What Matters in Jane Austen? by John Mullan

Mullan's humorous guidebook encourages first-time Austen readers to pick up her novels and lovers of Austen to re-read for new details. In one amusing chapter, he provides many examples of the subtle ways that Austen requires the reader to think about sex. Through his answers, Mullan demonstrates that Austen 'introduced free indirect style to English fiction, filtering her plots through the consciousness of her characters,' and 'perfected fictional idiolect, fashioning habits of speaking for even minor characters that rendered them utterly singular.

I would agree, but the advantage of having John Mullan's impressive knowledge of social history and literary styles means that you now feel a much better informed reader than you were on first acquaintance with Austen. Austen expert Mullan (How Novels Work), an English professor at University College London, cleverly captures the novelist's brilliance by answering a set of 20 questions ranging from unpromising ones such as 'How much does age matter?' and 'Why is the weather important?' to more seductive ones such as 'Do sisters sleep together?' and 'Is there any sex in Jane Austen?' that uncover the details that give Austen's novels their depth and lasting appeal. John Carey commented that reading 'What Matters in Jane Austen' is as much of a pleasure as re- reading an Austen itself.

Virginia Woolf once remarked that of all great writers Jane Austen was 'the most difficult to catch in the act of greatness.' If only she'd had Mullan's delightful, though repetitive, book at hand, perhaps Woolf would have discovered the reasons that Austen remains among the greatest, yet most enigmatic, of English authors. Language eng Summary A literary scholar poses twenty questions that reveal deep truths about the iconic writer and her lasting influence, demonstrating how Austen's genius can be better appreciated with an understanding of her books' character dynamics, unspoken sexuality, and period conventions Cataloging source DLC 1958- Mullan, John Dewey number 823/.7 Index index present LC call number PR4037 LC item number. Inspired by an enthusiastic readers curiosity, based on a lifetimes study and written with flair and insight, What Matters in Jane Austen uncovers the hidden. He writes the regular 'Guardian Book Club' column on fiction in the Guardian and frequently appears on the BBC's Review Show. In twenty short chapters, each of which answers a question prompted by Jane Austens novels, John Mullan illuminates the themes that matter most to the workings of Austens fiction. England - Social life and customs - 19th century John Mullan is a professor in the English department at UCL.Austen, Jane, 1775-1817 - Criticism and interpretation In What Matters in Jane Austen, John Mullan shows that we can best appreciate Austens brilliance by looking at the intriguing quirks and intricacies of her fiction.Label What matters in Jane Austen? : twenty crucial puzzles solved Title What matters in Jane Austen? Title remainder twenty crucial puzzles solved Statement of responsibility John Mullan Creator

What Matters in Jane Austen? by John Mullan