the same time, two people that Emma has heard about her entire life have arrived -- the charming Frank Churchill, and the reserved, remote Miss Jane Fairfax (along with rumors of a married man's interest in her). Emma begins a flirtatious friendship with Frank, but for some reason is unable to get close to Miss Fairfax. As she navigates the secrets and rumors of other people's romantic lives, she begins to realize who she has been in love with all along.

Out of all Jane Austen's books, "Emma" is the frothiest and lightest -- there aren't any major scandals, lives ruined, reputations destroyed, financial crises or sinister schemes. There's just a little intertwined circle of people living in a country village, and how one young woman tries to rearrange them in the manner that she genuinely thinks is best. Of course, in true comedy style everything goes completely wrong.

And despite the formal stuffiness of the time, Austen wrote the book in a languidly sunny style, threading it with a complex web of cleverly orchestrated rumors and romantic tangles. There's some moments of seriousness (such as Emma's rudeness to kind, silly Miss Bates), but it's also laced with some entertaining dialogue ("Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way") and barbed humor (the ridiculous and obnoxious Mrs. Elton).

Modern readers tend to be squicked by the idea of Emma falling for a guy who's known her literally all her life, but Austen makes the subtle relationship between Knightley and Emma one of affectionate bickering and beautiful romantic moments ("If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am. You hear nothing but truth from me").

Emma is a character who is likable despite her flaws -- she's young, bright, well-meaning and assured of her own knowledge of the human heart, but also naive and sometimes snobbish. She flits around like a clumsy butterfly, but is endearing even when she screws up. Mr. Knightley is her ideal counterpoint, being enjoyably blunt and sharp-witted at all times. And there's a fairly colorful supporting cast -- Emma's neurotic but sweet dad, her kindly ex-governess, the charming Frank, the fluttery Miss Bates, and even the smarmy Mr. Elton and his bulldozing wife.

"Emma" is the most lightweight and openly comedic of all Jane Austen's novels, with a likable (if clueless) heroine and a multilayered plot full of half-hidden feelings. A lesser delight. ... Read more

Product Description
The broader Regency period 1795-1820 stands alone as an incredible moment in fashion history unlike anything that went before or after. It was the most naked period since Ancient Greece and before the 1960s, and for the first time England became a fashion influence, especially for menswear, and became the toast of Paris. With the ancient regime deposed, court dress became secondary and the season by season flux of fashion as we know it came into being, aided and abetted by the proliferation of new ladies' magazines.

Such an age of revolution and innovation inspired a flood of fashions taking influence from everything including the newly discovered treasures of the ancient world, to radical new ideas like democracy. It was an era of contradiction immortalized by Jane Austen, who adeptly used the newfound diversity of fashion to enliven her characters, Wickham's military splendor, Mr. Darcy's understated elegance, and Miss Tilney's romantic fixation with white muslin. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A little glistening jewel of information on British fashion during the Georgian and Regency periods
"Revolution had changed the world and fashion had dressed it accordingly." Sarah Jane Downing

It is hard for me not to think of a Jane Austen movie adaptation and not remember how fashion influenced my enjoyment of the film. Some of my most vivid memories are of Elizabeth Bennet walking the verdant countryside in her russet colored spencer jacket in Pride and Prejudice 1995, Marianne Dashwood spraining her ankle and being carried to safety by Willoughby in her rain drenched white muslin frock in Sense & Sensibility 1995, or Mary Crawford ready to pounce like a black widow spider in her cobwebby evening dress in Mansfield Park 1999. Much of how we perceive Regency fashion today is from film costume designer's interpretations of the fashions during Jane Austen's time. I admit to admiring the fine cut of a gentleman's tailored redingote or the elegant flow of a ladies formal evening dress as much as the next Janeite, but am totally clueless about why and how fashion changed so drastically since the heavy brocades, embroidered silks and powdered wigs of pre-revolutionary France.

As an introduction to Georgian and Regency fashion, this slim 63 page volume answered many questions and gave me a better understanding of the evolution of fashion, its importance in society and how English style influenced the world. The chapters are neatly broken down into seven significant categories: The Age of Elegance, The Rise of English Fashion, A Fine Romance, Beau Brummell and the Great Renunciation, Rousseau and Fashion Au Natural, Reticule and Ridicule, and After the age of Elegance. Throughout are beautiful (but small) images from original sources such as the popular women's fashionmagazines Ackermann's Repository and La Belle Assemblée, portraits by the leading painters of the day Sir Henry Raeburn, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres and Sir Thomas Lawrence, and photographs of vintage clothing from the era. Interspersed throughout the text are references to Jane Austen, her family and characters in her novels to tie into a description of clothing or styles. A brief index at the back allows for quick reference by topic, person or place.

As part of the popular Shire Library series, FASHION IN THE TIME OF JANE AUSTEN is a little glistening jewel of information on British fashion during the Georgian and Regency periods. For the novice historian it will inform and whet your appetite. For the veteran it will be a great refresher. For each, you will appreciate Downing's straight forward presentation of material and her handling of the sense of the ridiculous that fashion can take by including Gillray caricatures and comical anecdotes. From the perspective of a Jane Austen enthusiast, Downing does state some eyebrow raising facts that to my knowledge have yet to be proven. As much as the Austen descendants would like the "Rice portrait" to be of Jane Austen, even my rudimentary knowledge of Regency fashion styles and math calculate the portrait to be much later than the 1792-93 range evaluated by experts, and the James Stanier Clarke portrait of a lady with a fur muff could be Jane Austen, but we shall never know for sure. (Best to say possibly Jane Austen to be safe and raise your credibility.) A small quibble in an overall splendid little treasure trove sure to please the Austenista in all of us.

Laurel Ann, Austenprose

size is not everything!
I bought the book for specific purposes. I needed material that could be related to Jane Austen's living time. My only concern was about the size of the book - so tiny, I thought! But it was a great surprise, in the best way! The book not only contains a LOT of information, but also a lot of really good pictures that makes possible not only understand the behave of that time but visualize it. So, I truly recommend it!

Useful Book for Janeites
Ever since I learned that this book would be coming out in the spring, I couldn't wait for its arrival. The title alone told me that it was tailor made to my interests. Slim and more a monograph than a book, Fashion in the Time of Jane Austen's 62 pages are jam-packed with information and images. Some of the material that author Sarah Jane Downing wrote about was familiar, but much of it was new. While I finished the book in two sittings, I know I will be using it frequently for future reference.

Until the Napoleonic Wars, France had influenced fashions in Britain and Europe. It was the custom of messengers known as les grandes couriers de la mode to deliver the latest French fashions to the great courts of Europe in person. Wearing designer creations, their costumes were analyzed from head to toe and then tried on and taken apart. Patterns were made from the resulting pieces. People who visited cities and returned home were plied with questions about the latest trends in fashions by those who stayed behind. Soon, fashion journals appeared showing images of fashions, home furnishings, and architectural plans, and new styles trickled down to even those who lived in the farthest reaches of England.

The French Revolution marked a radical shift from the elegant, wide-skirted brocade gowns so prevalent for most of the 18th century to the streamlined, body-hugging, empire-waisted silhouettes of the Directoire Period that were inspired by classical antiquity. Wide hooped skirts were still worn for appearances at court, but gowns became simpler, narrower, and more vertical. In fact, the change in dress silhouettes was so dramatic that such a radical shift in style would not occur again until the flapper era and the jazz age over a century later.

Jane Austen's books were written during the narrow time frame when empire dresses with their high waists, short sleeves and décolletté necklines reigned supreme in the fashion world. When long sleeves were introduced in evening dress, she wrote Cassandra:

"I wear my gauze gown today long sleeves & all; I shall see how they succeed, but as yet I have no reason to suppose long sleeves are allowable. Mrs. Tilson has long sleeves too, & she assured me that they are worn in the evening by many. I was glad to hear this. - Jane Austen, 1814"

Male attire also went through a dramatic change. Ruffles and ornate brocaded fabrics gave way to intricately folded neckcloths, simple shirts, stark jackets and leg-hugging breeches. The emphasis was on the neckcloths, but not the shirts, which were sewn by women, not tailors. Jane was known to be an excellent seamstress, and she wrote about completing a batch of shirts for her brother Charles: "[I] am to send his shirts by half dozens as they are finished; one set will go next week," and "In Mansfield Park Fanny price works diligently to ensure that her brother's linen is ready when he goes to sea." - p 13.

There are so many other interesting tidbits of information. Fashion in the Time of Jane Austen discusses accessories, underwear, half dress, full dress, court dress and more. I wish a timeline had been included of when hems were raised and when they became decorative; precisely how the Napoleonic Wars affected fashion in both England and France and who influenced who and when; and when waists when up, then down, then up and down again. Another quibble I had was with the book's cover, which John Pettie painted in 1887. With all the lush images and paintings available of regency misses and their chaperones and suitors, why choose a Victorian painting?

Definitely mixed
One does not expect comprehensive detail in one of the Shire albums, but one does expect what is there to be accurate. This book has absolutely wonderful illustrations (some, unfortunately, uncredited), but the text is mixed.Seems to have been written in a hurry, and without adequate verification.For example, Ms. Downing writes of men's fashion, "it was the 'battle between broadcloth and silk' as Balzac had termed it in 1798."Since Balzac was born in 1799, he clearly was looking back when he wrote this, rather than writing it in 1798!And, however much the Austen family wishes that the Rice portrait (p. 11) is Jane herself, that is extremely unlikely. A teen-aged Jane, even a fashion forward one, would not have dressed like that in 1792-93. The portrait is almost certainly someone of the next generation.

The price of the volume is low, so it worth buying for the pictures alone, but please do further research before accepting what is in the text. ... Read more

Product Description
Jane Austen's Sewing Box opens a window into the lives of Regency women during a beautiful period in arts, crafts and design. Jennifer Forest examines Jane Austen's novels and letters to reveal a world where women are gripped by crazes for painting on glass and netting purses, economise by trimming an old bonnet, or eagerly turn to their sewing to avoid an uncomfortable conversation. Based on Jane Austen's novels and with illustrated step-by-step instructions for eighteen craft projects, this beautifully presented book will delight Jane Austen fans, lovers of history and literature and craft enthusiasts alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Simply wonderfully Jane
I loved this book because I am a Jane fan.I think this book is another book that tries to explain some of the world of Jane Austen. I have enjoyed this book as have some others as I have it on my coffee table.

Not what I expected.
The projects included in this book were not what I expected. They are, for the most part, too complicated to make for beginner crafters.

Terrific Book
This book not only has wonderful projects and great historical notes, it is also beautifully illustrated.If you are even a little interested in Jane Austen and/or the regency period, this is a must have for all needlework enthusiasts.

`Craft Projects and stories from Jane Austen's novels'
So, Gentle Reader, you are interested in the crafts practised in Miss Austen's novels?Perhaps you wondered about all of that stitching that genteel women pursued while discussing life and marriage?How did they do it and what materials were used?

In this beautifully illustrated book, Ms Forest provides a social history of the late 18th century as viewed by Miss Austen and her characters.She includes snippets of the novels relevant to the craft projects described and illustrated.
Which crafts? Mainly fancywork: the type of decorative work undertaken by ladies while visiting.There are eighteen projects in this book: each illustrated and with clear directions so that you, Gentle reader, can also make pieces familiar to Miss Austen and her characters.You can make a muslin cap; a reticule; a workbag and linen pillowcases.You could even make a man's cravat, and diagrams show the many different ways in which a cravat can be tied.

Perhaps you chose instead not to make any of these projects but instead to enjoy a link with Regency women during what was a beautiful period in arts, craft and design.Many of the projects in this book (particularly the workbag and the huswife) would be useful to women who enjoy similar handcrafts today.These two projects in particular are ones I intend to undertake.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Jane Austen novel lovers will love this book
This book focuses on sewing and craft projects, which Jane Austen's characters were busy working on within the storylines of her novels.The Regency period crafts and needlework that are described in this book include:A fabric letter case, a linen pillowcase, a Cravet (a man's necktie-scarf), an embroidered workbag, paper flowers, a small coin purse, a knitted miser's purse, a huswife (fabric case for thread, scissors, and needles), a carpet-work pillow, a muff and tippet (neck wrap), a pin cushion, a thread case, a transparency (small painted glass decoration), a bonnet, a reticule (a drawstring purse), a knitted rug, and a muslin cap.

Instructions for each project include a photo of the finished item, drawn illustrations, and a supply list.Note: the fabric measurements in the instructions are all in centimeters since this book was published in the United Kingdom. Each project also suggests whether it is for beginners, intermediate crafters, or for the advanced.

The book is like a picture book; almost every page has some sort of illustration.It includes period paintings and drawings that help illuminate how women lived and dressed during Jane Austen's day, and has photographs of Regency period fabrics and furnishings.Even if you do not plan to recreate one of these period crafts, it is a colorful book that gives a visual presentation of the home decor, crafts, and dress styles during the period in which Jane Austen's novels take place.

I purchased my book from Amazon UK.
... Read more

Product Description
In her latest spellbinding escapade, Jane Austen arrives in London to watch over the printing of her first novel, and finds herself embroiled in a crime that could end more than her career. For it is up to Jane to tease a murderer out of the ton, lest she—and her country—suffer a dastardly demise.…

On the heels of completing Sense and Sensibility, Jane heads to Sloane Street for a monthlong visit with her brother Henry and his wife, Eliza. Hobnobbing with the Fashionable Great at the height of the Season, Jane is well aware of their secrets and peccadilloes. But even she is surprised when the intimate correspondence between a Russian princess and a prominent Tory minister is published in the papers for all to see. More shocking, the disgraced beauty is soon found with her throat slit on Lord Castlereagh’s very doorstep.

Everyone who’s anyone in high society is certain the spurned princess committed the violence upon herself. But Jane is unconvinced. Nor does she believe the minister guilty of so grisly and public a crime. Jane, however, is willing to let someone else investigate—until a quirk of fate thrusts her and Eliza into the heart of the case…as prime suspects!

Striking a bargain with the authorities, Jane secures seven days to save herself and Eliza from hanging. But as her quest to unmask a killer takes her from the halls of government to the drawing rooms of London’s most celebrated courtesan, only one thing is sure: her failure will not only cut short her life. It could lead to England’s downfall. A compulsively readable, uncommonly elegant novel of historical suspense, Jane and the Barque of Frailty once again proves Jane Austen a sleuth to be reckoned with.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

murder
Another book in the series of Jane Austin solving crime. Historically well done. I am waiting for more!

Jane Austen: Detective!
I love this series.It's well written and imaginative.Stephanie Barron does a wonderful job bringing to life the history of this time period and melding it with her fictional creations.I look forward to each new publication.

A decent read
This was the first of Stephanie Barron's books I've read.It was a decent period mystery.I found her to be better at imitating the writing of this time period than some other writers who I've seen attempt it.The footnotes provided some interesting historical facts.I found the storyline to be reasonably entertaining, if not all that hard to figure out.I found it a little bit implausible that Jane and her sister-in-law are quite so calm in the face of a murder accusation.I had trouble keeping straight some of the secondary characters, but I must blame this partially on my not paying as close attention as I probably should have early on in the book.

I read the Kindle version (on my K1).It had some minor formatting problems.There were a handful of places were two words were strung together.There were quite a few more place where there were paragraph breaks that shouldn't have been there (usually between two proper nouns).It was mainly problems of that nature.I wouldn't say to stay away from the Kindle version.It wasn't horrible, but the occasional errors were distracting.

Not on par with other titles in the series
I usually enjoy Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen mysteries but am finding that, as the series progresses, it seems to be losing something.Though Barron still has a gift for the period that makes the book sound like it could be told by Jane, I feel that this latest attempt is delving a bit into the realm of the Gothic, which I don't think is very much in keeping with Austen's personality.

The mystery itself isn't particularly well constructed.Jane and her sister-in-law Eliza are implicated in the death of a Russian princess and must work to clear their names.I didn't much buy this aspect of the book because the "motive" that was assigned to the two women was very flimsy.This, however, wasn't the part that bothered me the most.What did bother me the most were the things that Jane did in order to clear her name.To be specific about them would be to reveal something of the plot so I'll simply say that I didn't feel that the actions of the book Jane were in keeping with the character of the real Jane.

I also found Jane's attitude toward her manuscript in progress to be rather less than believable.Austen referred to her books as her children and while being accused of murder is certainly a reason to be distracted, I couldn't conceive that it would make Austen feel that absent about her manuscript.I also found it a shame that Barron didn't take more of an opportunity here to explore just how Jane must have felt on the eve of her first publication, of the hopes and fears she must have had.

Without Lord Harold...the story suffers
Stephanie Barron's "Jane and the Barque of Frailty" suffers without the tension provided by Lord Harold.Though this is now the second book since he was removed from the series, the last one, "Jane and His Lordship's Legacy", was much deeper, fuller fleshed and engrossing.The loss of his character is quite obvious in the London ton setting and the mystery seems improbable.Still I enjoy the cadence of Stephanie Barron's writing and her pictures of Regency England are descriptive.I look forward to a new "episode". ... Read more

Product Description
Pride and Prejudice
The story follows the main character Elizabeth Bennet as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, moral rightness, education and marriage in her aristocratic society of early 19th century England. Elizabeth is the second eldest of five daughters of a country gentleman landed in the fictional town of Meryton in Hertfordshire, not far from London.

Though the story's setting is uniquely turn of the 19th century, it retains a fascination for modern readers, continuing near the top of lists of 'most loved books' and still receives considerable attention from literary critics. This modern interest has resulted in a number of dramatic adaptations and an abundance of novels and stories imitating Austen's memorable characters or themes.

Emma
Emma Woodhouse, aged 20 at the start of the novel, is a young, beautiful, witty, and privileged woman in Regency England. She lives on the fictional estate of Hartfield in Surrey in the village of Highbury with her elderly widowed father, a hypochondriac who is excessively concerned for the health and safety of his loved ones. Emma's friend and only critic is the gentlemanly George Knightley, her neighbor from the adjacent estate of Donwell, and the brother of her elder sister Isabella's husband. As the novel opens, Emma has just attended the wedding of Miss Taylor, her best friend and former governess. Having introduced Miss Taylor to her future husband, Mr. Weston, Emma takes credit for their marriage, and decides that she rather likes matchmaking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

These Recordings are Abridged
These recordings are abridged. I have a reading of Emma on 11 CDs. This collection does it in 2. This is a drawback, and it is not evident from the description. The box only mentions it on the back at the lower left although it would be evident from the CD count, I suppose.On the plus side the set includes an unabridged reading of The Watsons, and a CD of readings of Jane Austen's letters, both of which I have not seen elsewhere available in audio.I was looking for Sense and Sensibility on CD. It is her, abridged, in a 2 CD set, also. I'm torn between opening the box, i.e. accepting the item, for the Watsons and Letters, and to hold my S&S desires until I can find a full version; and sending it back. Watch for a further review if I open the box.

Ok, I did open it and listened to the Watsons (unabridged), Sense & Sensibility (abridged) and Pride and Prejudice (abridged). Here's the deal: You don't read Jane Austen for the plot. You read it because of Jane Austen's writing. You listen to it for the same reason. This means there is nothing at all to recommend an abridged version.Here's the problem in a nutshell. At one point in Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet regrets all of the saucy speeches she ever made to Mr. Darcy. We regret them too, but for a different reason. She wishes Mr. Darcy had never heard them. Had he been listening to the abridged version, he never would have heard them because they were all cut out.Parts of the abridgement make no sense at all. When Ms. Bingley says Elizabeth is one of those women who curry favor with men by running down members of her own sex in the abridged version, this makes no sense whatever because we have not heard the conversation that led it to it in the novel.

I do not recommend buying this set at all. Had I not opened it, I would return it. There is no point in an abridged Jane Austen. That said, I note this is the only audio version of Sense & Sensibility I can find, except the Project Guttenberg rendition which seems to have each chapter read by a diffent volunteer - a reading that is not up to the performance standard of the professional sets.It is also the only audio version of the Watsons, and the excerpts from what seem to be the early practice sessions of a young Jane for an epistolary novel.These are presented as leters by Jane Austen, but I don't believe that is accurate in the sense ofletters being written to someone else. These are letters which practice writing on a brief topic, and they have interesting echoes in her published novels. They are not the equal of any of the writing in the novels, however.

I should probably give this set No Stars, but I don't think that's an option. So, 1 star for the otherwise unavailable material.

Jane Austen at her best
Who can fault a production of Jane Austen's seven best books for almost free?Nice layout, easy to read.A "go to list of books" should be on the menu of all book collections such as this.In this book you have to "go to the beginning" and then click three pages forward to get to the list.As in all Kindle books I've read, the "Location" numbers at the bottom of the page have no meaning to the user. It would be nice to have these numbers bear some relationship with relative location in the book, especially in a collection of books stored as a single "book."

Kindle-Specific Review - AGB
This is a Kindle-specific review by AGB.

Value for money: excellent bargain set of the six great Austen novels, plus the juvenile "Lady Susan".There are some Kindle-specific faults that readers will want to beware (though fewer than in other competing Complete Sets).

Presentation and Format: The pages display cleanly, with the text set fully justified (as Kindle definitely prefers).Two quibbles. First, the Chapter Lists referred to below are set to the left margin and can be difficult to select with the Kindle trackwheel and silver bar way over to the right (temporarily increasing the font size to pick a chapter is a work-round).Second, emphasis within the text that would usually be italicized has been poorly done:"Mr. Bennet, how _can_ you abuse your own children.....".Ugh!

Cover etc.: there's a simple cover for the whole set, but no covers for the individual novels.

Opening Linked Table of Contents: there is a proper opening linked ToC and - most usefully - each novel commences with a list of links to the individual chapters.
(Note: the "Linked ToC" enables you skip to predetermined points in the file - individual books, chapter openings etc.Without a good one, a long or very technical work can be tiresome to navigate on the Kindle.)

Metadata
("Metadata" refers to some hidden coding that publishers insert into the text file to enable Kindle to list and display correctly the essentials of the book - Author, Title etc. Kindle owners are able to correct indexing errors - which are very, very common - via a 3rd party software program called "Mobi2Mobi", but is both annoying and time-consuming to have to do so. )

Author: this is set incorrectly, and will Author Index the book under "J" for Jane not "A" for Austen.
(General Note: although Kindle displays author names in the form "Bram Stoker", in order for him to be positioned in the Kindle Author List under "S" for Stoker rather than "B" for Bram, the Metadata must be set by the publisher in the form "Stoker, Bram".)

Title: displays and indexes properly.
(General Note: although Kindle knows to ignore an opening "The" in a title, it simply takes the first proper word in the metadata title to index the book.Publishers often include words - e.g. "World's Classics:... " - before the proper title of the book that lead Kindle to place it misleadingly in your displayed Title List.)

Search: works properly.
Lookup: works properly.
(General Note: for reasons I don't yet quite understand, a number of Kindle format books - usually at the less expensive end of the range - don't allow Search or Lookup to work properly.)

Jane Austen Collection - Abridged
I started listening to this audiobook series "Sense & Sensibility" and was disappointed to find out that it is abridged.This should really be in the product notes so people will know exactly what they are spending their money on. ... Read more

Product Description
New chronology and further reading; Tony Tanner's original introduction reinstated

Edited with an introduction by Kathryn Sutherland. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Could be better.
The only real complaint I have is about the quality of the book. The price was not bad, the arrival time was magnificent. Unfortunately, the quality of the used book was not accurately described. This book has major cosmetic damage - including: binding being taped on, massive bends and scars on the cover, pages written all over, stains, etc. It is in Fair condition, if that. If I had known that this was the shape the book was in, I would have just bought a brand new copy.

I can't finish this story.
This is the second time I have read this book, and I just can't finish it.I purchased "Murder at Mansfield Park" and had to remember the characters.Unfortunately, it's just too boring.I'd like to take Fanny and knock some sense into her.Tell her to be more human, more tolerant, more likeable.However, that's how things were back in Jane Austen's time.Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, were not as hard to get through.I will not waste my time on Murder at Mansfield Park.

My least favorite Austen novel
Mansfield Park is probably my least favorite of Austen's works. I disliked or felt indifferent about most of the characters in the book for most of the story, and while it does have some themes which could be considered important for the times, I felt that those same themes were treated better in some of Austen's other novels.

Everybody likes to go their own way
Even the best authors in the world sometimes put out something that... well, isn't up to their usual standards. For Jane Austen, that book was "Mansfield Park" -- her prose is typically excellent, and she weaves a memorable story about a poor young lady in the middle of a wealthy, dysfunctional family. But put bluntly, Fanny Price lacks the depth and complexity of Austen's other heroines.

As a young girl, Fanny Price was sent from her poor family to live with her wealth relatives, the Bertrams, and was raised along with her four cousins Tom, Edmund, Maria and Julia.

Despite being regarded only little better than a servant (especially by the fawning, cheap Mrs. Norris), Fanny is pretty happy -- especially since Edmund is kind and supportive of her at all times. But then the charming, fashionable Crawford sibilings arrive in the neighborhood, sparking off some love triangles (particularly between Maria and Henry Crawford, even though she's already engaged.

And the whole thing becomes even more confused when Henry becomes intrigued by Fanny's refusal to be charmed by him as the others are. But when she rejects his proposal, she ends up banished from her beloved Mansfield Park... right before a devastating scandal and a perilous illness strikes the Bertram family. Does Fanny still have a chance at love and the family she's always been with?

The biggest problem with "Mansfield Park" is Fanny Price -- even Austen's own mother didn't like her. She's a very flat, virtuously dull heroine for this story; unlike Austen's other heroines she doesn't have much personality growth or a personal flaw to overcome. And despite being the protagonist, Fanny seems more like a spectator on the outskirts of the plot until the second half (when she has a small but pivotal part to play in the story).

Fortunately she's the only real flaw in this book. Austen's stately, vivid prose is full of deliciously witty moments (Aunt Norris "consoled herself for the loss of her husband by considering that she could do very well without him"), some tastefully-handled scandal, and a delicate house-of-romantic-cards that comes crashing down to ruin people's lives (and improve others). And she inserts some pointed commentary on people who care more about society's opinions than on morality.

And the other characters in the book are pretty fascinating as well -- especially since Edmund, despite being a virtuous clergyman-in-training, is an intelligent and strong-willed man. The Bertrams are a rather dysfunctional family with a stern patriarch, a fluttery ethereal mother, a playboy heir and a couple of spoiled girls -- Maria in particular develops a crush on Henry, but doesn't bother to break off her engagement until it's too late. And the Crawfords are all flash and sparkle: a pair of charming, shallow people who are essentially hollow.

"Mansfield Park" suffers from a rather insipid heroine, but the rest of the book is vintage Austen -- lies, romance, scandal and a dance of manners and society.

Not a bad book - just not phenomenal as I had expected
I wanted to love this book - of course I wanted to - I wanted it to have the magic of Austen's other work. Sadly, I was disappointed. It is absolutely not a bad book - just not a phenomenal one as I had expected. The plot and the characters come across as far too didactic and judgmental and perhaps even (gulp) a tad anti-feminist. I'm trying to rethink the book so that I can reach any other conclusion - I'm trying to remember it was a product of its times - yet, I haven't been able to come around yet.

Would I recommend this book for you? Are you hoping for another Pride & Prejudice or Sense & Sensibility? Well, then no. Are you looking to enjoy Austen's lavish prose, intricately developed characters, and an accurate depiction of what women realistically could strive for in the early 19th century? Then absolutely, you'll love this book. ... Read more

Product Description

“Wonderful . . . not only scholarly but indecently entertaining . . . her prose rings with good sense, affection, and humour.”—Daily Mail

Mention Jane Austen and you’ll likely incite a slew of fervent opinions from anyone within earshot. Regarded as a brilliant social satirist by scholars, Austen also enjoys the sort of popular affection usually reserved for girl-next-door movie stars, leading to the paradox of an academically revered author who has served as the inspiration for chick lit (The Jane Austen Book Club) and modern blockbusters (Becoming Jane). Almost two hundred years after her death, Austen remains a hot topic, and the current flare in the cultural zeitgeist echoes the continuous revival of her works, from the time of original publication through the twentieth century. In Jane’s Fame, Claire Harman gives us the complete biography—of both the author and her lasting cultural influence—making this essential reading for anyone interested in Austen’s life, works, and remarkably potent fame.

Customer Reviews (16)

Essential Reading for Austen Fans
It's hard to believe there was a time when Austen wasn't revered, idolized, copied, mashed up and didn't suffuse our entire popular culture and exist as a worldwide phenomenon.But Jane's Fame makes it clear that Austen's reputation grew remarkably over the years, and for that alone, it's worth reading.Ignorance about Austen is suprisingly present even in writers you'd think would know better, like Jodi Picoult, who claims kinship with Austen as a "popular novelist."That claim's deflty examined on The Huffington Post:

[...]

Essential reading for Austen fans
We live in a world so suffused by Austen that it's hard to imagine there was a time when she wasn't as well known as she is today, let alone celebrated, idolized, revered, copied, mashed up, and turned into a commodity.Filled with the fascinating twists and turns of Austen's changing critical reputation, this book should be read by Austen fans as well as people who claim, to know about her, like Jodi Picoult: [...]

Loved It!
This is book for anyone who is die hard Austen fan (like myself). Yes, it is a biograpy and it starts with the typical beggining of a biography (She was born on xyz in town abc, her parents were...)etc.

The book traces Jane Austen as young woman in Hampshire England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries who wishes to become an author to after 200 years after her death, becoming the second most known English writer, other than Shakespeare.

I loved it, it just reconfirmed everything I have ever believed as a fan.

Mostly Disappointed
I was all ready to love this book, and there are parts that I did mark so as not to lose. The first is on pages 69-70, a comment exploring how Austen "gave away more about how women think and behave than any previous writer." In passing, there are also some good brief remarks (for example, that Benjamin Disraeli, who said that if he needed to read a good novel he would write one, had nonetheless read Pride and Prejudice 17 times). But on the whole the author seemed to go into the greatest detail on matters that to me seemed tangential and to skim the surface on things I wanted to hear more about. This may be due to Austen having both a popular and a literary following and the resulting difficulty of knowing how to satisfy both. I think the book leans toward the interests of the first. Harman tells us that the earliest biographical writings about Austen by her family members were largely embroidered and not that reliable--and then for some reason we get a multi-page guided tour of each point these tainted sources supply. On the other hand, there is only a one-sentence mention (on page 182) of the first time that Austen was viewed as having pioneered the great tradition of English novel writing (as F.R. Leavis assessed it). If you are interested in what this or that scholar or writer added to our understanding of her books, you're mostly out of luck. Tony Tanner, whose introduction to the old Penguin edition of Pride and Prejudice was so highly esteemed that it was reprinted in the back of the new edition even though a newly commissioned introduction by another writer appeared at the front, is mentioned only once in a list of Austen scholars who have had insightful things to say about Jane. Well, great, but just what were some of their insights? This probably sounds harsher than I mean it to. Harmon seems to be addressing an audience of mostly general readers and not going very fully into the contributions of a century or more of literary study.

One other example: Emma Thompson said in writing the screenplay to Sense and Sensibility that the sentences in the novel itself were sometimes hard to adapt to spoken screen dialogue so she resorted at times in her script to excerpts from some of Jane Austen's letters to make comparable points--that the letters employed an idiom more suited for the screen. There's no mention of that in the book. Harmon discusses the Ang Lee/Thompson movie in about a page--mostly to say that casting Hugh Grant was an attempt to cash in on the success of Four Weddings and an Funeral, and Harmon also mentions the publication of Jane Austen's correspondence in a longer section elsewhere. Of course you can't cover everything in a 200-page or so book, but getting those two topics together more deeply would have addressed a real need here--that at times the book is maybe a bit rushed and skimming the surface of things.

Thorough, very thorough
I enjoyed this book.It was informative and occasionally entertaining.Clearly, a lot of research went into it (there are about 30 pages of notes and sources), but parts of it felt overly drawn-out, as though the author wanted to mention every source she used, even when they said essentially the same thing.All this made it a bit repetitive at times as well.The first part is a biography that seems to say over and over how little is actually know about Jane Austen.But it is well-written so most of this is forgivable.The first and last chapters were my favorites (there are only seven in the whole book).The first chronicled the dates that Austen's books were written and published, not at all the same order.And the last focused on recent attempts to capitalize on her popularity with movie adaptations and fan fiction.Unfortunately, despite the lengthy bibliography Claire Harman loses some of her credibility near the end when she cites Pemberley: Or Pride and Prejudice Continued as one of the "most intelligent" sequels.

One word of caution, the author assumes that anyone reading this book is fully acquinted with the plots of Austen's novels.If you haven't read all of the them and are concerned about spoilers, you may want to finish Austen's works before you read this. ... Read more

Product Description
The eagerly anticipated sequel to Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict

Laurie Viera Rigler's debut novel, Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, was a hit with fans and critics, and a BookSense and Los Angeles Times bestseller. Its open-to-interpretation ending left readers begging for more-and Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict delivers. While Confessions took twenty-first-century free spirit Courtney Stone into the social confines of Jane Austen's era, Rude Awakenings tells the parallel story of Jane Mansfield, a gentleman's daughter from Regency England who inexplicably awakens in Courtney's overly wired and morally confused L.A. life.

For Jane, the modern world is not wholly disagreeable. Her apartment may be smaller than a dressing closet, but it is fitted up with lights that burn without candles, machines that wash bodies and clothes, and a glossy rectangle in which tiny people perform scenes from her favorite book, Pride and Prejudice. Granted, if she wants to travel she may have to drive a formidable metal carriage, but she may do so without a chaperone. And oh, what places she goes! Public assemblies that pulsate with pounding music. Unbound hair and unrestricted clothing. The freedom to say what she wants when she wants-even to men without a proper introduction.

Jane relishes the privacy, independence, even the power to earn her own money. But how is she to fathom her employer's incomprehensible dictates about "syncing a BlackBerry" and "rolling a call"? How can she navigate a world in which entire publications are devoted to brides but flirting and kissing and even the sexual act itself raise no matrimonial expectations? Even more bewildering are the memories that are not her own. And the friend named Wes, who is as attractive and confusing to Jane as the man who broke her heart back home. It's enough to make her wonder if she would be better off in her own time, where at least the rules are clear-that is, if returning is even an option. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

cute
Apparently there's a, well, not really a prequel, but, I guess what I'm trying to say is that this book is a continuation of another-- Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict. Being the rebel that I am, I read the second one first. Actually, my parents gave me the second one for my birthday, and I had no idea...

Wow, sorry for the babbling! I guess my point is that I just finished reading this one and it was cute. I didn't have to have read the first one first, I could keep up with the events in the book without the prequel. The first one is about a 21st century independent woman, Courtney Stone, going back in time to the Regency Era, and this one that I read concerns the woman she kicks out of her body, Jane Mansfield, who leaves 1813 and enters the leftover 2009 body.

There's the usual amazement at the "carriages without horses" and the ignorance about how to use a phone, but it's told in Jane Austen language, so the reader really feels as though she's inside Jane Mansfield's head (well, actually Courtney Stone's head, since Jane is inhabiting Courtney's body...wow that's confusing...). The characters that surround Jane are amusing; the punkish type Paula with pink and blue striped hair and Frank, the two-timing flirt who claims to want "Courtney" back. I liked Deepa, too, but sometimes I felt their relationship went beyond friendship and I almost felt as though Jane would have to deal with a lesbian crush as well...which would have definitely put a twist on the story!

While this book will never be in the same caliber as actual Jane Austen novels, it was entertaining enough to keep me on the couch reading. I enjoyed the storyline and though it sounds like it could be confusing, it's not. The style is flowing and concise and really shows Jane's confusion and awe in this fast-paced technical world. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if Hollywood makes a movie out of either or both of these books. Hollywood, if you're listening, call me, I'll write the screenplay. ;)

Delightful Sequel
Enjoyed this sequel much more than the original "Confessions".I believe it was due to the main character herself.Jane Mansfield was a much more likeable person than the original heroine Courtney Stone.When Jane finds herself in Courtney's body it makes for some entertaining situations.And yes the time travel thing is very mystical and the memories is a bit lame excuse for not dealing with issues like how to use a remote, or drive a car but as entertaining escapism (which is why I read) it was a nice blend some of my favorite things: Jane Austen, her novels, Lost in Austen, Pride & Predjudice (both book and DVD).

Not as good as "Confessions..."
Just finished listening to this book last night and am soo glad to have it over with. The first book, "Confessions of a Jane Austin Addict" was very enjoyable but this book went on & on and by the last cd I was feeling depressed that it wasn't ending & was just hanging on to finish it. I recommend the first but not really this one.

A fine and funny saga ensues, perfect for Jane Austin fans
An outstanding work of fiction, Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austin Addict is funny and intriguing and tells of one Courtney Stone, a modern girl caught in Jane Austin's era. It offers the parallel story of Jane Mansfield, a gentleman's daughter from Regency England who awakens in Courtney's fast-paced modern LA life, and finds herself challenged by technology and romance alike. A fine and funny saga ensues, perfect for Jane Austin fans.

A must for Austen fans
I couldn't put this book down, along with its predecessorConfessions of a Jane Austen Addict. Very much in the Jane Austen style and feel, with a character almost straight out of one of her books landing pell mell in modern times.Engaging and believably in accordance with Austen's writings. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume contains the six major novels: "Emma", "Mansfield Park", "Northanger Abbey", "Persuasion", "Sense and Sensibility", "Pride and Prejudice".Amazon.com Review
Collected together in one volume, The Complete Novelsshow the development of Austen as a writer and social commentator.From the early optimism and youthful energy of Northanger Abbey to thequiet and subtle art of Persuasion, this collectionreveals the breadth of one of the best loved novelists of all time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (83)

Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery
Jane Austen. Her name is practically synonymous with classic, understated romance, as well as comedies of manners with a subtle, sly sense of humor.

And Austen's "The Complete Novels" brings together the full complement of her finished novels, from the little-known "Lady Susan" to the classic bestseller "Pride and Prejudice" (and everything in between). This collection is flled with lovably flawed heroines, beautiful formal prose, and some rather unconventional love stories.

"Pride and Prejudice" become a problem when Elizabeth Bennett takes a dislike to the handsome, aloof Mr. Darcy, helped by his own aloofness and the devious Mr. Wickham's stories about him. But Mr. Darcy isn't quite the villain -- he's the hero. And "Sense and Sensibility" clash when the two very different Dashwood sisters, smart Elinor and romantic Marianne, both fall in love -- one with a man she can't have, and the other with a guy who may be horribly unsuitable.

Anne Elliott has a problem with "Persuasion," since she was once briefly engaged to the impoverished sailor Frederick Wentworth. Now he's returned from war as a wealthy hero... and Anne still loves him. "Mansfield Park" is the backdrop for shy Fanny's life with her rich relatives, who usually treat her as a servant -- except for her kindly cousin, Edmund. But when the flirtatious, fashionable Crawfords arrive in the neighborhood, it unbalances the lives of everyone at Mansfield Park.

And "Northanger Abbey" is a fitting location for Austen's spoof on gothic romances, in which the hyperimaginative Catherine Moreland has to learn a lesson about the difference between fantasy and reality. "Emma" is a frothy romantic comedy about a rich, somewhat spoiled young lady who tries to arrange the lives of people around her so that everyone is happy.And there's "Lady Susan," who is sort of the evil sociopathic twin of Emma -- a brilliant and manipulative widow who seduces, plots and schemes. Yummy stuff.

The omnibus collection displays the range and depth of Austen's writing skill beautifully; though each story is very unique they're laced together by common themes. Except for "Lady Susan," each story is a love story, tempered with some clever commentary on the society of Austen's day (example: entailment, which plays a part in several plots), and a biting, sharp-edged wit (the mockery of the toadying Mr. Collins and the obnoxious Elliott family).

And despite the formal stuffiness of the time, Austen painted her stories vividly -- there's a bit of roughness in "Lady Susan" and "Persuasion," but nothing too dramatic. Each one has powerful emotions and vivid splashes of prose ("The wind roared round the house, and the rain beat against the windows"), as well as deliciously witty dialogue ("I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine"). But she also weaves in some intensely romantic moments as well ("Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you").

Austen also had an interesting range of heroines -- quiet ones, melodramatic ones, intelligent ones, naive ones, and mildly spoiled ones who think they know best. But each one has a major character flaw that must be overcome before she can find true love and happiness And she has an equally fascinating range of love interests: the quiet shy Colonel Brandon, the sexy and clever Henry Tilney, the blunt Mr. Knightley, the generous and honest Edmund, and especially the smart, sexy Mr. Darcy (who has a flaw of his own to overcome alongside Lizzie).

Jane Austen's "Complete Novels" draws together all her finished novels, and let readers explore the mannered society and obstacle-filled love lives of her heroines.

looks good but contains so many ommissions and mistakes
This book looks good but there are an incredible amount of typos as well as words missing - such as in Pride and Prejudice the editor mustn't have know what shire they were in, because it is written as ___________ shire, repeatedly throughout the book.This isn't the only time this __________ is used - obviously the editor should have gone back to add the words!!Unbelievable.There are also scenes missing from Pride and Prejudice - such as the scene where Mr. Darcy dives into the water!!What the ?????Very, very disappointing.

Incomplete Edition from Bloomsbury as pictured above
This book is certainly not as advertised.The dust jacket AND cover clearly state that it contains the complete novels of Jane Austen. It enumerates all seven in both locations.It never gives any indication whatsoever that this might be the first volume of two.Indeed the first printed page declares that it is in one volume.

Despite all this, the table of contents only lists the first four books from the cover.That is all that is contained within.No 'Persuasion.'No 'Lady Susan.'And most important to me, no 'Northanger Abbey' -- the book I was planning to read immediately.Amazing.

Please be aware that the Bloomsbury Books edition (Under license from Penguin dated 1994) with the cover as shown on this page (with the customer image from Dilli) has these substantial defects. [ISBN 1-854-71406-6][1002 pages]

Not what I wanted. Not listed as a compendium.
I was searching for the collected works in separate volumes.This failed to mention that it was a compendium and therefore I was stuck buying this and also the books I really wanted somewhere else.

Great book, good price
I love jane Austen. This book is such a good deal considering you get all of her stories. ... Read more

Product Description
Elizabeth Jenkins presents this biography of Jane Austen, providing insight into the subject and her works. ... Read more